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All,
I've been searching for a new distributor and finally settled on the Blue Print MLL-BPP3503TDBK ready to run distributor with Tach Drive, Vacuum Advance and Mechanical Advance spring kit.
I ended up calling and got a tech online to discuss the application and felt comfortable ordering it as it's made here in the US.
I truly wanted to go with the MSD System ....but jeeze that just ridiculous pricing. ($650 vs $310)
I'll do a full write up
Now the question(s)
Gear Lube or Bearing grease on the Melonized Cam Gear?
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
The best thing you can do for your tach drive is to make sure your distributor is installed in the Service Bulletin "Alternate" clocking position to straighten out the cable. This dramatically reduces the torque required to turn the cable, thus also dramatically reducing wear on the crossgear and the thrust surface. E-mail me if you need instructions on the alternate clocking positioning.
Lars V8FastCars@msn.com
All,
I've been searching for a new distributor and finally settled on the Blue Print MLL-BPP3503TDBK ready to run distributor with Tach Drive, Vacuum Advance and Mechanical Advance spring kit.
I ended up calling and got a tech online to discuss the application and felt comfortable ordering it as it's made here in the US.
I truly wanted to go with the MSD System ....but jeeze that just ridiculous pricing. ($650 vs $310)
I'll do a full write up
Now the question(s)
Gear Lube or Bearing grease on the Melonized Cam Gear?
Synthetic or organic lube for Tach Drive?
I'll have it Thursday .....installing Sat / Sun.
You MUST compatibility-match the dist gear material to whatever material the cam's gear is. Melonized dist gear is great, but it's Not universal.
Get that wrong, and you'll have a much larger problem than any tach drive. Specifically,what is you cam's gear made of ?
When installing dist, always lube the dist & cam gear with an extreme pressure lube such as moly paste or CMD #3. Either will also serve well on dist cross & shaft.
Again, Must compatibility-match dist-cam gear materials. Suggest do Not run it until compatible-match confirmed.
Just a hunch, the BPE dist is probably manufactured on same Asian line as those identical (but Much less $) pieces on fleabay
You MUST compatibility-match the dist gear material to whatever material the cam's gear is. Melonized dist gear is great, but it's Not universal.
Get that wrong, and you'll have a much larger problem than any tach drive. Specifically,what is you cam's gear made of ?
When installing dist, always lube the dist & cam gear with an extreme pressure lube such as moly paste or CMD #3. Either will also serve well on dist cross & shaft.
Again, Must compatibility-match dist-cam gear materials. Suggest do Not run it until compatible-match confirmed.
Just a hunch, the BPE dist is probably manufactured on same Asian line as those identical (but Much less $) pieces on fleabay
Thanks,
Confirmed with BP they build them here in the US...i would guese the parts are sourced overseas. Electronics at least the cap and are by my understanding the same MSD supplier.
As far as the Cam Gear - I can tell this motor has never been out of the car so the cam is original 1974 454 BB....I'll have to research the material unless anyone else knows??
1958599 is the GM part number for the distributor gear. Pretty much ALL Chevy V8's used that gear. If you have the original distributor I would just swap the gear over to the new one. If not, that part number gear is available from a lot of sources.
^^^THIS^^^
OK seems cam is OE genuine GM. Those cams and their integral cam gears are made of cast iron. And those old OE C3 distributor gears are Not Melonized.
GM does offer a Melonized distributor gear for 0.491" shaft, BUT it has a different Part Number =19432310
* a functional equivalent (also Melonized) to GM P/N 19432310 is Standard Ignition (SMP) P/N DG-78
FYI, to Melonize is essentially a surface treatment; it is Not an alloy.
Melonized dist gear works well with Both cast iron cam gears and with MILD billet steel roller cam cores (Mild as is sae 5150; as are GM OE roller shafts with integral cam gear).
if, IF the New distributor ALSO has shaft OD = 0.491" , and IF old gear is in good condition, also suggest swap OLD gear onto New (overpriced) distributor; as those two gears have bedded-in together,
FWIW While shaft OD 0.491" is SOP for OEM sbc/BBC, Many aftermarket dist for sbc/BBC have shaft OD = 0.500".
Last edited by Rebelyell; Dec 9, 2025 at 11:46 AM.
You do not need a Melonized gear.
Use moly paste.
Stock 454 optimal timing is 15 intial 38 total....for stock camshaft.
The can should pull 10-12 degrees at idle.
If you E-mail Lars for distributor papers....ask for timing papers too. He explains it very well.
Thanks Guys,
Glad I asked - think best approach is to swap the gear (if in good condition).
Right now getting about 8-10 deg vacuum and it's all in 34-36.
It's not steady. New Points set at 30 deg dwell.
Original distributor feels like the bushing are worn - if I had a dial indicator i could check run out....but I thought a new premium unit would be more reliable....maybe - maybe not.
Gonna find out though.
Thanks Guys,
Glad I asked - think best approach is to swap the gear (if in good condition).
Right now getting about 8-10 deg vacuum and it's all in 34-36.
It's not steady. New Points set at 30 deg dwell.
Original distributor feels like the bushing are worn - if I had a dial indicator i could check run out....but I thought a new premium unit would be more reliable....maybe - maybe not.
Gonna find out though.
Again, thanks to all who commented.
As before; Do Use an extreme pressure lube on those two gears.
Why ? Since they're already mated ? Why ?
Because the dist gear is Now aligned slightly different; because gear's on a New shaft that fits more-tightly into a New housing; the alignment has changed somewhat.
74 BB 454 new Distributor
