can you convert an gen1 3.4 to a roller cam?

[megafreakindeth]

i saw in summit racing they sell roller lifters for the gen1 v6s with iron heads. i know these really wouldnt help much since the cam is designed for flat tappet lifters.
If i had a cam company grind a roller cam to fit my block and used the roller lifters then i could have a roller cam in a non roller block.
any reason this wouldnt work?

[Superdave]

Curtis did it.. it is possible.

I checked Summit and didn't see any roller lifters for the 2.8.. they sell link bars though (which you'd need).

check out www.turboz24.com I forget what he did but he got it all to work fine...

[ForcedFirebird]

That's one of the near-future projects

There's a guy on GAGT that did it recently using the stock 60* lifters, that's how I want to do it as well. I just don't trust those little tiny link bars for high RPM.

[Ortie666]

Drill and tap the block to fit one of the stock lifter allignment rails..

[ForcedFirebird]

It's from 923.4V6, he's going to use studs in place of the long LIM bolts. Don't know if the iron heads have the clearance, but I can take a look Mon when I go to the shop.

You will also need a cam retainer, the roller cams push the cam towards the front of the block whereas the flat tappets push the cam to the back. That's why the flat tappets have a thrust area for oiling the back of the cam gear, and the rollers have a retainer.

[923.4v6]

It's from 923.4V6, he's going to use studs in place of the long LIM bolts. Don't know if the iron heads have the clearance, but I can take a look Mon when I go to the shop.

You will also need a cam retainer, the roller cams push the cam towards the front of the block whereas the flat tappets push the cam to the back. That's why the flat tappets have a thrust area for oiling the back of the cam gear, and the rollers have a retainer.

I'm also on here to just got done p&p my heads and lim will do uim next week looking for a set of camaro pistons since one of mine was busted. If you drill and tap make sure you get all the metal out or it will last about 50 miles like the 3.1 I done back in spring thats why I going this way.

[Guest]

I have two cams and a set of lifters for a gen 1 block. I was probably going to use them in my 3500 shortblock.

It is possible to do. The cams I have and lifters are mechanical and the lifters are made by Crane. I don't think they make them anymore though, not sure.

I have thought about selling these parts.

[Superdave]

yes, you can run mechanical roller cams and flat tappet cams in the gen3 block.