I'm running an LT4 hot cam and a vacuum advance HEI distributor with an in-cap coil. Last time I had the distributor out I saw some wear in the teeth. It didn't appear excessive but I'm just concerned that maybe the OE gear isn't the right one for this cam.

 

The OE gear is the right one, since it's an OE cam.

But if your gear has wear, it certainly wouldn't hurt to replace it. You don't need a bronze one. Just make sure the one you get is the austempered type, that the factory calls "melonized" (whatever that's supposed to mean....); and that it's the right inner diameter for your particular dist shaft, which will be either .491" or .500".

 

I had the same problem and it will just get worse. It doesn't matter if they are both OE cause GM never put OE mechanical distributors on roller cammed engines. You need the GM one that is "melonized iron"(hardened the same way the cam's dist gear is)like RB said. It is a bit pricey, but it works great and you will have no more wear at all. I have first hand experience with this matter and the last thing you want to happen is for your distributor gear to fail while you are driving. I wish I could show you a pic of what your gear WILL eventually look like let me just say it's not good. I knew to replace it on my HOT cam but I ran an old style distributor on my L98 and chew city. Just go to www.gmpartsdirect.com and look up the distributor gear use with roller cams.