installing roller conversion in 70's 302? machine work finished

[pisgahhiker]

Has anyone installed a roller conversion kit into a finished engine?

Or is this usually done before a rebuild?
I have a 77 short block it was actually a crate engine. I bought this for my truck a year ago but never put it in.
I just picked up another notch back and want to use this engine in it but want a roller cam.
I have already pulled the heads to upgrade them along with the cam.
Any input would be helpfull.

 

[Daggar]

I've never done one but from what I understand, it's not too difficult. I've seen a couple of different versions out there. One has a new pan for the lifter valley that keeps everything lined up the way it's supposed to be while the others usually have some sort of bridge or linkage that tie two lifters together so that the lifter rollers themselves are always facing the ramp of the cam lobe. None of them lookes like a difficult install at all. I remembered them being pretty expensive though. Good luck!

 

[jeffnoel]

Or you could drill and tap the lifter valley to accept the factory roller spider and get a small base circle roller cam.

 

[pisgahhiker]

I'm looking into both options this weekend. I hope to actually do this in a week or two.
I'm still waiting on the heads to come back.I hate to start something and not finish it due to not having all the parts there.