SBC Distributor 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.

[Jeff Niceswanger]

I was told years ago to take the pipe plugs out of the back of the block, at the cam oil galleries and " center" the distributor to the 2 cast collars on the bottom of the distributor. This will put the gear of the distributor in the middle of the camshaft gear ,so it is centered...Wife's tale or the truth?... Alan. ?

[Ed Wright]

Dang Bobby! You have five years on me. LOL

[Mike Taylor 3601]

Jeff,
That method could get in ballpark, but oil galleys,oil groove on dist. are'nt really located that close,to where I would use them that way.
Usaully I will place dist by checking the way the gears mesh together,I want them running where it meshes close to center on dist gear teeth and feel just a little bit of lash between gears.
You can check pattern on gears with grease or gear marking compound if need to
Mike Taylor 3601

[Con6tY5efs]

the higher the pressure the more load on gear