what type ( bronze ? ) cam gear roller cam
07-08-2007, 04:34 PM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
what type ( bronze ? ) cam gear roller cam
Friend has 383 "stroker" has roller cam , the cam gear failed , bronze teeth gone...........he has owned corvette about two years engine was in his vette when purchased, engine is not a chevy crate engine but put together by bubba previous owner.................. the dist is an Accel w/pioints............ the cam is speed pro (fed mogul) roller retro fit..............my thoughts bronze gear as replacement he says steel 
i believe all roller cams have bronze gears am i correct............
i believe all roller cams have bronze gears am i correct............
07-08-2007, 04:51 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
A lot of the newer retro-fit roller cams use an iron gear pressed onto the steel cam blank. This lets you use a normal distributor gear.
I don't know how many miles you frind has driven in two years but if he uses a bronze gear, they do wear very fast. Pretty much a replace every 2-3000 mile item. GM has a melonized gear that is also good insurance for roller cams. This is what I am using on my Crane retro-fit roller.
Good discussion of dist gears with pics here;
http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/comp...ion-96441.html
I don't know how many miles you frind has driven in two years but if he uses a bronze gear, they do wear very fast. Pretty much a replace every 2-3000 mile item. GM has a melonized gear that is also good insurance for roller cams. This is what I am using on my Crane retro-fit roller.
Good discussion of dist gears with pics here;
http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/comp...ion-96441.html
Last edited by SteveG75; 07-08-2007 at 04:56 PM.
07-08-2007, 05:04 PM
#4
Race Director
Got a Brand new MSD .500 ID Bronze gear I will sell for $30. If the cam is billet you need a bronze or composite gear. It is critical to set up the gear engagement correctly. If this is done the life of a bronze gear will be greatly extended.
Last edited by 63mako; 07-08-2007 at 05:08 PM.
07-09-2007, 08:03 AM
#5
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Amendum to my post >> To the best of my understanding the cam manufacturer will state what gear (dist ) is compatable with the material (metal ) the cam is made of >> the problem the cam in question is a "speed pro roller" , The company is now owend by federal mogal ........... need to see a copy of directions that came with the roller cam in question .if my neighber puts a steel gear in he may chew up the gear on the end of the cam >> however this may be a good thing as the cam he has runs in the 2200 / 6500 rpm range & he has a single plane intake ..he drives ( like grandma ) in the 1200 /3000 rpm range & also runs his 60 vette on regular gas ??? & this cam idles at 1000 rpm ..... a mild short duration cam & dual plane intake 180 would more so suit his driveing style..........the Dog
Last edited by StrayDog; 07-09-2007 at 08:04 AM. Reason: spellin
07-09-2007, 08:42 AM
#6
Race Director
Amendum to my post >> To the best of my understanding the cam manufacturer will state what gear (dist ) is compatable with the material (metal ) the cam is made of >> the problem the cam in question is a "speed pro roller" , The company is now owend by federal mogal ........... need to see a copy of directions that came with the roller cam in question .if my neighber puts a steel gear in he may chew up the gear on the end of the cam >> however this may be a good thing as the cam he has runs in the 2200 / 6500 rpm range & he has a single plane intake ..he drives ( like grandma ) in the 1200 /3000 rpm range & also runs his 60 vette on regular gas ??? & this cam idles at 1000 rpm ..... a mild short duration cam & dual plane intake 180 would more so suit his driveing style..........the Dog
07-09-2007, 05:21 PM
#8
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Chewing up the gear on the cam is catatrophic. Then you have steel shavings throughout your engine, rebuild time. Find out the recommended gear from the manufacturer and set it up correctly. A properly setup bronze gear should easily run 25,000 miles in a babied street engine.
however have been unable to do this , cannot (so far) get info from Speed pro cams ,company sold & sold again 
my neighber is going to install a melonised cam gear.
07-09-2007, 07:03 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
07-09-2007, 07:06 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
http://21cgt.com/FMWebCatalog/default.htm
No mention of gear type required unless you pick a mechanical roller cam.
No mention of gear type required unless you pick a mechanical roller cam.
07-09-2007, 08:57 PM
#11
Race Director
It is his engine. I bet he has a Billet cam if he originally had a bronze gear. A billet cam requires a bronze or composite gear. Melonized is not on the list for billet cams from comp or crane. I wouldn't take the chance. Melonized gears are used on stock chevy roller cams but the metals are engineered to be compatable in that application. Different manufacturer, different metal. If it isn't compatable he will be building a new engine instead of replacing a gear. $110 is cheaper than a new motor.
07-10-2007, 12:22 AM
#12
Crane cams .491 shaft #11951-1, .500 shaft 11950-1
Coated steel gear, replaces a bronze gear with
OEM life span. $61.95. inductioned hardoned steel billet,
or carburized steel roller cams.
Coated steel gear, replaces a bronze gear with
OEM life span. $61.95. inductioned hardoned steel billet,
or carburized steel roller cams.
Last edited by Little Mouse; 07-10-2007 at 07:22 AM.
07-10-2007, 07:16 AM
#13
Le Mans Master
It's not on the list because they don't sell it. I've read of many people using this gear on billet cams with no problems. I'm running one on my Comp mechanical roller billet cam. I've pulled the distributor several times and so far everything looks perfect.
07-10-2007, 08:53 AM
#14
Race Director
I have heard the horror stories of running the wrong gear on a roller cam. Different manufacturers use different alloys to manufacture similar products. I would at least contact federal mogal and at least ask for recommendations. MSD uses a melonized gear. They don't live well with some roller cores.