WA 2 part roller cam question

[Mr_Rich]

Originally Posted by Patch

Can a moderator move this to the enginepage?
Hey all. I have a 1995 tbi motor that is flat tappet, but has the provisions for the factory roller set up. Opinions aside on why you would or wouldn't, is it physically possible to use a retrofit roller cam in that factory roller block? I could skip the cam retainer and use a wear plate with a thrust button and original timing gear style (gen 1)? I could also use the spider plate and dog bones and factory style indexed roller lifters? Which leads me to which rollers are people using? 6500 rpm and under. Thanks for your time.
Pat

I posted on a discussion like this before. I had a flat tappet 350 that I ran in my '89 that I never got better than 17 mpg. That engine was a OTC replacement for a 305 in '94. I replaced that engine as one of my retirement projects in 2013. Same exact engine block part # but with a stock roller cam. I got 20 mpg repeatedly on a long trip through Texas in 2015. Now the quality of the gas and flat land driving may have made the difference as well but I think the work to upgrade would be worth it.