I posted this in engines I figure I got a better chance of getting a straight answer here. Since the factory rollers are billet, and so are the aftermarket rollers, what I need to know is does a roller TPI distributor need a different cam gear installed on it. I already know some manufacturers put special gears on thier cams so you dont have to but what about the manufacturers that dont? anyone else put and aftermarket retrofit cam on a roller TPI distributor?

 

I asked Comp Cams this same question when I ordered my XE282HR. They said if the roller cam you are buying is made for a factory roller block, you do not need to change gears on the distributor. If the cam you are buying is going into a factory non roller block, you will need the bronze dist. gear. Apperently, the core they use for factory roller applications is compatible with factory gears. I can only say this holds true to Comp Cams, Crane, Lunati, Crower esc. may be different.

 

thanks I got it figured out, Its not the GM's that use a billet roller stock, its the fords. this question was off the rocker to begin with but thanks anyways.

 

ok what about this...i bought a msd 8361 distributor (mag pickup, vac advance)...this is goin onto a LT1 cam (edit) in a 94 motor..would i need the bronze gear?

 

I read that you need a melonized gear!!

 

right..but this distributor is goin into a roller block with a factory roller cam

 

I ended up getting a crane cam that has a cast gear on it already

 

F-crazy: Call MSD. I suspect no changes would be required. Keep in mind the cam gear that GM puts on their distributors for roller cams is the same gear they use for distributors designed for old flat-tappet cams. It's "melonized" or whatever it's called. Definitely not a bronze gear, though.

I think GM was one of the first (or THE first) to press a special gear on the back of their roller cams. They just didn't want to worry about whether a certain distributor was going into a roller-cam motor or a flat-tappet cam motor. Make all the cam gears the same and you don't have to worry about the distributor gear, either. Kinda smart if you think about it.

 

Damon: thanks man, thats what i was looking for..
ill call msd anyway to be sure

 

if anyone was wondering...i called msd today and all there distributors come with a melonized gear that can be used with roller cams