Clearance Q's on 318

[arsinist01]

Going to be getting some parts for my 318 so I can start preparing for my build. I was thinking I would go with a hydraulic roller cam so I will need the roller lifters to go with it. The problem is I was reading a book on building up these engines and the writer hinted that the link bars on roller lifters might have clearance issues since I am planning on using magnum heads (he used an aftermarket block as an examply, hence my confusion). Thing is he wasn't overly specific about it and seemed to leave more questions than answers on the issue.

So I was just wondering if the link bars on hydraulic roller cams will have clearance issues on a 318 or not?

Hope you guys can help me out with this. I need to know either way lol, just deciding on wether I can use a roller cam or if I am going to have to go with a flat tappet.

Thanks for any help.

 

[arsinist01]

Seriously? Nobody has ever used a roller cam and magnum heads on a small block mopar?

 

[charger360]

i don't think you will run into any clearace issues with an older pre roller 318. the lifter bosses on the roller and magnum engines may cause some issues as they did not use a link bar to align the lifters they used a girdle and they are higher. there are a few choices of retrofit lifters but they are pricey and honestly unless you are doing a fair bit of work to that 318 i think the cost of a roller set up will be lost on that engine. but that is just my humble opinion.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Contact Mike Liston at MRL Performance. He has lifters that have the link bar on the inside instead of the outside.

 

[arsinist01]

i don't think you will run into any clearace issues with an older pre roller 318. the lifter bosses on the roller and magnum engines may cause some issues as they did not use a link bar to align the lifters they used a girdle and they are higher. there are a few choices of retrofit lifters but they are pricey and honestly unless you are doing a fair bit of work to that 318 i think the cost of a roller set up will be lost on that engine. but that is just my humble opinion.

I've actually been fighting myself on wether I want a roller setup or not. From the info I've gathered (I could be wrong) a hydraulic flat tappet setup will not be as reliable and I will need to use a zinc additive with my oil to make sure that it doesn't wear out prematurely. I would like a long lasting system that is as maintenance free as I can get.