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Melonized Distributor Gear

Old Jan 19, 2005 | 12:06 PM
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Default Melonized Distributor Gear

GM requires the use of a melonized distributor gear with steel roller cams. What exactly is "melonized"? Is this a surface treatment for a hardened steel gear?
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Old Jan 19, 2005 | 12:52 PM
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Default Follow-up Question

Can you use a melonized distributor gear with a regular flat tappet cam?
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Old Jan 19, 2005 | 03:51 PM
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You have to run softer metal on the easy to replace dist gear. Melonized is softened iron. I use the comp cams polymer gear with my non sleaved billet roller cams.
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Old Jan 19, 2005 | 05:15 PM
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So, does that apply to all roller cams?

I haven't fired mine up yet and I have a Lunati roller in it.
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Old Jan 19, 2005 | 05:31 PM
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roller cams require the poly gear if it is not sold as one of the cams with a sleaved on distributer gear.

Your smarter buy the sleaved cam because these polymer gears are about $100 bucks and so brittle that if the teeth get hit they break off. I have 5000 some miles on mine and it still looks new.
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Old Jan 19, 2005 | 07:34 PM
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Originally Posted by '69CoupeDude
GM requires the use of a melonized distributor gear with steel roller cams. What exactly is "melonized"? Is this a surface treatment for a hardened steel gear?
Yes, it is a surface treatment that results in a hard surface (for wear resistance) while leaving the material below it in its relatively soft original condition (for toughness).

It is a form of case hardening.
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Old Jan 21, 2005 | 08:59 AM
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How do I find out if my cam is sleaved or not?

I didn't see anything on the web site.
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