SBC Distributor gear

Bobby Zlatkin · 11-21-2013, 08:13 AM

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 · 11-21-2013, 09:49 AM

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 · 11-21-2013, 11:38 AM

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 · 11-21-2013, 12:10 PM

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 · 11-21-2013, 12:28 PM

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 · 11-21-2013, 02:21 PM

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

11-21-2013, 08:13 AM	#1
Bobby Zlatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mills River, NC Posts: 417 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	SBC Distributor gear 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? __________________ Bobby & Norene Zlatkin L/SA

11-21-2013, 09:49 AM	#2
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,372 Likes: 354 Liked 307 Times in 103 Posts	Re: SBC Distributor gear 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

11-21-2013, 11:38 AM	#3
Bobby Zlatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mills River, NC Posts: 417 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: SBC Distributor gear 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? __________________ Bobby & Norene Zlatkin L/SA

11-21-2013, 12:10 PM	#4
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,420 Likes: 529 Liked 333 Times in 180 Posts	Re: SBC Distributor gear 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

11-21-2013, 12:28 PM	#5
Bobby Zlatkin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mills River, NC Posts: 417 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: SBC Distributor gear 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. __________________ Bobby & Norene Zlatkin L/SA

11-21-2013, 02:21 PM	#6
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,372 Likes: 354 Liked 307 Times in 103 Posts	Re: SBC Distributor gear 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