rustorbust Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Thought I would share some of what I had done recently. I recently built a new small block for my Z. Long story short, did everything correct to the T...correct oil, breakin time and rpm ect.... and had two seperate flat tappet cams go flat. So I found some information online where a couple guys were using roller lifters out of 2.2L gm motors, spiders and dog retainers out of later model v8 roller motors in early small blocks with a little machine work on the blocks. So I thought what the hell....I have already spent around $500 on cams and lifters at this point whats another couple 100 gonna hurt. So 49 cent used lifters from a 2.2L cavaleir motors. I already had the spider and retainers out of a later model roller motor and this is where im at....... Good thing about this is that you can either use the conventional roller type cam or a retro type cam with just using the correct timing chain/gear and button...Im gonna order a cam this week and should have the motor assembled and running on a test stand before it goes in the car. James 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaliceIntent Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 looks good! I've heard of this conversion and often wondered if it was as easy as it seems. Can't wait to see how it turns out, i might do it to! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsicard Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 rustorbust: CAREFULL! The earlier non-roller manufactured blocks have a less tall lifter boss. From your photos it appears the roller lifters are sticking up more than on a 1-piece rear main seal factory roller type block. Consult with Grumpyvette before ordering a camshaft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustorbust Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 Will do....But I think in some of the pictures that you are looking at there I had taken after spinning the cam around a couple revolutions and the lifters are kinda sticking up cause the lifter bores are dry. I have another roller block that I put the cam into with the lifters and retainers and the lifters are almost identical in height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustorbust Posted September 30, 2009 Author Share Posted September 30, 2009 Thought I would post a little upadate for anyone interested..... Bought a cam (comp extreme energy) Motor is assembled and I ordered a set of pushrods last night, I should get them before friday and Ill have the motor in the car this weekend and maybe started this weekend also. I went ahead and filled the motor with oil with the intake off and primed it and at 60 psi of pressure the oil coming out the lifters looks about the same as any other motor that I have built....so....so far so good, looks like it should work excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxfiend1967 Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 I learned something a couple of weeks ago about flat tappet break in . they do not put zinc in the oil anymore you have to buy it seperate. or you can use break in oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustorbust Posted October 6, 2009 Author Share Posted October 6, 2009 For the last couple years i had been using rotella diesel oil for breakins... I have used GM oes additive also in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zfan1 Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Is it just me or do those lifters look awful low in the lifter bore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustorbust Posted October 11, 2009 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 Well.....Buttoned it all up, put about a 1/2 a turn into the lifters from 0 lash. Started it up and put 36 degrees of timing in it, runs excellent so far. Took it out for a spin and man o man.....no traction in second gear at all.....fun fun. Seems to run pretty good up to 6 grand. Im gonna go ahead and put a couple miles on it in the next couple weeks and see if everything stays as it should. Oh and I went with a Comp Cams extreme energey retrofit cam...... http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-12-432-8/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inferno 08 Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 Any update on how this is working out for you? I'm very seriously considering doing this soon to the 383 that I'm building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustorbust Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 Working excellent, have not had any problems with it at all. I have put about 2000 miles on the car. I would highly recomend doing it for the cheap alternative route if you are comfortable with grinding on the block and spending some time making everthing fit correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MustangSix Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 What length pushrod is needed for this conversion? (holy cow...been lurking for several years and this is post #1!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustorbust Posted November 22, 2009 Author Share Posted November 22, 2009 7.5".... with stock GM heads, I used trick flow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 Thanks for the updates on your progress and completion with this conversion. I love the idea of doing this on the cheap, using GM products that I know will work. The aftermarket roller lifters are too expensive for what they are. I'll be going to a JY and getting the 2.2L lifters when I get the chance, or even ordering some new ones if I can find them cheap too I have Edelbrock heads and hopefully the 7.5" rods will work. I will probably run my current flat tappet cam and engine for a while and then upgrade to this roller setup. Nice work, Rusty! Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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