Can someone please tell me the advantages of a roller or non roller engine?? I'm new to this Ford thing and I'm just not getting it!! Thanks, Darrel
To keep it simple. Hyd Roller cams are more streetable with a more aggressive ramp rate compared to a non roller Hyd cam. Hyd Cams are typically limited to under 6500 rpm. If you want to rev it the sky then use a mechanical roller or mechanical flat tappet cam. Good Luck
Appreciate the info. Just not sure which to use in a mild street application. It's gonna boil down to which ever is readily available and less expensive. Thanks, Darrel
For a street car Hyd Flat Tappet is just fine. However I would like to add that a HYd Roller is so much easier on the nerves when firing a new motor up. Since it is made of Steel vs Iron (flat tappet) You don't have to worry about it wiping out in the initial start up. I vote Hyd Roller personally. It is a little more expensive at first but worth the effort. Shop around for a Hyd Roller block to keep it cheaper and easier. They were produced from 86(possibly a couple years before that) up till they stopped putting in the explorer early 2000 or so. Just m,ake sure to match your Distributer gear (steel) for the Roller camshaft. Past that pretty strait forward.
Now, can new EFI engines be carbed? Sorry to sound so ignorant but these issues never really surfaced when I played with old Mopars. What are the physical differences in the 2 blocks (roller / non-roller) ?? Also, is parts availability an issue for either one? Darrel
EfI engines can be carb'd. about the only difference is the roller block is drilled and tapped for the spyder assembly which holds the roller lifters and keeps them from turning. You can easily drill & tap the two holes to convert an earlier block.
Yes you can put a carb intake on it. They differences are minute. The biggest difference is the Roller block has taller lifter bores to accomodate the roller lifters and also has the tapped holes forthe "spider assembly" that holds the lifters in place. I personally would just find a roller block. Cheap and plentiful.
Thanks guys!!! Just had to clarify all that because a few people told me to go non-roller only!! What set up do you guys have? Darrel
I agree with 1BadMav go roller. For A cam that is readly available and less expensive And if you are on a budget I would go with the FMS E303 or B303 roller cam both are about $160 new and can find used ones on ebay for $100 or less at times.
