The original side oiler "service blocks" came from the factory setup for both hyd or solid cam, just use an
oil restrictor if running solid. In that case no "conversion" would be required, my block is that way.
My solid roller broke a roller and scattered the needles bearings at 8,000 miles, just shy of ten.
I to encountered dist gear drive problems before that happened. I went to a flat tappet, cost consideration was a big factor (well OK, plus I just couldn't stand the thought of running a hydraulic cam, great though they be).
One of my big concerns with a hydraulic roller cam is the lack of "lumpy idle"?? I really like the sound, the feel, the throbbing of a big cam at low rpm. I LIKE that motor torquing the car at idle rpm.
Maybe I'm wrong, DO the hydraulic rollers allow for a "lumpy idle"?