SBC Distributor gear

[Bobby Zlatkin]

Pulled my distributor yesterday and noticed that the gear is more worn than it should be. Not that many runs on the distributor or the cam which had lots of break-in lube on the gear.
What would cause that?

[Mike Taylor 3601]

Could be meshed too tight or loose, how much oil pressure do you have? the higher the pressure the more load on gear
Mike Taylor 3601

[Bobby Zlatkin]

std. oil pump. Oil pressure 60 lbs. cold. 30-35 lbs. hot.

Could it be because the block has been decked and the manifold has been cut to match the block? If so, would putting a couple extra distributor gaskets lift the distributor enough to take pressure off the gear?

I wonder if it hurt the cam gear any?

[FED 387]

First thing you should be using a Bronze/Brass dist gear this will allow wear but keep the distributor gear on the cam from experiencing excessive wear--Second yes it is probably wearing cuz you tightended it down too tight cuz of all the machining-Third not sure bout the cam gear but probably could be some wear--gaskets will work in a fix but see if you can find some metal shims and put them in til you achieve the correct fit. You dont have to torque that hold down to 100 pounds !!!! just tight enough to not allow it to turn. FED 387

[Bobby Zlatkin]

FED, I don't torque it to 100 lbs. but probably do tighten it more than I should. I always felt that the up & down free play in the dist. would cover that and I didn't want to take any chance that it might turn. I guess I overreacted on that and won't tighten it that much in the future. I see that the hold down clamp has some spring to it and I probably negated that.

The new dist. that I am going to use has a melonized gear. I don't know what that means, but assume that it's softer than a steel gear.

[Mike Taylor 3601]

Not trying to be a know it here but you can tighten dist clamp as tight as you want and it is'nt gonna be meshed in gear any tighter,well except if you mash gasket out from under it then it will sit the thickness of gasket deeper,only thing excessive tightening of clamp is gonna do is bend clamp.
If needs shimmmed can use extra gasket or 2,can buy shim kits Mr Gasket,Moroso, can also buy slip collar from MSD you remove collar from dist in lathe then replace with new slip collar,I usaully use the slip collars myself
Mike Taylor 3601

[FED 387]

most all late billet steel cams especially the roller cams are using the melonizing process on the distributor drive gears on camshafts--- it helps prevent wear on both gears---

[Alan Roehrich]

I use the Comp Cams composite gears now, on everything. They only wear if you have a problem, and if they do wear, they do no damage. Also, if you have a problem with an oil pump or drive, the gear will sacrifice itself, preventing damage to any other component.

For Stock and Super Stock engines, where there is almost always a fair amount of milling and decking, as well as various gasket thicknesses, I prefer an MSD distributor with an adjustable slip collar, so you can set the correct gear mesh.

[Mike Taylor 3601]

You can buy slip collar from MSD and convert any dist. to slip collar
Mike Taylor 3601

[Bobby Zlatkin]

Thanks guys,
I've been doing this stuff for 58 years, but being a hobbiest, I realize I'm still just an amateur drag racer.