Chevy Roller block years???

[whatnow123]

Can anyone tell me the years chevy made 5.7 (350 CID) roller lifter blocks?

[neonlarry]

I think they started in 1987.

[hilbilly]

did they start when they changed to the one piece rear main???

[Pyrotechnic]

I think 86 was the odd year with 1 piece seals and flat tappet lifters.

[kenm78]

87 was when the started to installing the roller cams in the 350 but there are a lot of 87 and newer blocks that are 1 PC rear main and non-roller. Before you buy one make sure you look under the intake and see the plate bolted down in the valley that looks like a spider holding the lifters in.

In the word document you will see the spider looking thing holding the lifters in. They mad alot of 87 and up blocks that came with hydraulic flat tappet cams but had the casting boss's where that plate bolted down if you can get one of those you can drill and tap the boss's and place a hydraulic roller cam in and get the lifter hold downs and you should be good.

[Blazer1970]

TBI motors do not have roller cams. This means that truck small blocks up until '95 are all flat tappet. Some car motors from '87 or so on got roller cams (TPI motors?). I believe that Vortec truck 350s do have roller cams.

[hotrod 80]

99% of all blocks after 88 are roller cam compatible . Even if the motor cam with a flat tappet cam , the blocks will still accept the roller lifters and retainers . All have the fuel pump boss , but some are not drilled for a fuel pump rod . A machine shop/ engine builder can do this for you though . These blocks are pretty tough . I have a 2 bolt that made 360hp to the rear tires and i've run it 7,200 rpm . I've got 195 passes on that motor .I run 150 shot on it and it makes around 500 at the tires . This is with a cast crank , powdered metal vortec rods and 2256 trw forged pistons . 880 vortec blocks are supposed to be the primo block , but don't shy away from the 638 's or 2 bolts . I have 4 of them and i like'em alot . No rear main seal leak , roller lifters , one piece pan gasket , easy to obtain and prices are usually reasonable . Anyway 87-98 are the years .

[qksilver]

I have a couple of 86 5.7 out of 3/4 ton burbs that are one piece seal, drilled and plate covered fuel pump boss, 4 bolt main and have the bosses for drilling the roller spider.
I guess it all depends, don't go by the casting #'s on the 86-88 blocks. Pull the intake to be sure

[whatnow123]

Thanks everyone!

[Beefcake]

just wanted to add. I have an 89 tbi flat tappet.

[Billla]

Note that you can buy BRAND NEW 4-bolt blocks - 1- and 2-piece rear seals - with roller provisions for about $700 with a standard bore. If you're building from scratch, it's worth considering. The GMPP kit for roller cam installation includes the spider, spider bolts, lifter hold-downs and new hydraulic roller lifters for about $260. Add an aftermarket 383 crank, aftermarket rods (cheaper than resizing anyway) new pistons and some decent heads and you've got 450+ FWHP for a pretty decent price.

If you're planning on using the stock crank, rods, etc. to do a low-buck build, then the junkyard finds are generally in great shape with VERY little bore wear.

[Jim_PA]

What's the low-down on mech. fuel pump provisions? Can you get a new GM roller block with it?

[slug]

On The Tbi Motors W/ The Mechanical Fuel Pump Mount And Drilled For A Fuel Pump Push Rod. Can I Just Stick A Fuel Pump Push Rod In There Or Do I Need To Change The Cam??

[montrosepatriot]

Originally Posted by Blazer1970

TBI motors do not have roller cams. This means that truck small blocks up until '95 are all flat tappet. Some car motors from '87 or so on got roller cams (TPI motors?). I believe that Vortec truck 350s do have roller cams.

the passenger car LO5 had a roller cam and there were 2 used - one shared with the LO3 (5.0L) and the L98 (89-93 Caprice 9C1 with the 5.7L option (VIN 7) - the 90-93 B and D bodies did have a 5.7L as an option but had a roller cam with lower lift (also used with the Camaro/Firebird with the base 5.0L which is the LO3)

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by montrosepatriot

the passenger car LO5 had a roller cam and there were 2 used - one shared with the LO3 (5.0L) and the L98 (89-93 Caprice 9C1 with the 5.7L option (VIN 7) - the 90-93 B and D bodies did have a 5.7L as an option but had a roller cam with lower lift (also used with the Camaro/Firebird with the base 5.0L which is the LO3)

Holy revised from the dead thread.... The last reply was 10 years ago!

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by hotrod 80

99% of all blocks after 88 are roller cam compatible . Even if the motor cam with a flat tappet cam , the blocks will still accept the roller lifters and retainers . All have the fuel pump boss , but some are not drilled for a fuel pump rod . A machine shop/ engine builder can do this for you though . These blocks are pretty tough . I have a 2 bolt that made 360hp to the rear tires and i've run it 7,200 rpm . I've got 195 passes on that motor .I run 150 shot on it and it makes around 500 at the tires . This is with a cast crank , powdered metal vortec rods and 2256 trw forged pistons . 880 vortec blocks are supposed to be the primo block , but don't shy away from the 638 's or 2 bolts . I have 4 of them and i like'em alot . No rear main seal leak , roller lifters , one piece pan gasket , easy to obtain and prices are usually reasonable . Anyway 87-98 are the years .

Good to know, I just scored a 638 block with a 2 bolt main and am planing a budget build. All I could find wrong with it is that the PO blew a intake gasket, the wear on the crank was minimal to say the least.

Old Chevys never die, they get Re-Borne!

[truckster]

Originally Posted by toolboxchev

Old Chevys never die, they get Re-Borne!

Apparently that's true of old threads as well.