Distributor gear material???
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,113
Likes: 4
Distributor gear material???
What are the original distributor gears made off??
I'm trying to make sure that my new retrofit camshaft is compatible with the stock gear on the distributor.
apparently Holley Sold LUnati. The people at lunati tech service were less than helpful. The guy had no idea what i was talking about-he just said yes to every question i asked him-great!
I'm trying to make sure that my new retrofit camshaft is compatible with the stock gear on the distributor.
apparently Holley Sold LUnati. The people at lunati tech service were less than helpful. The guy had no idea what i was talking about-he just said yes to every question i asked him-great!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
The original drive gear on the distributor mainshaft was cast iron, and so was the gear on the camshaft (the cam was all one piece, machined from an iron casting).
Most roller cams (which are steel, not cast iron) are now available (at extra cost) with a pressed-on cast iron drive gear so you can use the original stock cast iron distributor gear. If not, you either have to use a bronze distributor gear (which wears rapidly and fills the engine with shavings and has to be replaced regularly), or use the more expensive "melonized" GM distributor gear.
For a street engine, spend the extra money and get a roller cam with the cast iron gear so you don't have to worry about it.
Most roller cams (which are steel, not cast iron) are now available (at extra cost) with a pressed-on cast iron drive gear so you can use the original stock cast iron distributor gear. If not, you either have to use a bronze distributor gear (which wears rapidly and fills the engine with shavings and has to be replaced regularly), or use the more expensive "melonized" GM distributor gear.
For a street engine, spend the extra money and get a roller cam with the cast iron gear so you don't have to worry about it.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,113
Likes: 4
hmmm, that's what i thought.
I asked the idiot at lunati if it could run with the stock distributor gear and he said yes.
I then asked if it would be compatible with an iron gear. He said yes
I then asked if it could be run with a steel gear and he said yes.
The unit looks to have a pressed on gear, but i will call them back and ask what material the cam gear is made of.
Thanks
I asked the idiot at lunati if it could run with the stock distributor gear and he said yes.
I then asked if it would be compatible with an iron gear. He said yes
I then asked if it could be run with a steel gear and he said yes.
The unit looks to have a pressed on gear, but i will call them back and ask what material the cam gear is made of.
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: St. Louis MO
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I had LARS rebuild/calibrate my stock distributor for my ZZ4 project and sent him this ===>> Melonized Gear to go with roller cam shaft.
Distributor by LARS
George
Distributor by LARS George
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 411
Likes: 3
From: New Jersey
Crane roller cam
The original drive gear on the distributor mainshaft was cast iron, and so was the gear on the camshaft (the cam was all one piece, machined from an iron casting).
Most roller cams (which are steel, not cast iron) are now available (at extra cost) with a pressed-on cast iron drive gear so you can use the original stock cast iron distributor gear. If not, you either have to use a bronze distributor gear (which wears rapidly and fills the engine with shavings and has to be replaced regularly), or use the more expensive "melonized" GM distributor gear.
For a street engine, spend the extra money and get a roller cam with the cast iron gear so you don't have to worry about it.
Most roller cams (which are steel, not cast iron) are now available (at extra cost) with a pressed-on cast iron drive gear so you can use the original stock cast iron distributor gear. If not, you either have to use a bronze distributor gear (which wears rapidly and fills the engine with shavings and has to be replaced regularly), or use the more expensive "melonized" GM distributor gear.
For a street engine, spend the extra money and get a roller cam with the cast iron gear so you don't have to worry about it.
In case anyone else has a roller cam -----
I have a Crane roller cam in my Vette and the last time I changed the engine oil brass or bronze shavings came out, stood the hair up on my neck, I called Crane today told them what cam I had in it and he said there are two different distributor shaft diameters .
.491 dia. shaft===P/N 11951-1
.500 dia. shaft===P/N 11950-1
These P/N s are for steel gears heat treated very similar to the Melonized type. Melonized is a GM Trade Mark apparently. He said he is not allowed to say Melonized.
B.T.W. - I only had 4,500 miles on the cam and the bronze gear was half wore out.
Last edited by lovevettes; Apr 10, 2008 at 08:49 PM.
