im building a new roller 383. do i need one of those "spiders" that go under the intake and do something with the lifters???

If you are using the 87-up type factory rollers, yes.

If you are doing a retro-fit, no.

well some one was up late.....

but you know im runnig the factory roler cam but the lifters i have are all individula and i dont see how a spider could connect to them

It's impossible to describe a spider, someone will have to show you a pic.
Sorry but I don't have one.
I just wanted to mention that they're on ebay for a lot less than a kit will cost you from Comp.

Also... I hope you don't need to get a new block to go with your new lifters

The lifters go in the block, obviously. The dogbones keep them square to the cam. The spider bolts to the 3 towers in the block and applies pressure to the 8 dogbones to keep them in place.

Originally posted by Stekman


Isn't that one of those okie rigged V6 roller retrofits?
You're gonna get in trouble showin pics of that here.

Yea, it is. It's a picture I found floating around here.

Hey, he wanted to see how the spider installed, and I showed him. No one ever said anything about it having to be PROPER.

i knew what a spider was but i didnt know the "dogbones" were attached that kept the lifters from rotating per the flat spots on the lifters. got it now!!!



damn i dont wanna have to pull apart my intake form the old one jsut to get a spider...did someone say that ebay sold them?

So I'm getting that you assembled your motor with a set of dogbones and no spider to hold them down?

Does anyone have a free spider for this poor man?

Ebay might have one, usually you'll see the entire setup there tho.
I think the spider alone from some dealer might not cost too much, or a junkyard might have one for $5-10.

I hope your lifter valley has the mounting holes already drilled. If it doesn't you'll ahve to do that.

the thing is i already have a roller shortblock that im building my engine with. i am not reusing any parts from my old 305 (still in the car) to build this motor except for the alt which is brand new. so i dont want to have to take apart my old 305 for the new engine...get it? same goes for the cam plate, i dont have one yet but dont wnat to tear the old 305 down just for that piece.

so the dogbones arent part of the spider im guessing? it just loked like they were in the pics stekman showed.


btw hows the engine comin steK?

All seperate hardware. A junk yard should have these pieces, for pretty cheap. And considering any Gen. I 350 block that is a factory roller and was installed in a passenger vehicle should have one, well, the pickings should be easy. This includes the 350 Vortec trucks. Same goes for the cam retainer plate and whatnot.

And the Vortec 350 is going well, just the bits and pieces and I should have it fired up. Hopefully it will be on the road within a few weeks.

I have a couple of them.
If you can't find a deal on one, I'll loan one to you but you have to send one back to me cause i might need it.

well thats no prob...ill keep a look out ond if nothing comes up ill let you know. thanks man