How do I make a block roller

[WFOranger]

I have a late model 351 block, and big surprise it is flat tappet. My question is how can I make it roller without buying those expensive bar link roller lifters. Is there anyway I can use the roller webbing from a 5.0 roller. And is it worth the effort. Any information you can give me would be helpful. Also I don't make much money so any help on making power for less cash would help. Thanks

 

[seijirou]

known ways that work is to use a reduced base circle cam, stock 5.0 hyd roller lifters, and the webbing from the roller block.

Something I think will work but I havn't had the chance to test it yet, is use solid roller lifters and not hydraulic ones. The solid ones don't use oil to stay pumped up, so it's okay that they come out of the lifter bore a little, I think.
I'm going to give it a shot, if you care to try before I do, let me know how it goes.

 

[getusummm]

Not all 351 roller blocks came with roller lifters. You really need to check the block date of manufacture. The solid lifters will work, but require many other things like springs, pushrods, etc, etc made for a solid cam

 

[seijirou]

Pushrods will probably need to be different. Depends on if solid roller lifters are a different length than hydraulic flat lifters. The cam and springs can stay the same.