Distributor Gear

[hwoods]

I will be running a roller cam I got from Barry R. Pertronix Distributor.  Most Bronze gears say not for extended street use.  I can't find where anyone makes a composite distributor gear for the FE Engine.  Anybody know someone that does make a composite gear?


Thanks

[scott foxwell]

I'd stay away form Composite gears. If you get a good quality bronze gear it should last a LONG time. Or, depending on your cam core you might be able to go Melonite gear. You might call these guys: http://distributorgears.com/

[blykins]

Run a steel gear with that camshaft.   Crane or Mallory/MSD has plenty of gears to choose from depending on the shaft size.

[scott foxwell]

Run a steel gear with that camshaft.   Crane or Mallory/MSD has plenty of gears to choose from depending on the shaft size.

MSD gears are junk. Made in China. MANY problems with them.

[blykins]

I haven't had any problems at all with them, but I use more of the Crane stuff than the others.

[TJ]

I've got several thousand miles on a pertronix distributor and crane steel gear.  No complaints or issues. 

[hwoods]

Thanks, ordering Crane Steel gear

[Falcon67]

I haven't had any problems at all with them, but I use more of the Crane stuff than the others.

FWIW - you'll recall I just lost a $400 solid roller cam to a Mallory steel gear.

[turbohunter]

Having blown through a bronze gear (my fault and street) I’m a little more than casually interested in this topic.
Didn’t know there were the other choices in gear suppliers, thanks.
BTW here is a melonite process link because I can’t be the only one that had no idea what it was. If I keep hangin’ around here there’s no tellin’ what I might learn.
https://www.ibccoatings.com/melonite-qpq

[blykins]

There's really not that much to it.

A cast cam gets a cast gear.

A billet steel core cam gets a steel gear.

The others won't last well at all. 

Most of the issues that guys have with gears that *should* work is that the gears are not positioned correctly on the shaft.  There is a spec for it and if it's not held, you will get gear wear.  You can't just pull a gear off, put a new gear on and line the holes back up.  It doesn't work like that.

[blykins]

I haven't had any problems at all with them, but I use more of the Crane stuff than the others.

FWIW - you'll recall I just lost a $400 solid roller cam to a Mallory steel gear.

Not sure what happened there with that one, but I have never lost a steel or cast iron distributor gear.  Ever.

[scott foxwell]

I haven't had any problems at all with them, but I use more of the Crane stuff than the others.

The largest engine re-manufacturer in North America (ATK) removes and replaces every MSD distributor gear they get. MSD used to use a US manufacturer for their gears @ ~24.00 ea. till they found out they can get them for ~2.00 ea. from China. The Crane (which is Comp) I'm sure, is also an offshore gear.

[cjshaker]

Having blown through a bronze gear (my fault and street) I’m a little more than casually interested in this topic.
Didn’t know there were the other choices in gear suppliers, thanks.
BTW here is a melonite process link because I can’t be the only one that had no idea what it was. If I keep hangin’ around here there’s no tellin’ what I might learn.
https://www.ibccoatings.com/melonite-qpq

I didn't know it was used on cam gears, but seems like a good idea. Melonite is a very effective coating for gun mechanisms that are prone to areas of high wear and corrosion. My apologies if I've caused a red flag to the FBI, CIA or NSA for mentioning "gun"

[blykins]

I haven't had any problems at all with them, but I use more of the Crane stuff than the others.

The largest engine re-manufacturer in North America (ATK) removes and replaces every MSD distributor gear they get. MSD used to use a US manufacturer for their gears @ ~24.00 ea. till they found out they can get them for ~2.00 ea. from China. The Crane (which is Comp) I'm sure, is also an offshore gear.

That's all fine and good, but still doesn't change my experiences. 

[scott foxwell]

I haven't had any problems at all with them, but I use more of the Crane stuff than the others.

The largest engine re-manufacturer in North America (ATK) removes and replaces every MSD distributor gear they get. MSD used to use a US manufacturer for their gears @ ~24.00 ea. till they found out they can get them for ~2.00 ea. from China. The Crane (which is Comp) I'm sure, is also an offshore gear.

That's all fine and good, but still doesn't change my experiences.

LOL...OK, whatever. I'm just trying to share useful information for others. Do with it as you please.