Block question
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 407
Likes: 5
From: LAS VEGAS NV
Block question
What is a factory roller four bolt main block. That is what my 383 is made from and I have no idea what year or what these were in. What is a roller block? I never heard of one. Is there such a thing? I Imagine it could be out of the eighties but I figure one of you guys might give me an answer.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 99
From: Lake Villa Illinois
St. Jude Donor '14
A roller block I think means that it uses roller cam followers or lifters. The old blocks used flat tappet lifters, and along the line they changed over to roller lifters. They have hardware in the lifter area that is designed to keep the roller lifters from turning and ruining the cam. You may have seen roller lifter kits made for older engines that have the link bar between each pair of lifters? Well the roller blocks have that all taken care of from the factory with what they call "spiders" I think. I don't know when they changed over though.
Gerry
Gerry
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 67
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From: Trail BC
the factory roller block is a 1 piece rear seal . First year was around 1987 or 1988 . It's hit or miss on the early(88-90) blocks if they're drilled for the roller cam . The 5.7 Vortec in my 97 pickup is factory roller cam . You have to watch as some have no provision for the mechanical fuel pump . The roller cam motors have less friction than a flat tappet to help with fuel economy .
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,482
Likes: 1,918
From: Folsom CA
Roller Camshafts also hang the valve full open faster with steeper Camshaft ramps giving more flow which translates to a power increase accross the whole power band. The only negative is the cost, they are expensive to buy parts for.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Mustang OK
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the factory roller block is a 1 piece rear seal . First year was around 1987 or 1988 . It's hit or miss on the early(88-90) blocks if they're drilled for the roller cam . The 5.7 Vortec in my 97 pickup is factory roller cam . You have to watch as some have no provision for the mechanical fuel pump . The roller cam motors have less friction than a flat tappet to help with fuel economy .
Tom Parsons
