Small block lifters

I'm in the process of freshening up a low mileage 318 and getting close to cam selection. I know what will work as far as cam specs go, but this engine is a 1989, first year for hydraulic roller lifters. I came across a 1997 article by E.F.Nowak about Magnum head conversions and in the text he states that you need to run the type of lifter the block came with. He says the lifter bores are in different locations in the blocks valley when comparing roller and non-roller engines. I didn't really want to run those heavy hyd. rollers. Do I have options?

First year for hydraulic roller lifters was 85, mid year introduction. EF is wrong. You can run regular flat tappets if you want to, BTDT. In fact, if you look into it the 87 318 2bbl (for example) came with a roller cam, whereas the 87 318 4bbl cam with a flat tappet cam, same block though. Other things are different but not the block. Now you CANNOT run an OEM roller lifter in a non-roller block, but that's another issue. You will also need to run the flat tappet pushrods.

IIRC passenger cars (M bodies) got the rollers first. I have an 85 318 here from a B250 and it came with a flat tappet but extra holes for the roller cam hardware are all there.

Ive ran the roller blocks but with solid lifter cams as with a hydro flat lifter cam its a step backwards in alot of way.

Whats in your parts list of your freshen up?

Thanks everybody. I love this site. What I'm building is a "Steve Dulcich" 400hp 318. I don't really expect 400 hp because my porting skills wouldn't match Steve's on the 302 heads and I'll shoot for 9.5:1 CR instead of just under 10:1 as done in that old article. The stock bottom end has been rebalenced, polished rod beams, ARP rod bolts, polished crank, HV oil pump and block oiling system mods. The 302s have about 50 hrs. of grinding done with 1.94 intake and 1.6 exh stainless nailhead valves. They are actually chev valves but the stem is smaller and I could get them a little longer to give me more valve spring choice. Same cam as the article now that I know I can swap out the roller. Was going to top it off with an RPM airgap intake but came across an old LD-4B which some people seem to rave about. Either way, she's going on the dyno when done.

I'd get (.040") quench if you can keep the SCR where you want it. It is a significant bennie.

If my fuzzy memory rings true
In this book

https://play.google.com/store/books/deta...CFcEQPwodN8kMsw

https://www.themotorbookstore.com/how-to...AiABEgIt8_D_BwE

There is info on lighter, improved durability, and lower friction, hydraulic roller lifters that were created for Viper Aluminum V10s but can be used in sb v8s, as can slightly longer V10 con rods that give tighter quench.

Later year Viper V10s went even further and changed to smaller diameter, even lighter, roller lifter designs.

Willem Weertman wrote in his book Chrysler Engines that the earliest iron and aluminum V10s used Magnum 5.9 V8 pistons for cost reasons. In the 1995 Ram pickup FSM the 5.9 Magnum v8 piston drawing are wrong, but the iron V10 chapter has correct piston drawings and specs.

Your right RapidRobert, I'd love to build a quench engine. Stock slugs are .045 down in the hole plus a .040 head gasket means we have to get rid of .040 off the decks if thats possible without going off the deep end with compression. Once I cc the heads, I'll have a better idea where I'm at.
Thanks 360view. Interesting info. Will read more when I get a chance.

Hughes and Lunati have "retro" roller lifters you can run in LA small blocks. They are designed with the oil hole lower on the lifter. Hughes told me most of the issue with the oil hole possibly being "too high" for an LA block is a 340 block. Also told me they never saw an issue with a 318. If you go on the Hughes website, they have pictures and an explanation, more in depth which I mentioned.

There are also .028 head gaskets at a decent price or you can get a .027 at about twice the price.

Also told me they never saw an issue with a 318.

Yep, ive a 76 318 block they will not work on, It had never been apart before I took it apart and the lifter bosses have a huge chamfer? at the top. A .500 lift roller wont even fly on my block.

Where my 73 360 block is over 3/16 taller in that area with no chamfer/bevel.

What sucks for me is I wanted to run a hydro roller in my 76 duster block but am limited to a full body solid lifter/cam.

I have the Jim Silagi (sp) book (it has some good info, nothing earthshattering (I felt) & has alot of high dollar part #'s & builds which are beyond me) but is worth purchasing & I have a new set of those Viper rods mentioned. they are 6.221" long & the small end pin hole needs to be opened up .039" (iirc) to fit regular .984" pins.