Hey guys I need a little help im building a 67 327 on a budget and want to use all my roller stuff from my lb9 block (cam, lifters, spider, dogbones, pushrods, cam retaining plate also using the heads) I guess im just confused with why it wouldn’t work, I’ve heard I need to change pushrods, use retrofit rollers, do the flat tappet blocks really have bigger lifter bores? If my pop can weld bosses to be able to use the spider and cam retaining plates would that work? What about cam retaining plate/button?
Any info is appreciated, thanks

 

Numerous cam companies make roller conversions. The stock sbc roller parts won't work in an older block.

 

Why?

 

The blocks are different. There's no provisions to mount the spider in the older blocks. The spider retains the dog bones and the dog bones keep the lifters from rotating. The conversion kits have lifters with their on anti rotation design.

a roller cam conversion is totally the move. Just can't use stock parts.

 

Hey boss not to be rude but I’m looking for a better answer to make this work than just it doesn’t work. As I mentioned ruined the old man said he may be able to weld material and then tap it to use the factory spider.

 

He boss, I'd use the internet and look it up then!

 

Hey boss, IT DOESN'T WORK. You can get your panties all in a wad at us as much as you want, but IT DOESN'T WORK. That's pretty much all there is to it.

327s pre-date the factory roller system, They don't have the various little bits that were added to accommodate the newer stuff. No "features from the future". IT DOESN'T WORK.

Some of the features that are missing, are the little boss things that the lifter retainer "spider" bolts to; they don't have the flat place that the figure-8s lay down on; they lack the bolt holes for the cam retainer (although that's pretty eeeeezzy to overcome); just, in a few words, IT DOESN'T WORK.

Those of us who had been building motors with roller cams for DECADES before the factories caught on, have a list of "how to" to make it happen. Let me make one thing PERFECTLY clear, you're coming in here and beating us over the head about "on a budget", like NOBODY EVER has had a "budget" in all the years since 327s were DROPPED from the GM lineup due to GETTING THEIR A$$ BEAT by newer motors such as the 350 and 400, and you're the VERY FIRST person who's EVER had this idea. Aren't you the ORIGINAL GENIUS. We DO NOT LIKE IT. [mr_horse]No sir, I don't like it.[mr_horse] You've been given the answer, if you don't like it, sucks to be you; DOESN'T CHANGE the answer or the facts behind it.

If your d00d can weld up the little bosses on top of the oil passage to hold the spider, GREAT. I'm betting he can't weld up the inside of the block casting where the flat places that the figure-8s have to lay down against, to give enough thickness behind there, to keep that cut from hitting water. Or ... ??? maybe??? you're willing to take the chance. No matter, it's just an old useless small-journal weeeeeeeek-a$$ 11/32" rod bolt and weeeeeeeeenie rod block anyway. If you SCRAP it, just throw it in the trash, pay your machinist what he charges you for being a DUMBA$$, and move on. Blee me, I've paid the duamba$$ tax more times than I care to admit on stuff where I THOUGHT I knew more than people who had been doing stuff and learned what did and didn't work. Butt I moved on. Life is too short to dwell on minor setbacks like that.

Now, if you have specific questions, like how I've been putting roller cams in ancient blocks since the 70s when rollers became widely available, I'd be glad to help you out. Let me explain beforehand though, whatever your "budget" for this is, it's probably FANTASY LAND. There's NOTHING in the junkyard that will help you out.. It's never been cheeeep. Always been eeeeeeezzzzy. First question is, why bother doing all this to a 327, when 327s have been getting BEAT DOWN since the mid 70s (guess how I know this). I can't think of many more USELESS things in the world than doing ALL THAT to one of those old obsolete motors, when you can buy a core for like $50 or whatever, and get SO MUCH more. Butt I guess some people are [forrest_gump] sssmarrrrrrter [/forrest_gump] than me.

Go forth and multiply. Or improve your attitude, one or the other.

 

If you are trying to stay "on a budget" you should rebuild the 327 to stockish/original configuration, or rebuild the LB9. IMO, as soon as you start trying to improve the factory block configuration you leave "budget" territory. As Sofa stated very clearly above, the improvements you seek are not cheap (or cheeeeeeeap).

 

You CAN....


Should you?? Personal decision.

 

Sometimes, if you're lucky. Specifically, if the part of the block next to the top of the lifter cut is thick enough in the horizontal direction across the top of that cut so that the width of the cut can be wide enough for the figure-8 to sit down on butt cut doesn't hit water, while also going deep enough in the vertical direction that the lifters don't drop out of the figure-8s when on the base circle. Or at least, thick enough that it doesn't leeeeeek right away. Most old blocks don't have enough meat there. Kinda like trying to drill out the accessory bolt holes on the end of the heads: there's nothing there TO drill except the THIN water jacket, and of course the bolts hit water no matter what in that situation. Or like trying to cut Vortec heads for larger valve springs: the same thing as the block deal happens, such that the bottom "corner" of the spring pocket hits water, because they had to raise the water jacket, because the intake port is raised.

 

I believe it! Wasn't saying it was wise...just "feeding the OP what he wants".

Did you see how thin the yoo-toob'r ground those dog bones??? Yikes.

 

".............it's close enough....."

That vid is so full of cringe that I can't even.........

 

If I was gonna hack it like that, I'd build up the block in that area w at least 7 tubes of JB weld!

maybe 8 just to be sure!!!!

I'd really like to see the next video of the tear down after something let loose!

 

Yep...that was some rough viewing!

And his rationalization for the entire effort was....so he could rev it higher!!! MAYbe it'll stay together for him. MAYbe.....

 

The best part is, he's reinventing the wheel, very poorly. The kits they make for converting to a roller lifter setup are pretty simple and don't require jb weld and a prayer!

But to each their own!

 

He used generic hardware store threaded rod, but grade 8 nuts as spacers.