I'm Batman

I know that there are conversion kits out there that are frighteningly expensive. Last night I was reading some stuff online, and found some indication that people have modified the early version small blocks to use the later factory roller lifters, but I can't find any details. Do any of you know what's involved or have a link to any info?

Guru_4_hire

there is a guy on ebay selling the instructions for 20 bucks

PatsLs1vette

the v-8 lifters are too tall for the lifter bores,you have to use certain v6 ones,check with twin turbo i think he did an article on it.

Cory1970

this has my attention

PatsLs1vette

actaully on small lfit roller cams the v8 lifters will work,but if your going through the trouble of swapping most likely youll be using a bigger roller cam,i tried a 487-510 lift in my 73 block with oem rollers and at full lift they came out of the bore too far,so i went with comp cams retor roller lifters.But certain v-6 rollers will work cause they are shorter.

jackson

I hope twin turbo chimes in with a link to any article he may've written on the roller conversion. I'm definately interested. There's so much pomp on the ebay guy's auction that I'm wary of his ... plus I don't see any buyer comment indicating his conversion both completed & successful.

I suspect the "short" OE roller lifter may be from GM 3.1 & 3.4 V6 ... those have GM P/N 17102014 & 17120070 ... aftermarket equivalent DANA/Clevite 213-1756, Eaton VL138, Elgin HL2270, Hylift Johnson A-2270. These are ~2.3" long while 350 lifters ~ 2.6" long.

Star79

ttt and



I want the scoop on this too.....

stickboy

Twin_Turbo

you need the 60 deg. V6 lifters, a stock spider/retainer plate and a set of those dog bones.

I'm Batman

There has got to be more to it than that...is there a site out there with pictures?

Twin_Turbo

No, that's all there is to it...really, just like any ordinary roller lifter intall ..same parts, the only trick part is the 60 deg. V6 lifters The lifters are 2.200" long, so that's about .4 shorter than V8 ones..they're available from GM under p/n 17120070 or as a VL138 aftermarket.



Here's some pics:


these are lionsden's pics:

I'm Batman

Sweet! Those lifters have gotta be cheaper than the aftermarket retrofit parts, and the retainer parts are readily available for short cash.

I'm not getting much love with that aftermarket part #.

MotorHead

No point in running a ~.500 lift roller cam in my opinion, not even sure they make em that small

PatsLs1vette

yes they do make them that small look at a stock ls1 roller there in the 460ish lift range,yes small but still 350 hp out of it too.

i got a extra set of retainers and a spider plate too.

ratflinger

Did a quick search, GM lifters are between $18-$20 each & aftermarket was between $10-$11.

Sky65

Cost aside, which is the better set up? GM or retro style?

jackson

Pat ... how did you fit the dogbones & square them to top of lifter bores? ... did you work the tops by hand? ... or have block milled at machine shop?

jackson

I have wholesale source ... 350 roller lifters Eaton VL115 about $6 each ... 3.1 V6 Eaton VL138 about $7 each.

I'm Batman

ratflinger, where did you find the aftermarkets? My searches didn't turn up anything. At $20/ea. I might as well just buy the conversion lifters.

Mr.L

I did the conversion on my 400 small block. It worked great. Picked the lifters on ebay for $40.00 2 racks 10 each rack, new. I did buy the info from the guy on ebay. If you are going to do it, spent the $20.00 it is well worth it. He has done all the leg work as far as what parts to use and step by step how to do it. I'm only running a 550 lift cam.