Is there any problem with using a conventional cam in a 1 piece seal roller block? What do you do with the original thrust plate?

 

You just have to use non-roller lifters, a non-roller timing chain set, and the cam. It will work fine. You won't have to use that spider retainer thing in the lifter valley anymore either.

 

No problem at all. AAMOF that's what the trucks got with the L05. Most of them were roller blocks with flat tappet cams.

Quote:

What do you do with the original thrust plate?

Throw it in your "misc." coffee can.

 

you'd need differant length push rods to match the hydrolic cam.

 

Yeah hes right there. The roller cam push rods are shoter. You should be able to get a good set of pushrods for like 30 bucks.

I feel retarded asking this since I have done so much engine work but what is the trust plate?

 

The thrust plate is a little plate that bolts between the timing gear and the cam. It bolts to the face of the block. It looks like this kind of (this is a Ford thrust plate)

The front of a stock roller cam or stock replacement is notched, like this:

The notched area slips into the center of the plate, in the big hole, and the plate prevents the cam from "Walking" forward in the block.

 

Ok I gotcha. Thats what I was thinking it was but I wasn't positive.

Why do roller cams need it but a non-roller cam doesn't?

 

The lobes on roller cams are ground flat, rather than a tappered profile that is found on the flat tappet cams. That contact between the lifter and the tappered lobe creates a force that pushes the cam towards the rear of the block. Because the roller lobes are flat in comparison, they are free to walk forward. Although, i think they have to overcome the force of the distributor drive still.

 

I see...

Only reason I see to switch to a hydraulic flat tappet cam over a roller is the price and availability of non-roller cams. But once you get a non-roller cam, lifters, pushrods, and timing set your looking at about the same amount of money. I almost switch to flat tappet because I couldn't find a lower lift cam (.450 area) that had the duration and lobe separation I wanted. But I went ahead and settled for a lt4 roller cam. I plan on switching that out once I get new heads. Probably get a XE270HR cam. Should see a nice gain.