done right it requires a reduced base circle cam shaft(limits your choices) the link bone set up from a newer roller motor roller lifters. or a special set of roller lifters that are the right height( the bores are taller on a roller block vs a non roller) that cost about 400.00 bux from crane( I would go this way no worries mate) Then a good roller cam shaft is going to set you back 175.00 to 300.00 Some guys have gotten away with using regular base circle camsahfts and the original link bars and roller lifters. If you are looking to do this I would go with a low lift cam something under .500 on both intake and exhaust. You may be all right but some still have had the lifters pop out after they smacked the spider collector assembly and broke it. Conflicting results. Hope I helped and didn't confuse you It just so happens I have a e303 cam roller cam the original roller lifters dog bones and spyder set up. Ity may a october before I pull it out but I would part with it for for 200.00. Cam new is 150.00 Roller lifters from ford racing is 135.00 the lifter dog bones and spyder assembly new are roughly 100.00. Less than 10k on the motor they are coming out of. I am goung solid roller and much larger.
I converted my 302 in my Sprint over to roller. No big deal. Usually you can find a set of lifters and the spyder assembly from the Mustang boys, They always have them laying around. I got mine for free. Then its just a matter of drilling and tapping 2 holes, You will need a bottom tap because the holes do not go all the way thru the metal. Comp Cams will grind any of their profiles on a small base circle for no extra charge. I have been running a profile with 566/576 lift for 5 years now with no issues. I drive the hell out of it every time I have it out and race it on the strip at the Roundup every year. NO problems.
Like I said some guys get away with it for what ever reason. The fact remains some guys have not. It's weird a phenome. Thats a nice size cam you are running Sweet
I was getting 6400rpm no problem. My crappy valve train was holding back. I think it might have gotten 6700k with small cam.
It's not the rest of the valve train holding it back, it's the lifters themselves. Get a set of Crane's O.E style replacements and you'll be good for 7500. Usually 6 grand is all the factory lifters are good for. The Crane's cost about $185. Part number 36530-16. I have these in my 331 with a Z303 cam. I limit it to 7000, but in a previous build, I was turning 7500 with the same set but with a B303 cam.
When I built my engine I installed a set of New Ford hydrolic roller lifters ,and with my X-303 FMS cam (.542 lift /224 dur. @ .050) I have shifted as high as 6,700 rpm at the track with no problems . My heads are Box stock Victor jr.s
I've got used stock Ford rollers in the 5.0 in my Ranger. Cam is an F4TE roller, rockers are 1.7 Cobra's and the springs are Crane roller springs. RPM limit is 6000, that's when they float.
For any kind of performance application I wouldn't run a small base circle cam. It's been shown that with high rpm and higher-than-stock spring pressures that the cam will bend and twist. Does all kinds of crazy things to the valvetrain stability and causes harmonics. For a strictly street cruiser small base circle is ok.
