Lo5 Tbi V8 Question

92maro · March 31, 2010

I'm looking for a 350 block. I would prefer to find a hydraulic roller cam block. I believe the LO5 had a hydraulic flat tappet cam. I have heard this before but is it true that this block can be fitted with a hydraulic roller cam without any modification??

I'm trying to get a 350 hyd. roller cam block cheaper than I can get an L98 block for. It's crazy what some people want for an L98 block, even without the TPI system. Any and all info is greatly appreciated.

Badass69 · March 31, 2010

I'm looking for a 350 block. I would prefer to find a hydraulic roller cam block. I believe the LO5 had a hydraulic flat tappet cam. I have heard this before but is it true that this block can be fitted with a hydraulic roller cam without any modification??

I'm trying to get a 350 hyd. roller cam block cheaper than I can get an L98 block for. It's crazy what some people want for an L98 block, even without the TPI system. Any and all info is greatly appreciated.

The other options for a roller cammed small block would be the LO5 used in the Caprices, both civilian and police version. Both of those are roller cam as well. Then of course all the Vortec engines are roller as well.

TBI truck engines are hit or miss on whether or not they are roller ready. Some have the bosses in the lifter valley, milled flat area above the lifters for link bars and the cam retainer holes and some don't. Some may have the bosses but they are not drilled and tapped and usually the flat milled area for the link bars is not actually machined. And then there are those like a couple I have that have no provision at all.

L98 blocks are absolutely nothing special. Especially the Camaro ones as they are just a 2 bolt roller like any other small block. I guess the Vettes are 4 bolt but whoopee do.

You should be able to go junkyarding and easily find a roller provisioned, or equipped 350.

92maro · April 1, 2010

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I hadn't found much info on what was in the Caprices. I knew they had LO5 options but wasn't sure if it was just a transplanted truck motor with maybe different heads or something. But if they are roller cam blocks then that is probably my ticket. Like you said, the L98 blocks aren't anything special but it's crazy what some people want for them. Thanks again!

Badass69 · April 1, 2010

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I hadn't found much info on what was in the Caprices. I knew they had LO5 options but wasn't sure if it was just a transplanted truck motor with maybe different heads or something. But if they are roller cam blocks then that is probably my ticket. Like you said, the L98 blocks aren't anything special but it's crazy what some people want for them. Thanks again!

Up to and including the 93 model year Caprices have TBI, after that they went to the L99 and LT1. I have never seen anything really special about the Caprice engines over the trucks beyond they are roller. The civilian LO5 has a puny cam in that makes the TBI truck flat tappet look big, lol. That's why those are only 180 HP though. This is that cams specs, it's pathetic

INTAKE LIFT-.359" * EXHAUST LIFT.384" *

INTAKE DURATION @.050-186.5 * EXHAUST DURATION @.050-193.8

LOBE CENTER SEPERATION -110.3

The compression ratio on the Caprice engines is higher because they use a flat top piston versus the dished one in the trucks. 91-93 is rated at 9.6:1. They still run the regular 193 casting swirl port heads.

The cop engine has the left over L98 cam in 92 and 93 at least. So really, the LO5 9C1 Caprice engine is an L98 with swirl port heads really.