Bronze distributor gear?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Bronze distributor gear?
Hi all, I have a question for the members that have used bronze gears in the past... How long did the gear normally last or how often did you replace it? I installed a bronze gear last spring when I put the engine in my car and it has noticable wear with relatively little use (~200 miles).
I know that Comp Cams has a much better gear out now for roller cams, but I can't use it
After I bought my bronze gear I found that my Mallory Unilite distributor has the crosspin for the gear drilled .050 offset. This was a PITA because I now had to drill a crosshole into my new gear to accommodate this and still get the relation to the teeth correct.
I would just buy a different distributor to get rid of the crosshole problem, but it drives my mechanical tachometer so I'd have to replace the tach also
I know that Comp Cams has a much better gear out now for roller cams, but I can't use it
After I bought my bronze gear I found that my Mallory Unilite distributor has the crosspin for the gear drilled .050 offset. This was a PITA because I now had to drill a crosshole into my new gear to accommodate this and still get the relation to the teeth correct. I would just buy a different distributor to get rid of the crosshole problem, but it drives my mechanical tachometer so I'd have to replace the tach also
Last edited by SmokedTires; Feb 10, 2005 at 07:07 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
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From: San Antonio TX
That kind of wear is abnormal. I'm assuming that the reason you're using the bronze gear is because you're using a steel roller cam with a steel drive gear(otherwise, there'd be no reason to use one which you probably do know).
Did you use a moly-based assembly lube on the gear before installing the distributor? Are you using a high-pressure oil pump? Is the gear running true on the shaft?
Did you use a moly-based assembly lube on the gear before installing the distributor? Are you using a high-pressure oil pump? Is the gear running true on the shaft?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Yes I am running a steel roller cam. And yes I do have a high pressure oil pump (never thought of that). Yes the gear does run true on the shaft 
I didn't put assembly lube on the gear because I thought it would be fine with all the oil.
I didn't put assembly lube on the gear because I thought it would be fine with all the oil.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I replaced mine yearly and they showed alot of wear each year with about 2000 miles on them.
I finally emailed comp cams with my cam part number and they said I could use a normal steel gear.
Never had a problem ever since.
What about the high prices plastic gears that George runs?? I hate the thought of all those brass shavings in the oil.
I finally emailed comp cams with my cam part number and they said I could use a normal steel gear.
Never had a problem ever since.
What about the high prices plastic gears that George runs?? I hate the thought of all those brass shavings in the oil.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
What about the high prices plastic gears that George runs?? I hate the thought of all those brass shavings in the oil.
My distributor shaft is drilled offset so I can't use one
I don't like the idea of the bronze in the oil either.
The best thing would be if I could use the gear that came with my distributor. When I talked with Comp cams before about it, they recommended either bornze or a melonized gear which I don't know if those or available offset or not either.
My distributor shaft is drilled offset so I can't use one
I don't like the idea of the bronze in the oil either. The best thing would be if I could use the gear that came with my distributor. When I talked with Comp cams before about it, they recommended either bornze or a melonized gear which I don't know if those or available offset or not either.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Why would mallory drill the hole offset?? Another mistake from mallory. I hate their distributors, even though I run one. My hole was drilled off also. You would think they could jig before drilling to prevent this.
Why does the gear teeth have to be aligned on the shaft. The gear can be installed anywhere, oriented any direction.
A melonized gear is sold by GM and is only a heat treating process.
Why does the gear teeth have to be aligned on the shaft. The gear can be installed anywhere, oriented any direction.
A melonized gear is sold by GM and is only a heat treating process.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Norval I wasn't sure if there was a required timing alignment between the gear teeth and the position that the gear mounts on the dist shaft. I have no idea why they would do such a thing as offset drill when all the gears are offered on the centerline 
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 16
From: absecon nj
I agree with norval it wont matter where its at,i also bought a melonized gear from my local chevy dealer for mine,after i wore 2 out.I havent pulled it again but havent really run it that much either.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
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From: San Antonio TX
Originally Posted by SmokedTires
Yes I am running a steel roller cam. And yes I do have a high pressure oil pump (never thought of that). Yes the gear does run true on the shaft
I didn't put assembly lube on the gear because I thought it would be fine with all the oil.
