Ok guys I was just wondering what I would need to convert my engine to have a hydraulic/solid roller cam? I'm wanting to go with a 383 in my '85 camaro and previously had a flat tappet cam but want more power

Now if I'm thinking correctly I would need: cam button, roller cam, roller lifters, and roller tip rockers. Anything else?

If I have the machine shop clearance the block, would everything else be easy to put together? FYI it's a 2pc rear main seal being backed by a 700r4. Thanks for any input guys.

 

New pushrods too, and if you really wanted a full-roller engine you'd have roller trunion rockers as well instead of just the tips.

 

Roller rockers aren't "necessary", but are CERTAINLY a good idea. The main advantage of the roller trunnion over the ball fulcrum is how much less heat it generates. Ball fulcrums, when used with adequate spring pressure for ANY kind of roller cam, get hot enough to turn the metal blue, even when all is working correctly. People report a 10° or so drop in oil temperature just from that one change. Roller tips by themselves are beter than stuck rubber rockers (although it would be "possible" to use even that low a level of garbage if you just really wanted to shoot yourself in the shorts for whatever reason), but not likely to be successful over the long term.

Push rods are a different length so you'll definitely need those.

You'll need to upgrade your valve springs. Of course that goes for just about any decent cam, but is critical for a roller, with the added weight of the lifters.

Either reinforcing the timing cover, like the Edelbrock water pump with the brace bolt, or just getting an altogether better timing cover such as the Cloyes with the built-in cam button, would also be wise although not strictly "necessary".

 

Hmmm good stuff to know. It might just be worth it to do a LT1 swap then lol!

 

Lots of work rewiring your car for Opti spark
Just buy a reg SBC roller block ( Vortec truck engine ) for your 383 build, then you can use cheap OEM parts like the roller lifters instead of expensive retro fit ones needed for your roller conversion

 

That's kinda what I was thinking but then aren't the 87-up blocks a 1pc rear main? I thought I would have to stick with a 2pc to mate up with the tranny. Could I just swap crankshafts to a 2nd and be good?

 

The transmission is the same between 1 piece and 2 piece RMS engines, only the flywheel is different.