Does anyone make solid roller lifters that work on the 87 and up blocks? Useing the factory retaining spider and such?

 

Not that I'm aware of. Companies do, however, make lifters that are .300" taller to clear the factory roller blocks. I have a set of Isky SR lifters that are designes as such.

 

I just happened to read a Comp Cams project on getting more out of a 350 HO crate engine. First they converted it to factory roller hydraulic lifters, then tried a solid lifter version. The solid cam was old-style, so they had to use a cam button. For lifters, they went with their 888-1 bar-style retros. Since they had a choice of anything off their shelf, that they chose retros is telling, I'd say (they didn't say why they chose them in the article, just that they're what they used).

 

I've seen solid rollers for the LS1 engines popping up in magazines, from what I've heard this is one of the only things the LS1 shares with the older style small blocks, may be worth looking into.

 

Okay, try this: www.summitracing.com .
Click on "online catalog" over on the left. Then make these choices:
Engines & Components, Camshafts & Valvetrain, Lifters, Chevrolet, V8, 5.7L/350, Chevy small block Gen I, Mechanical roller. At that point 4 choices will appear, and you'll see only one has a picture that looks like factory roller lifters. It's the Crane CRN-10510-16, $360.69 for a set of 16. If you click on the p/n, this note will show up: "Long travel design for use with standard GM alignment bars in engines originally equipped with hydraulic roller lifters."