My buddy wants to put a roller cam engine in his early 3rd gen. Somebody at the machine shop told him he will have to convert the car to an electric fuel pump. Is there any reason why he can't retain his mechanical fuel pump after updating to the newer type block? If so, I guess he just has to find a junked newer 3rd gen to strip. What year did they go EFI and what does he need to take off other than the fuel lines and pump?

 

I have an 88 350 L-98 roller cam block out back of my place. It's got provisons to bolt on a mechanical fuel pump and install the fuel pump pushrod. However, I'm not sure if the stock cam has the fuel pump eccentric on the front to drive a mechanical pump. These same blocks where used in boats, trucks, etc, that still used a carb and mechancial fuel pump, which is why, I beleive, all the provisions are still there. Cam would be my only concern- it needs to have a mechanical fule pump eccentric just behind the front bearing in order to drive a mechanical pump.

If you get stuck remember that you can installa regular old flat tappet cam in a roller block (as long as you use the appropriate timing chain, not a roller cam timing chain) and it'll work OK. The shorter flat tappet lifters will look a little funny sitting way down in their bores, but they will work just fine- the factory installed flat tappet cams in roller blocks all the time- again, boat motors, truck motors, etc.

 

the stock cam will have the fuel pump lobe on it.

 

The block is not what's important. Whether your running carb. or injection that's important. The standard mechanical pump does not provide the needed pressure for injection. You can get the proper "in-line" electric pump for either carb or injection.