I have a 1981 chevy 350 block in my firebird, with a flat tappet cam no provison for a roller , with all the trouble of the oil additives happening, ive been looking at retro fit hydraulic cams.

Do I just buy one, and regular roller lifters and be on my way? or is there more involved?

heres the one Ive been looking at

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...8&autoview=sku

 

Yes there is one other thing: you also need a cam button between the nose of the cam and the timing cover, to hold the cam in the right place in the block. Or, a timing cover such as this one, with an integral cam button.

 

You will need to buy a retro camshaft along with retro fit roller lifters, regular roller lifters will not work since the block is not machined for roller lifters originally, as said above you will also need to run a cam button to prevent cam walk that is inherent with roller cams and possibly a thrust plate to protect the timing gear if it hits the block. I am doing a retro hydraulic roller 400 chevy motor for my car and though it is expensive, I feel it will be worth it when it is done. I am using Trick Flow retro hydraulic roller cam machined for the G-2 heads they made. Then I am using Comp Cams retro hydraulic roller lifters with their Beehive valve springs and components with their Pro Magnum roller lifters to finish it off.