I didn't put assembly lube on the gear because I thought it would be fine with all the oil.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Again it doesn't matter how the gear goes on the distirbutor there is NO alignement of the teeth.
Second I file a .030 groove about .030 deep in the bottom machined surface of the distributor in the direction of the cam so high pressure oil leaks out and sprays on the gear. This is standard practice for alot of race shops.
I also drill a 1/8th hole in the area between the machined surfaces on the lower part of the distributor housing , anywhere works so high pressure oil sprays inside the distributor and lubricates the lower bushing.
These two things help the gear survive and same for the lower bushing.
Second I file a .030 groove about .030 deep in the bottom machined surface of the distributor in the direction of the cam so high pressure oil leaks out and sprays on the gear. This is standard practice for alot of race shops.
I also drill a 1/8th hole in the area between the machined surfaces on the lower part of the distributor housing , anywhere works so high pressure oil sprays inside the distributor and lubricates the lower bushing.
These two things help the gear survive and same for the lower bushing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 16
From: absecon nj
One thing i thought of is the dist. shaft diam. i know msd makes a bigger shaft,does mallory do the same thing?And gm has 2 different shaft sizes also,one for the large hei internal coil and one for the external coil hei's..427-.491 to msd's .500
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
What do you guys think of rotating the distributor shaft 90* and drilling a new hole that's in line so that I can install one of Comp Cams polymer gears then forgetting about it ?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by SmokedTires
What do you guys think of rotating the distributor shaft 90* and drilling a new hole that's in line so that I can install one of Comp Cams polymer gears then forgetting about it ?
Keep in mind my advice on filling a small groove in the out case of the distributor to spray/leak a little oil on the gear. You have a high pressure pump and a little leaking oil won't matter to the pressure. It does keep the gear oiled. Talk to George on this.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Mike - The poly carbon gears are brittle, but not drill proof. I would not drill it at home. I would take it to a machine shop and have them jig it up on a verticle mill.
For that matter Norval what if Mike just cut and polished of the ends of the incorrect roll pin leaving it in the shaft and drilled 90 degrees on center. It's not like the shaft is subjected to that much load even with the tach drive.
The other thing is why don't you just call Mallory and ask them about your flaw and see if you can get a new shaft. They recourve my distributers for free. They are about a 1/2 hour from my house.
They were bought out by Mr. Gasket.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri. PST
Phone: 775.882.1622
Address:
Erson Technical Service
Mr. Gasket Performance Group
550 Mallory Way
Carson City, NV 89701
For that matter Norval what if Mike just cut and polished of the ends of the incorrect roll pin leaving it in the shaft and drilled 90 degrees on center. It's not like the shaft is subjected to that much load even with the tach drive.
The other thing is why don't you just call Mallory and ask them about your flaw and see if you can get a new shaft. They recourve my distributers for free. They are about a 1/2 hour from my house.
They were bought out by Mr. Gasket.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri. PST
Phone: 775.882.1622
Address:
Erson Technical Service
Mr. Gasket Performance Group
550 Mallory Way
Carson City, NV 89701
Last edited by gkull; Feb 11, 2005 at 10:54 AM.
Race Director
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From: Living in the Hartland
Originally Posted by patsnitrovette
One thing i thought of is the dist. shaft diam. i know msd makes a bigger shaft,does mallory do the same thing?And gm has 2 different shaft sizes also,one for the large hei internal coil and one for the external coil hei's..427-.491 to msd's .500
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
OK so I won't crossdrill the shaft then. I'll contact Mallory to see if I can send my distributor back to have a shaft that's drilled on center install (thanks George 
). Then I'll see about getting one of those Comp Cam gears, probably even if I do have to have it drilled.
Thanks everyone
). Then I'll see about getting one of those Comp Cam gears, probably even if I do have to have it drilled.Thanks everyone
