Whats the pros and cons of the two? (besides the price). The block i want to get is from a 70's truck but if its better to have a roller block ill get one.

 

I would go for a roller engine myself. They generate less friction than a flat tappet engine, therefore more hp.

 

Not only less friction, but rollers have more aggressive ramp rates. This generally means more streetability at the same lift and duration numbers. In other words, the valve opens and closes more quickly (stays at peak lift for longer.)

 

Makes more sense. Would it affect the car much if it was a daily driver with rough idle and gas mileage compaired to a roller?
The most lift im going to have is .524 with 880 vortec heads, 355 block with a tbi

 

The ONLY disadvantage of the roller setup is the cost... it does cost quite a bit more if you're retrofitting.

The roller will have better longevity, power, drivebility, durability in the long run, especially with a more aggressive cam profile. I'm doing a retrofit hyd roller setup on my 454, collected some of the parts already. Spendy, but will be worth it in the end.

 

I went from a hydraulic flat tappet to a solid roller and dont regret it. Sure my valve train alone is now worth what some pay for a complete motor, but I feel it was worth it. After having pulled several flat tappet cams out of motor that had completely wiped off a lobe or had started eating a lobe, I feel roller cams are worth every penny. My car isnt a daily driver, thats why I went solid. Even if I were building a daily driver motor now, I wouldnt think about putting a flat tappet cam in. Hydraulic roller all the way.

 

well i won't be having an aggressive cam. like a said .524 lift max. i wont be running any nos or forced induction.daily driving and a street race every now and then.would it atleast last me 100K miles?

 

The flat tappet cam or the roller cam?

The flat tappet could, but I have seen lobes wiped off with less than 20,000 miles. It can happen even within a few hundred. A roller cam should definetly last that long. Thats the main reason I would do one in a daily driver. It wouldnt be because of power, but instead it would be for the durability.

 

Don't forget, you can save your flat tappet cam and tappets by using oil with adequate levels of zddp which is greatly lacking in today's modern oils. Use heavy duty 15 w 40 diesel oil which has 1200 ppm of zddp, The wally mart Supertech brand has 1300 ppm, or use Brad Penn, or Valvoline, racing oil. You can buy a lot of engine block for the cost of the oil.