I am about to rebuild my 360 and Im needing to know how to find out if my engine has hydraulic lifters or mechanical. How can I find this out with the least amount of disassembly? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
James.

 

Sorry, but just remembered something else. What is the difference between roller and flat tappet when it comes to the camshaft? Is this refering to whether you have roller rockers?

 

Roller cams use a lifter that has a roller at the end that contacts the cam, while flat tappets are just flat. Check out this article i found http://www.popularhotrodding.com/eng...ion_angle.htmlit might help as for the engine i am not sure you would definetly have to remove intake and one valve cover and one rocker to find this out.

 

If your engine is stock just check at a parts store and see what type the replacements are. Not a lot of older V8s used roller lifters.

A roller cam has different shaped profiles on the lobes. A flat tappet cam usings lifters with flat bottoms and the angles have to be different to minimize wear. Roller cams can make a lot more power and last longer but they are a lot more expensive and often require extra work to the block to retrofit.

Derek

 

Stock motor is most likely hydraulic flat tappet lifters I do not think the truck 360 got a roller until 89.
A few makers have drop in parts now so no modification is needed.