mjr46

afr 165's will fit a stock block just fine as for cam choice, custom cams can be designed for easily over 550 lift so that the valve timing events are opened and closed at teh proper times during the piston cycles so as to not interfere with a thing.... so you still haven't answered the question: do you plan to uses a flat tappet cam or a retro fit roller set up???

84gtcustom

I will look into this conversion kit for now and do a cost comparison as I already have roller lifters. is there any suggested brands/PN u recommend? this is really all I'm gonna do to this motor. I'll get a 351 and old beater car and build my land rocket later and get everything right then.

thanks dimebag

mjr46

to use stock lifters you'd need to use a reduced base circle cam = not alot of choices

84gtcustom

I dont think I put it clearly. When I got the heads I got a set of roller lifters,used, with them. used lifters can be used so long as there not worn to bad right?

Sxynerd

^Yes.

mjr46

yes you can reuse roller lifters but what your not understanding is the lifter bores in a non roller block are shorter and you CAN'T just put them in a non roller block and use a standard cam if you do the stock roller lifters will oil the lifter galley and you'll have a loss of oil pressure.....so to use stock roller lifters in a non roller block they use what is known as a reduced base circle cam to lower lifters to proper depth = cam is machined smaller so this can be done!!!...it is not as simple as slapping a standard roller cam and those lifters in a non roller block!! option 2 would be use a standard roller cam and buy specially designed lifters, known as retro fit lifters to work in a non roller block!! these are your only two options, you choos either 1 or the other or else it won't work!!!

84gtcustom

Oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh ok thanks for the insight. didnt understand that part. Like the title says "stupid cams". I'm gonna look into a custom cam for now, if I go that way they can do a " reduced base circle cam" set they way I like - if its not to costly. I'll give an update later

thanks for all your help guys.!!!

mjr46

talk to jay at www.camshaftinnovations.com

84gtcustom

Ok good and bad news. Jay said that a reduced base cam has a very high failure rate and he does not do them anymore. my 3 options are

1.go hydrollic roller cam$300 +special lifters $490
2.stay flat tappet$200. only problem is the new springs on my heads are to stiff for them and will need replaced$300?
3. buy newer roller block - make it a 306 or 331 $$$

so for the extra mpg's (2-3) and ease of installation(flat tappet require a burn in setup) I a gonna wait for more jingle and go for 1 or 3.

stupid cams

mjr46

I like option 3 that's what I did with my 85....it used to be a cfi motor which was flat tappet.