roller conversion for a 351w question...

[nmcgrawj]

I called PAW, i think thats the name, the company with the HUGE parts book. The guy said i had to run those $400 lifters and i couldnlt run the spider. I cant see how i couldnt run the spider. I thought the only difference is the lifter valley being machined to accept the 2 spider hold down bolts but i can do that myself right? Or even a machine shop for cheaper than $400 lifters. Are the lifter bores taller do you think on factory roller motors?

I just cant see spending that much money on lifters, they USED to have a kit where you didn't even need to machine anything and you used a spider, lifter hold on pieces, and 2 bolts that expanded in the lifter valley to hold it all down. Now even if they dont make that kit anymore, if i get my hands on a spider and lifter hold down setup from a 302, or even a new spider all together, i should be able to make it work with new roller lifters for less than $200. Thats an extra $200 towards other parts.

Anyway, maybe im totally missing the point but let me know. I dont see anythign wrong with using the spider.

 

[DougNuts]

Hmm....I haven't done alot of research into it because I decided to run the $400 set of lifters. I thought you could tap holes for oil and run regular lifters though. Oh well, I'll see what I can dig up for you.

 

[GTPhreak]

just get a 94+ block...the casting number will have f4te in it

 

[nmcgrawj]

If im complaining about $400 lifters, than i dont have the money for a new roller block. Those things are cheap...even if you do find them.

Thanks for the heads up though

 

[GTPhreak]

if you are complaining about a 400 dolla set of lifters, then you need a new hobby and not trying to swap a 351

 

[nmcgrawj]

haha which is true....but hey we love what we love but no one ever said we couldnlt complain once in a while. I just dont see where the extra $300 comes in between regular lifters and those lifters besides the bar holding them together. oh well..

 

[DougNuts]

Converting a non-roller block to roller isn't all that hard. You can either go the cheap route (drill and tap the block to install your 302 spider and use your 5.0L roller lifters) or go the expensive route (Crane or Comp Cams conversion roller lifters). The conversion lifters are expensive (about $400), but they are quality bits, good for 7000rpm (well above what most of plan to spin a Windsor or Windsor stroker to).

I found this on another website in response to one of my 351W questions.