I have a 98 vortec and I recently bought a cam and I received it and found it to say its for 57-87 but shouldn't it still fit fine?

 

Your 98 vortec will have a roller cam/lifters. A roller for earlier blocks would be called a retrofit cam. It would use link bars on the lifters and a different timing chain setup than the 98 vortec. There is a cam retaining plate that holds the oem roller cam in. The bolt pattern for the cam sprocket is different for this reason.

 

Is it a flat tappet or roller lifter type cam ?

It could still use the stock style roller lifters and dogbones in a factory roller cam block like the OP has
As you detailed above only the cam gear and retaining setup would be different so a cam button would be required if it is a " retrofit " cam

 

Oh yes. There is no problem using stock rollers on an aftermarket roller cam. Just for clarity his stock timing chain won't work. We need more info...

 

It's a roller motor, the cam came with flat tappet lifters. I might just send it back for something bigger it was on summit under a cam search for my motor but It didn't say it was for a small block up to 87 anywhere till I received it.

 

Yeah, I'd send it back. Keep the rollers.

 

Yeah and I just found out I could get to .532 with ls6 keepers and retainers. I need to get some rockers too while I'm at it. Thanks for the clarification though I was very skeptical it would work just hoping for the best. I knew I couldn't use those lifters but I didn't know about the gear mounting to this cam.

 

Any recommendations in summit brand cams?

 

Summit brand doesn't have any roller cams that I've seen. If it was mine I would call Deltacam in Washington state and see what he can do for you. He quoted me $70 for a regrind on an inline 6 engine. Have you considered switching to 1.6 ratio rockers? It would be just a small improvement for only about $60.

 

What about this one http://m.summitracing.com/parts/tfs-31401001

 

Looks good. You may want to deck the block to get the compression up some. I assume you just want a strong street car?

 

Yeah something not to powerful but around 450hp and It's my first build so finding that right cam for under 150 is my goal. As far as rockers I'm naming on 1.6 intake 1.5 exhaust roller rockers. I'm slowly learning more about how detailed cams are for exactly what I want but for now I can do with what will work well with my motor an heads.

 

I plan on port and polish, carb conversion, and headers. And obviously a can and valve train setup. But as long as the cam will fit fine with my pre existing gear and some roller lifters I'm up to suggestions. Preferably I'm looking for around .520 lift cause I want as much lift as possible on ls6 retainer, spring, and keeper setup but a nice clean idle. I'd love to hear any suggestions or hear your setups.

 

Don't forget to check for .060" coil bind at max lift and space for the seal. Also valve to piston clearance with a dial indicator and degree wheel...since you said first build