melonized gear

hauss · #1 (**permalink**) 11-02-2019, 03:08 PM

I have a 8578 pro billet msd distributor and wish to install ,a melonized gear . Does anyone know of what gear mfg, part # I am having a hard time finding one.

spdbrake · #2 (**permalink**) 11-02-2019, 03:22 PM

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-435m/

Comp cams 435M

hauss · #3 (**permalink**) 11-02-2019, 11:04 PM

the 435m I received was loose and the gear was pre drilled to large for my pin that is why I am asking. Has anyone done this with this distributor ? I sent it back I am thinking it was worked on and repackaged. IT was drilled with two holes . I thought they came new with only one hole?

spdbrake · #4 (**permalink**) 11-03-2019, 06:34 AM

It could be possible is was a used part. but reading the reviews on Summit its a mixed bag.
I don't hold a lot of weight in the reviews however. Like the guy complaining it ate his Trick-flow cam. Trick-flow typically sells Billet Cams.

https://www.summitracing.com/tx/parts/cca-435m/reviews/

You could give Crane Cams a shot.
https://cranecams.com/distributor-ge...el-fd-44970-1/
But the roll pin is larger.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/c...70-1/overview/

MSD also makes one.
https://www.holley.com/products/igni...rs/parts/85834
https://www.summitracing.com/tx/part...85834/reviews/

I bought my Spiral roll pins thru McMaster.com. Called "coiled pins" on the site.
Around $9.00 per 100.
https://www.mcmaster.com/roll-pins

hauss · #5 (**permalink**) 11-03-2019, 09:24 AM

Wow thank you, way more info then I even asked for, thanks again.I will keep you posted on what works in my case.

blykins · #6 (**permalink**) 11-04-2019, 06:05 AM

Did you find out which cam core you have?

If it's a steel core, you need a Crane STEEL gear, part number 44970-1.

Melonized won't work with steel!!!!!!!

hauss · #7 (**permalink**) 11-04-2019, 04:39 PM

I have a billet roller comp cam. Comp says melonized is ok. using brass right now but others on this site suggested to get rid of it. I pulled it out after 1200 miles and the teeth are very sharp.My options are bronze, plastic ,or melonized. Are you saying go back to bronze ?

hauss · #8 (**permalink**) 11-04-2019, 04:55 PM

I just got off the phone with zak from comp cams he said { a melonized gear would be just fine.}. I explained my situation and that is what he said.

blykins · #9 (**permalink**) 11-05-2019, 02:42 AM

I’m saying use the gear that I posted up above and never worry about it again.

Melonized will not last!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plastic will not last!!!!!!!! Bronze, as you have seen, will not last!!!!!!

Listen to an engine builder who’s responsible if distributor gears fail after 2000 miles. Put a stinkin steel gear on that distributor!

Remember when you pulled the distributor out and said it looked fine and I told you it was very worn? Now you're seeing the teeth are sharp. I'm not talking to just to hear myself speak, I'm trying to help you out here.

Some gears are drilled for a 3/16" pin. Some are drilled for an 1/8" pin. The MSD default pin size is 1/8". Also, the gear should be a press fit, not loose. There is also a dimension that needs to be held, from the distributor gear to the flange. Don't assume that you can line the holes back up and put the pin in. Each gear is made differently, so you hold the dimension and not pay attention to the holes. If you look online for your MSD 8578 instruction manual, it will show you the dimension you have to hold: 3.995-4.005" with the end play taken out.

If you want to send your distributor to me, I will correctly install the right gear and send it back to you.

Sawdust · #10 (**permalink**) 11-05-2019, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blykins

I’m saying use the gear that I posted up above and never worry about it again.

Melonized will not last!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plastic will not last!!!!!!!! Bronze, as you have seen, will not last!!!!!!

Listen to an engine builder who’s responsible if distributor gears fail after 2000 miles. Put a stinkin steel gear on that distributor!

Remember when you pulled the distributor out and said it looked fine and I told you it was very worn? Now you're seeing the teeth are sharp. I'm not talking to just to hear myself speak, I'm trying to help you out here.

Some gears are drilled for a 3/16" pin. Some are drilled for an 1/8" pin. The MSD default pin size is 1/8". Also, the gear should be a press fit, not loose. There is also a dimension that needs to be held, from the distributor gear to the flange. Don't assume that you can line the holes back up and put the pin in. Each gear is made differently, so you hold the dimension and not pay attention to the holes. If you look online for your MSD 8578 instruction manual, it will show you the dimension you have to hold: 3.995-4.005" with the end play taken out.

If you want to send your distributor to me, I will correctly install the right gear and send it back to you.

Can't get any better customer service than that! Awesome Brent!

hauss · #11 (**permalink**) 11-07-2019, 08:10 AM

testing testing

hauss · #12 (**permalink**) 11-07-2019, 08:22 AM

First thank you, mr.blykins for the offer to fix my distributor . I will call summit today and order the crane gear.I will also go a step further and paint the gear with some leftover gear paint, I have from rebuilding rear ends, to to see were the gears are mating. I have a man o war block so not sure if the ford racing specs are correct for me. my initial thought was to set it at the same depth as the one I will be removing.

hauss · #13 (**permalink**) 11-07-2019, 01:22 PM

Ok ordered the gear and a set of roll pins it will be here tomorrow

patrickt · #14 (**permalink**) 11-07-2019, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blykins

Melonized will not last!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plastic will not last!!!!!!!! Bronze, as you have seen, will not last!!!!!!

Hmmm, what about hard rubber?

hauss · #15 (**permalink**) 11-07-2019, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Hmmm, what about hard rubber?

Lots of controversy on this subject, even called msd and comp. No straight answers. Going to go with blykins suggestions he is a builder to my knowledge . I will just have to keep a close eye on things for a while. I considered hard rubber but I am already using brass and want something to last more than 1500 miles.

patrickt · #16 (**permalink**) 11-08-2019, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hauss

I considered hard rubber but...

If hard rubber won't do it, paper maché is your next best option.

hauss · #17 (**permalink**) 11-08-2019, 07:17 AM

Oh I get it you were being funny! I thought I was being polite because you did not say composite .

patrickt · #18 (**permalink**) 11-08-2019, 07:49 AM

Having read pretty much everything blykins has written over the last 20 years on this forum, and the FE forums, I can tell you that his engine advice is quite pragmatic. Theoretical engine discussions are fun, but if I had a mind to buy an engine building shop, I'd put him in charge of the engineer/build side of it.

hauss · #19 (**permalink**) 11-10-2019, 08:18 PM

Not sure if I should make a new post or not but,finished installing new distributor gear. I was rechecking timing set at 10* advance at idle reved up to 3000 rpm went to 38* but would not come back to 10* at idle. I removed cap and rotor cleaned mech advance components with air and wd40 retested and got the same results. What is going on?

hauss · #20 (**permalink**) 11-10-2019, 08:20 PM

One more thing when I shut off motor and restarted it would drop back to 10*.