Ford Racing 427W ate cam gear

[bobcowan]

The redline is generally a function of the valve train. Especially the lifters and springs. If you want to raise the rpm limit, you'll need to change those two items. And, really, unless you're racing, there's not much point in it. Except that it sounds cool.

When the distributer and cam gear go, it sends all that trash through the engine. The oil filter should pick it all out, if there's not too much. When that happened to me, I pulled the pan and cleaned it out, and disassembled the oil pump for cleaning and polishing. Then I flushed it by doing a couple of oil changes with cheap oil and a good filter. I ran it that way for another year without any problems.

[Luce]

Ford racing give the spec's of the cam, but not the manufacturer. Howard has quite a few and say they're made in the USA. Any comment or manufacturer recommendation?

I'm leaning to going back with something very close to what I have to a little less lift and duration so I don't run into problems with valve/piston improper interaction. Same with the valve springs. I'll maybe measure the current height so I can explore possible heavier springs for more RPM's, but I don't plan on pulling the heads to verify clearance, so I'm not going with any longer duration.

Thanks

[blykins]

I'd be more than happy to help you with cam selection.....shoot me an email if you wish.

I'd be more inclined to find out why it ate the gear first though...

Check the distance from the distributor flange to the end of the gear. There is a spec for the gear to be installed by and if it's too short/too long, it can do what you're describing.

Lifters are cheap. Most likely, Ford Racing used the OEM spider and OEM lifters. If so, a new set is about $110...

[Luce]

I don't recall the dimension, but It was in the docs I downloaded from Fordracing, and I was in spec. Also, the contact patch on the distributor gear was in the middle of the teeth.

I didn't get a dizzy gear pic, but I did get a pic of the cam gear with my little USB snake camera. It was all drenched with oil, too.

I suspect a bad, unfinished gear from MDS, or a soft cam. Next time around, I'm thinking I want to use the bronze gear on the dizzy and change it as needed. It's a simple operation compared to changing the cam.

Thanks Brent. I'll give you a call later this morning. I'm hoping you can just set em up with what I need to do it this weekend.

[blykins]

I would rather have a steel gear any day.....the bronze gears aren't noted for their longevity.