1. On the 385 Series engine, the builder must set proper Distributor Thrust Boss Clearance. If not set correctly you will either be A) chewing up the block and/or distributor and cam gear, or, B) you will be shearing distributor gear pins. I’ve posted extensive details about this on countless discussion forums and it blows my mind how many engine builders are unfamiliar with this critical setting. Use Google and do a search for details and charts.
2. The bronze gear is an
intended wear item. Welcome to the world of high performance/high maintenance engines—accept the necessary maintenance and live with it. Better the dizzy gear than the cam gear.
3. I have customers whom have executed the High Flow Dynamics Distributor Gear Oiling Mod, and they claim over 25,000 miles on their bronze gears (your results may vary). It’s very safe to assume their Distributor Thrust Boss Clearance is spot-on as well.
4. HV pumps do not prematurely wear distributor gears, nor do they “pump the pan dry.” Both erroneous beliefs are regurgitated internet rhetoric from “internet engine builders.” Fact is the
oil flow pumping rate through these engines is primarily dictated by the bleed-off rate (ie, clearances) in the engine itself. Further, both the standard volume and high volume Melling pumps use the exact same bypass spring (ie, same bypass pressure/and therefore basically the same drive load). Therefore, the HV pump moves essentially no more engine
oil through a given engine but simply
bypasses more
oil (and thereby has more oil available should engine vitals require more oil for some reason).
6Likes
Threaded Mode
