I would love to go roller, but it isn't in the budget. I'm in the middle of building a shop and now an unscheduled block replacement for the 496, hopefully in time for Rocky Mountain Race Week 2.0 in early September. I split #5, 2" crack running parallel to the deck about 1/2" down in the outboard quarter of the cylinder. I'm having a replacement block machined to take my rotating assembly, and figured there's never a better time for a cam swap. A roller would need a cam, lifters, springs, button, and oil pump drive at minimum. Probably about $2k all said and done.

I'm really looking to see if there is much to be gained in the 4500-6000 range by adding lift, duration, or going to a different LSA.