Project on another forum:

[Cruisin63]

Wow, my old setup is running 20psi with no coupler issues. Maybe crazy tight clamps? I don't know as I sold the car and never ran that much boost when i had it. I think he upgraded the clamps though. I do have 2 different solutions in mind if it leaks boost. Should have the motor back from the shop this week!

[Cruisin63]

Got the TriPower finished!

[Cruisin63]

Finally making some progress!

[jayb]

That is a good looking engine!  I like how you did the fuel rail with the regulator.

[Cruisin63]

Well I got it fired up! It lasted about 5 minutes.  The idiots that sold me the cam said it didn't require a bronze gear because it's a retrofit roller cam. I called the manufacturer directly and he said it does, for SURE. The distributor gear was hamburger, but by luck alone, the cam gear still looks new. I should have the bronze gear today. I flushed everything out and will change the oil and resume the initial baseline tinkering.

[machoneman]

Well, the bronze will work but you'll need to pull the ditzy on occasion to check for wear.

A steel gear is most often recommended for a steel-cored roller for long life. A bronze unit often times wears down as it's designed to 'save' the camshaft's gear. Did you have a cast iron gear before or was it steel? A gear installed too far down the ditzy shaft btw will also bind on the block's boss and quickly wear out ANY ditzy gear! 

Note the Ford service page for 352-427 FE's in this link for the correct dimensions:

http://www.fordforums.com/f641/distributor-gear-thoughts-156816/

[Cruisin63]

You're right on all counts. The bronze was recommended by the cam grinder, but he did say folks get away with the hard steel, just not what he suggests. The gear that died was both cast, and installed out of spec. It was almost .100" too far down! Talk about binding.  The dizzy also has too much up and down slop. I'll re pin the bushing, and new gear in spec. I have those pages that calls out the dimensions. After it has some run time, I'll check on the new gear and see how it wears. If everything goes well, I might swap to the steel when the 1st bronze one gets shoddy. Probably mid next week before I'll be able to do much on it.

[Cruisin63]

Well, I figured I'd post up an update. The car runs crazy smooth. The boost comes on exactly as planned, and then the fuel pressure plummets and I have to get off it. Ugh! I've tried a few things and found a nasty burr on the inside of the regulator that gouged the aluminum so it doesn't hold enough pressure. I ordered a better regulator from Aeromotive and should have it in tomorrow. The a/f ratio is way too rich and hits 9 right before going dead lean. Hopefully the fuel pressure settles down and I can actually get some damn tuning started! I set up the distributor for 15 degrees initial, 30 total, all in around 2500. The thing idles at 16-17 afr somehow so I should be able to run the cruise circuits really lean and have decent mileage. Once the center carb is tuned I hook the outer carbs back up and jet them accordingly.