Keep or dump the gear drive
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
Keep or dump the gear drive
454. Since I wiped the lobe on the cam in my new engine....I have been afforded the opportunity to open the engine up again 
I'm debating on whether to leave the pete jackson gear drive (sounds cool - tuning is a bitch unless you wear ear plugs though) or replace it with the chain drive that came with the Comp Cams kit. Any real negatives to the gear drive? I want to make this thing the most maintenace free as possible....at least for a few months 
I'm debating on whether to leave the pete jackson gear drive (sounds cool - tuning is a bitch unless you wear ear plugs though) or replace it with the chain drive that came with the Comp Cams kit. Any real negatives to the gear drive? I want to make this thing the most maintenace free as possible....at least for a few months
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: St Louis Missouri
I also have the PJ gear drive. I can’t agree about the tunning. I think it is much easier to tune because the pitch changes with RPM. I would think because you already have it keep it. I don’t see the advantage of going to a chain. The gear drive will remain more accurate at high RPM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
As Big G said - I heard about the reliablity thing too - everything gets tranmitted to the cam...but if I had to decide between it lasting 30 or 40K miles I wouldn't worry......but if it is going it eat the cam in 10K I would take it out..anyone know?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,352
Likes: 787
From: Redondo Beach, California
I always thought a gear drive was more accurate. But, I can imagine that the steel gears and steel roller chains can be as effective. (Remember the Oldsmobile Toronado/Cadillac ElDorado 455 that used a steel chain to transfer power from the engine to the front wheel drive transmission.)
The nylon covered gears driving timing chains on factory stockers should be avoided I would think.
I'd also like to put a gear drive on by BB if it's the best cam drive and also to get that business-like rrrrr'ing sound. However, if I do use a gear drive, it must be the best solution for a cam drive. If an all steel chain drive is the best that's fine. I don't want anything fakey on my car. It's interesting that some gear drive manufacturers sell "regular" drives and "noisy" gear drives. I'd be happy with regular.
The nylon covered gears driving timing chains on factory stockers should be avoided I would think.
I'd also like to put a gear drive on by BB if it's the best cam drive and also to get that business-like rrrrr'ing sound. However, if I do use a gear drive, it must be the best solution for a cam drive. If an all steel chain drive is the best that's fine. I don't want anything fakey on my car. It's interesting that some gear drive manufacturers sell "regular" drives and "noisy" gear drives. I'd be happy with regular.
Last edited by 68/70Vette; Mar 23, 2006 at 08:44 PM.
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