The hydraulic roller cams typically do NOT require a bronze gear since they have hardened steel cam gears...and can therefore take steel (or iron) distributor gears.
That is one of the benefits of going with hydraulic if one wants to go with a roller cam.
767...even when the distributor gears are perfectly mounted on the shaft (and drilled for the larger Chevy pin), the bronze gear is designed to be a disposable piece to protect the relatively soft steel found on solid roller cams made for FEs. Remember, distributor gears are doing double duty on wet sumps, and are even more strain given the HV pumps we tend to use on these beasts. When the gear goes...you cease from going, wherever the hell you are, and then you start fretting over the little bronze pieces in your
oil until you get a chance to drop the pan (always fun in Cobras). The FE market is not as widespread as Chevy or various small blocks, and that is the reason given by the mfgs over the years for dragging their asses on the the solid roller sticks.
Again, there will always be a few folks who have had good luck on the street. I've heard of exactly five now, given the above post, and one of those had a dry sump, while two were talking about FEs in their drag racing sedans which occasionally found their way on the street. I'm sure there may be others...maybe dozens.
Here's my thinking...these damn little cars have enough stuff we need to watch, and the motors (at least mine) can cost what a nice little new Mustang GT with few options runs. Why in the hell would someone want to introduce a weak (or at least questionable) link to worry about. When a roller lifter lets go, it is nasty...the little arms (sans the needle bearings) just starts cutting into the cam, and the little needle bearing pieces just travel around the motor. Yes, all kinds of ideas of getting
oil to the lifters (to keep the little bearings happy)...scribing, pin holes, etc.
Why not either stick with the technology of the day...flat tappet...or come all the way forward to a hydraulic stick? You haven't put anything together yet. Keith was one of the first proponets of the hydraulic stick, and how he could make the power and produce the revs approaching (in some cases surpassing) flat tappet sticks.
If I was building a brand new motor, I would go hydraulic roller. Thankfully, the tin lump Boghosian built me five years ago has survived my solid roller fixation and just pours out the power with the lovely ticking of the flat tappet. Having said that, it will commence to blow apart the next time I'm on a run...it's an FE kharma thing.
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