Cam/Distributor gear
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,005
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From: jackson nj
Cam/Distributor gear
I had planned on installing a Comp Cams camshaft into my 89 Vette but....
I have both called their tech dept and sent emails and even with the information they grudgingly gave me, they never mentioned that I could have a need to change the distributor gear. I've been told from other sources that it could go either way...has anybody done a swap like this? What was the end result of the distributor gear you used?
I have both called their tech dept and sent emails and even with the information they grudgingly gave me, they never mentioned that I could have a need to change the distributor gear. I've been told from other sources that it could go either way...has anybody done a swap like this? What was the end result of the distributor gear you used?
Last edited by Redvette_22; Feb 16, 2010 at 08:11 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
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http://www.cpgnation.com/forum/prope...haft-2519.html
Your 89 has a roller camshaft so you have a melonized gear.
Your 89 has a roller camshaft so you have a melonized gear.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
With the engine that Pete K is building for me we will have a cast Erson roller cam installed, when I called Erson cams to ask about which gear to use this is what Mr Erson told me..With a cast cam you have to use a cast iron distributor gear . With a billet steel cam you have to use a bronze distributor gear. Now, some manufactors that make steel cams still use a cast iron gear on the cam that is pressed onto the end so you can use a cast iron distributor gear instead of a bronze gear..And last but not least if you want a distributor gear that will work with any cam made, you can get a composit distributor gear for about $100.00.. My suggestion would be to contact the cam manufactor to see which gear to get for your distributor because for me , it was very confusing.
.WW
.WW
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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With the engine that Pete K is building for me we will have a cast Erson roller cam installed, when I called Erson cams to ask about which gear to use this is what Mr Erson told me..With a cast cam you have to use a cast iron distributor gear . With a billet steel cam you have to use a bronze distributor gear. Now, some manufactors that make steel cams still use a cast iron gear on the cam that is pressed onto the end so you can use a cast iron distributor gear instead of a bronze gear..And last but not least if you want a distributor gear that will work with any cam made, you can get a composit distributor gear for about $100.00.. My suggestion would be to contact the cam manufactor to see which gear to get for your distributor because for me , it was very confusing..WW
.WW
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,005
Likes: 38
From: jackson nj
How do I determine if I have a melonized gear on the used distributor that I purchased? It's supposed to be from a late model Camaro with a number of 1103880 but I can't confirm that. I'm changing from a large cap to a small cap distributor.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
It will be hard to tell which gear you have on your distributor unless someone can tell you for sure which cam they were running..Its not a good idea to reuse a distributor gear on a new cam anyway because of the wear pattern you would have on the old gear.. Distributor gears aren't expensive anyhow unless you go for the composit gears..I think the cast distributor gear for my cam was $27.00. A melonized gear is just a cast iron gear with a hard coating according to the product sites.....WW
Last edited by WW7; Feb 15, 2010 at 10:05 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
I'm considering a Comp Cams cam for my current L98 rebuild and see that they do offer that composite dist. gear.
Though I'd rather have a cam with a cast iron gear to use stock dist gear, I may try the CC anyway.
Anyone have any experience on the expected life of the CC composite dist. gear??
Though I'd rather have a cam with a cast iron gear to use stock dist gear, I may try the CC anyway.
Anyone have any experience on the expected life of the CC composite dist. gear??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
I'm considering a Comp Cams cam for my current L98 rebuild and see that they do offer that composite dist. gear.
Though I'd rather have a cam with a cast iron gear to use stock dist gear, I may try the CC anyway.
Anyone have any experience on the expected life of the CC composite dist. gear??
Though I'd rather have a cam with a cast iron gear to use stock dist gear, I may try the CC anyway.
Anyone have any experience on the expected life of the CC composite dist. gear??
Last edited by WW7; Feb 16, 2010 at 09:48 AM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
I heard that GM dist came with a hardened steel gear for compatability with the '87 & later roller cams.
Shouldn't this make a CC cam comatable with the OEM dist gear??
Still I'm thinking that, after ~200k miles, I should install a new dist gear during this rebuild??
Shouldn't this make a CC cam comatable with the OEM dist gear??
Still I'm thinking that, after ~200k miles, I should install a new dist gear during this rebuild??
