Roller Retrofit Lifter Bore Question

[StreetSleeper]

If you want to run a roller camshaft in a Pre-1988 (360), Pre-1986 (318) LA block is it necessary or just prudent to Bush the lifter bores?

Does bushing the lifter bores run about $1000?

Does anyone still make retro-fit roller lifters?

 

[JDMopar]

Morel hydraulic roller lifters are made with the oil band lower on the lifters, so they can be used as retrofits. I used them in my 273, but mine are bushed because one lifter bore was worn WAY too far and a few others were marginal. $1K is about the going rate to bush the bores using a BHJ jig. Don't let someone do it with one of those Mickey Mouse things with a hand drill that will result in the lifter bores headed in 16 different directions.

 

[Dan the man]

Morel hydraulic roller lifters are made with the oil band lower on the lifters, so they can be used as retrofits. I used them in my 273, but mine are bushed because one lifter bore was worn WAY too far and a few others were marginal. $1K is about the going rate to bush the bores using a BHJ jig. Don't let someone do it with one of those Mickey Mouse things with a hand drill that will result in the lifter bores headed in 16 different directions.

So, your saying that factory hydraulic roller lifters can be used in a non roller cam block?

 

[JDMopar]

So, your saying that factory hydraulic roller lifters can be used in a non roller cam block?

No, Morel (name brand) hydraulic rollers can be used in non roller blocks like my 273 for my 65 Barracuda. SBM factory roller blocks have taller lifter bores than older LA blocks, so the factory roller lifters will not work in them.

 

[gzig5]

$1000 is probably about right for the bushings and labor. Thats about what I paid. There is a significant benefit to the oil pressure by controlling all those big leaks at the lifter bores. If you want to run hydraulic lifters or pushrod oiling, a small orifice can be added to the bushings.

 

[RustyRatRod]

It's not prudent if it's not needed.

 

[forphorty]

It's not prudent if it's not needed.

 

[PRH]

This is a typical “it depends” scenario.
For a mild-ish street/street strip build……. Provided the lifter bores were decent, there would no need to bush them.
And bushing them is more money than just finding another block that doesn’t have wasted lifter bores.
This is assuming you catch it at the early stages of the build/planning and don’t have a fresh build you’re considering using a roller in and discovered the bores are out of spec.

 

[JDMopar]

That was the main reason I had mine bushed. I was too far in to punt! We found the bad lifter bore after the line bore and cylinders were finished. I was lucky that my machinists friend, up in VA with a CNC machine did it for me for $600, including bushings! This was 5 or 6 years ago.

 

[jbc426]

The lifter bores in my 440RB block were not aligned where they were supposed to be causing several problems including altering the cam timing from bore to bore.

 

[gzig5]

The lifter bores in my 440RB block were not aligned where they were supposed to be causing several problems including altering the cam timing from bore to bore.

Early form of VVT?