gear drive

[74roadrunner440]

any one ever use a gear drive timing gears? if so u think they rob horse power or just sound cool? and discusions or coments would be helpfull, before i put a new camshaft in me new motor seemed that the bolt walked its way loose not im going to have to flush my motor and get all the metal filing out good thing looks like most of it staed on the block like a magnet but ate a ring around the cam gear from the cam pin spinning any sugestions would be greatly appreciated thanks again every one for every ones help

 

[eric383]

My oldest daughter has a Chevy rod with a noisy gear drive in the 350. It does sound cool but after a few miles it starts to get to you. I have heard all the arguments about gear drives and harmonics, power robbing, etc. I have never personally experienced this. The motor came this way and it does sound wicked and looks cool with the hi rise dual quad setup but this is on a old Chevy street rod. I would never put one on a classic Mopar. Just my 2cents worth. Good luck.

 

[Cranky]

I feel that gear drives introduce more harmonics into the valve train than a chain does....and use Loc-tite on your cam bolt next time.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Back in the late 70's thru the 80's everyone had to put a gear drive in their 350 powered Camaro because they sounded cool. But I often asked these guys if their power steering fluid was low (then wait for the reaction). I believe there is a purpose for them, perhaps when the valve train is designed for high RPM use and a chain won't be able to take the abuse of the high rate springs and wild cam profiles. It's really a race thing out of necessity. For a street car or even a hot street car just use a high quality chain and forget about it.

 

[WP29440SE]

they sound cool in OTHER peoples rides , but I would never run it in my street car

 

[RustyRatRod]

I have a quiet one I am actually thinking of trying on my 383.

 

[Cranky]

A belt drive is better than a gear drive for a race car and works very well on the street too and pretty much takes out crank harmonics to the valve train. Cummins diesels use gear drives. It's not very loud but I can hear mine....

 

[snakeoil24]

Don't compare a gear drive for a diesel to gas engine gear drive. A roll master timing chain is a better choice on the street. Gear drives are old technology. if you need the rush then get a belt drive, jesel is the only way to go.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Millions of gas engines have come from the factories with gear drive. GM 4 cylinders. International V8s. Even some V8 Chrysler marine engines. I'm not an engineer so I'm not going to get into what's better or why, but lots of people run gear drives on the street with zero trouble and no worries about harmonics. I got into this same discussion over on FABO a long time ago.......and I was wrong. There were several members there who ran them and said that they had no trouble whatsoever. I'm not making an arguement for gear drives. I'm just tellin you what I found out first hand. I haven't made my decision to run one. I wish somebody made a timing chain tensioner for a big block. That would make my decision for me. I actually modified a small block timing chain tensioner to go on my 331 Hemi. That's fairly easy since they will accept the same timing chain. The big block poses different challenges.

 

[Cranky]

Don't compare a gear drive for a diesel to gas engine gear drive. A roll master timing chain is a better choice on the street. Gear drives are old technology. if you need the rush then get a belt drive, jesel is the only way to go.

Wasn't comparing them....just saying my diesel has one. It's not even straight cut gears and you can still hear it....but the whole front end internals is all gears so that's probably why it's noticeable. And yeah, a Jesel setup is the way to go but ain't cheap.

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Millions of gas engines have come from the factories with gear drive. GM 4 cylinders. International V8s. Even some V8 Chrysler marine engines. I'm not an engineer so I'm not going to get into what's better or why, but lots of people run gear drives on the street with zero trouble and no worries about harmonics. I got into this same discussion over on FABO a long time ago.......and I was wrong. There were several members there who ran them and said that they had no trouble whatsoever. I'm not making an arguement for gear drives. I'm just tellin you what I found out first hand. I haven't made my decision to run one. I wish somebody made a timing chain tensioner for a big block. That would make my decision for me. I actually modified a small block timing chain tensioner to go on my 331 Hemi. That's fairly easy since they will accept the same timing chain. The big block poses different challenges.

Yup....for the street, there won't be any problem running gears....just noisy is all but all out race, doubt I'd use one.

 

[Meep-Meep]

Do I hear a gear drive???

 

[74roadrunner440]

caleed comp cam n he said they steel horse power fact or fiction

 

[RustyRatRod]

What difference does it make? Are you building for a dyno competition? Are you going to be drag racing for money? Flip a coin and make a decision. It does not make a hill of beans difference. Run a chain or a gear drive. It's nothing more than personal preference.

 

[67 coronet]

in the past gear drives gave you much more stable timming at higher rpms.todays true double roller chains and,as mentioned,belt drives give just as good stability without moving the extra weight of timing gears.most power loss is negligable at best with modern gears.its all just confusion of the old school stuff vs the new.run what you want,all the modern stuff is great.