Hey guys, bottom line just seeing if a flat tappet motor will run with the ECM of a 87 GTA with the 5.7? Would some tuning have to be done to the PCM, is it worth it? Just looking for some insight on it. Also does anyone know what year motors were roller blocks, I noticed a lot of trucks with them. Any specific models, years? Thanks for any help.

 

The specs of the cam ( duration / LSA ) are better indicators of whether a cam will work with a computer rather than roller vs flat
Early (< 87) F-Bodies had flat tappet cams

96 -00 Vortec truck engine common and cheap ; chance of getting a 4 bolt main if that is important to you
Vortec heads are some of the best GM production heads ever made but require a Vortec only intake.
The block however takes any reg SBC parts , heads ,etc

Most '86+ 1 pce RMS engines are machined for rollers ( some guys on here have blocks that aren't )
but flat tappet cams were installed at the factory ( mostly truck engines)

Roller block identifiable by having flats machined on the top of the lifter bores and the 3 stands
in the valley for the lifter hold down " spider "

 

Thanks for that vetteoz. I learned something. I'm already aware of how to identify the roller blocks. Didn't know vortec block parts could be interchanged like that.

So essentially, as long as the non-roller block doesn't have some radical cam, it could be used in place of my roller motor with the stock ECM and possibly not need a tuning?