mpa5008

Hey guys, I was hoping you could help with figure out what options are available for my '68 289.

I'm in the process of rebuilding the original engine, I was planning on replacing the stock heads with edelbrock performer aluminum heads. I've been trying to figure out what roller cams are available for this engine that would work well with these heads. I have talked with summit techs and they recommended a setup from comp cams. I was wondering if anyone had any experience switching from hydraulic flat tappet to a hydraulic roller cam and could point me in the right direction. I was hoping to go with an Isky cam however they don't offer anything for the 289. Apart from Isky and Comp Cams, what companies would you recommend that have a roller setup available for a 289 or do you think Comp Cams is the best option?

Thanks

69mach1377

Comp Cams all the way...free bump.

JMD

You will need a reduced base circle cam in order to put a roller cam into a non roller 289 block. I don't know for sure but Comp cams may be your only option for one.

But, they used to have plenty of options, and I like their cams.

My son is running a retro fit kit in his 69 block, I can't find a downside, the install was simple enough, we had to CAREFULLY drill and tap 2 shallow 1/4" holes in the valley to attach the "spider", (super easy if the cam bearings are not in, a little more "delicate" when they are in though).

Some say that the tops of the lifter bores need to be cleaned up with a die grinder for the bones to lay down right, but we didn't need to do this.

BuckeyeDemon

i'm pretty sure you don't have to use a reduced base circle cam to use a roller in a non-roller 289. it just requires link bar lifters that cost a little more.

maybe i'm wrong about the 289. i'm using a non-reduced base circle roller in my 69 351W and not using a retro fit kit.

67mustang302

Email Ed Curtis at Flowtech Induction and let him know what you need. He'll set you up with a custom ground hyd roller for your car that works in your block, and will answer all your questions. It's $325 for the cam, which is only marginally more or the same as an ots grind from Comp, but you'll get better performance.

htwheelz67

you can do it two ways, reduced base circle cam and stock lifters, dogbones and spyder OR regular stock hyd roller cam and the expensive link bar lifters, the link bar lifters are also much more of a high performance style lifter (comp cams). You can also get many more off the shelf cams using the link bar lifters vs the reduced base circle cams. It is definetly worth the swap though either way you do it.

JMD

I should have mentioned that when I was pricing stuff out, a roller swap could be done with bars and links w/ no reduced base circle cam for about twice the cost of a retrofit kit.

It has been a couple of years ago since I priced one of these though, might not be so bad now.

I was under the impression that I was getting linked lifters when I bought the first retrofit kit, but in spite of my initial disappointment, the first one worked out so well that I made the decision to go with the "retro fit" again, (mainly for financial considerations) on the second 408.

69mach1377

Can you elaborate on your setup, BD?

JMD

http://www.summitracing.com/search/D...s/?Ns=Rank|Asc

With these, there is no spider and bones needed.

BuckeyeDemon

ok. nothing special

69 351W non roller block

comp cam billet hydraulic roller
morel link bar lifters

no dogbones, no spiders

620 lift
236/244 duration
150 lbs on the seat

I think the lifters were about $400. Pricey.

is this the info you were interested in or were you looking for something else? thanks.