GM 3.4L V6, flat tappet or roller ?

[roverman]

"Wiki" seems a little vague... Anybody know how to ID the "roller" motor ? Is a roller retrofit possible, into a "flat cam" motor ?  Thanks, Art.

[MGBV8]

The easy way, Art, is that the RWD engine is a flat cam, FWD is a roller cam.  Yes, you can do a solid roller cam in the RWD engine

[mgb260]

Art, Also aluminum heads and Metric designation like 3400. I have heard of putting RWD 3.4 heads on a Metric roller block. You have to use the 3.4 RWD pistons. The aluminum heads have a smaller chamber than the RWD heads and the pistons are different.

[Russ Bellinis]

One thing to be careful about is to NEVER use a roller cam with flat tappets.  Roller cams are not case hardened, so the lobes will wear out within minutes of running a flat tappet on a roller cam.  
Because flat tappet cams are case hardened, you can run rollers with them, but usually the roller cam will have more radical ramps because the roller lifter will follow the cam profile better.  Much better to have your cam matched to your lifters-i.e. roller cam with roller lifters, flat tappet cam with flat tappets.

[roverman]

RWD and FWD, what about 88' transverse mid ?  I suspect if you rockwell hardness test , push rod operated, oem roller cams, they will have similar hardness to oem flat tappet cams ? A sure way to ruin an oem roller cam, is to put a flat tappet on it. The edge of the lifter will absolutely gouge the lobe.    Jim N., what years for the aluminum rwd. heads ?  Thanks, Art.

[mgb260]

Art, The aluminum heads were only used on the FWD (transverse) cars. The Fiero used the RWD iron head 2.8 with the starter on the other side like the FWD motors.

[roverman]

Ok, what years used aluminum heads ?  3.4L ?

[mgb260]

Art, Gen 3 FWD 3400V6 was available  1994-2005.

[mgb260]

Art, This site has lots of interchange info for the FWD and RWD/Fiero V6:

https://wot-tech.com/

[mgb260]

Another site for 60 degree V6 info:

http://www.v6f-body.com/showthread.php?t=1242#rocker_arms