Timing chain vs. gears

[fsstnotch]

Originally Posted by Jerry Clayton

The gear drive info presented here is not for the type of gear drives that any top fueler runs---this is the Pete Jackson type gear drive that came out many years ago to replace the old link type chains and plastic/fiber gears--the type of cheap gear drive up to then required a reverse ground cam to work--the Pete Jackson type would work with standard rotatation camshaft

The Donovan, Kieth Black( built for Black by Donovan) and the copy cat Milodon gear drive used a single idler gear that had the gear mesh set and doweled to the block. This type gear drive does not push the cam upwards as the gears mesh on there proper lines and the cam turns in place---the Pete Jackson drive has the gear driven between the crank and cam forcing them apart causing the wear to the top of the cam bearings.
However they are expensive in todays world------

Jerry

You are correct Jerry, that info was for the typical run of the mill, "I want to put a gear drive in my car," gear drive. The single idler's are much better than the double idlers but IMHO, are not going to outperform a billet double roller on the street. On the track, I'd agree, but not for a car that gets 95% of it's time on the street.

Just a side note, many, many, many, many, many, engine builders in my area will not put a gear drive in an engine that they built. If the customer requests the gear drive, he supplies them with a roller and tells them they will have to install the gears themselves. I guess they don't want the liability or the people talking about how poorly the engine was built etc etc if it failed due to gears. A poor reputation as an engine builder isn't going to get you very far!

Just to clarify, I am not a gear hater! Although after reading my previous posts, it would seem that way. I have in the past and have friends who run them. Most of which rebuild their engine annually or have less than 1000 miles put on their vahicles per year. I drive the wheels off my cars, that's what their for! It's just my opinion that for the majority of people with a cobra, a double roller is just money better spent!

Thanks for clarifying the single idler Jerry, I think my first post may have made the gear drive look like it is simply a waste of metal! haha

Josh

BTW Jerry, I passed your hello on to your nephew. Small world huh?