Alright so I'm building a 355 out of an 80 or so block. Non roller of course and I'm going to do a stealthram setup on it. My problem is the camshaft. I bought one but it was for a roller equipped block and the spread on the cam gear is too small. I can't find a comupter compatible hydraulic roller cam for an older block with a button style cam gear. The problem with the cam I have now is that it has the beveled edge for the lock plate on a hydraulic roller block.Do they make a timing set with the new spread with a hole in the middle for the cam button? Does anyone know anyway around this? What have other people done? any help would be great.

 

You do NOT want to use a roller cam in with non-roller lifters. You will catch an edge and wipe a lobe in short order. Go get a flat-tappet or upgrade to roller lifters.

 

I';ve got the roller lifters the only problem is the cam gear.

 

Call Summit or Jegs,im pretty sure theres a way around it.

 

well I went and talked to a machinist today and he said to get an aluminum or nylon button and turn it down until it fits. I will also have to make a plate to keep the rollers in the middle of the cam where the retainer plate would have been.

 

Get the Crane conversion kit,it has all that. Talk to Crane to see which kit they recommend. Ya got to have the holders in the valley to hold the rollers streight.

 

got the retrofit lifters already. I just made a washer like plate last night to go onto the end of the cam and keep the cam from sliding too far into the block. It centered everthing up in the block very nicely. Now I just need to get the crank gear on and I'll be ready to make a button for it.

 

Are you using the retro hydraulic or solid roller lifters? If your using the solid roller DO NOT FORGET the oil restrictors. I know from experience the chaos caused if you dont.

 

I've got the hydraulic roller lifters. and yea I've heard horro stories before.