I am converting one of my old LT1's to a carburator and an HEI distributor and i was wondering if i could put just any roller cam in. I dont know if it has to be for an LT1 or not. I know it drives the water pump but i just didnt know if there was somthing that attached to the cam or it the cam was a completely different design, thanks. Any help would be great

 

Lt1 specific cam design.

 

You could run any roller cam IF you go with an old school distributor.

 

sry maby i didnt make it all clear. I am going to run an hei distributor and a 650 cfm 4-barrel. I want to delete the opti as well. Thanks!

 

I believe you'll need the opti to plug the oil, unless you but a freeze plug in it or something. LT1 specific cam.

 

If you aren't going to run an opti on your LT1, you DO NOT need an LT1 specific roller cam. The LT1 roller cam has a splined center for the shaft that goes into the opti. The upper timing chain gear is what drives the water pump. You WILL have to plug the hole on the timing cover where the opti shaft used to be.

 

no it doesn't

the non vented LT1s used a standard roller cam core, and the spline drive for the opti was in the cam timing chain sprocket

vented opti cams have a long dowel pin(this drives the opti) and a large center hole(supports the opti)

but regardless, no opti, no need for a LT1 specific cam, just a factory fit SBC hydraulic roller cam from any of the numerous manufacturers

 

Thanks for all the replys!