Can the higher priced Hydraulic Roller Trickflow heads be used with non roller setups?
They allow for more lift and although I don't have a roller cam in my 302 now, I may go that route with a newer shortblock.

 

Spring pressure for roller setups tend to be higher. Need to check to make sure they are not too high for your cam/lifter setup.

 

So is that the only physical difference, the springs? Are the castings the same otherwise?

 

Heads are heads. They don't care what cam you have. Now, the cam will care what springs you have. But yes, they'll work with any cam.

Personally I wouldn't get heads with a generic spring package. Get a custom cam and the spring package recommended for it, then get bare heads(or with valves) and assemble them or have them assembled.

Since you already have a flat tappet, just make sure you don't have springs that put too much pressure on the lifters.

 

Thanks, I just wanted to have that cleared up.

 

I would not run the springs that come on the roller heads with a flat tappet cam. Those are some pretty aggressive springs designed for roller cams up to .600" lift, iirc. I agree with 67mustang302 in that you should get a set of matching springs for your cam and swap them in.