motor is an 87 305 motor with hydraulic-roller cam.

I installed a new Crane cam about 2 1/2 years ago along with a bronze gear which I thought I would need. Well the bronze gear has been chewed slightly and is throwing my timing out. It's inface screwed up completley.

I ordered a new bronze gear today .490" shaft (I presume this is the correct size?). However, after doing a search I found this link:

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...ler/index.html

In the article they say that

"Virtually all street hydraulic- and mechanical-roller cams now come from the major cam companies with iron gears pressed onto the end of the camshaft to allow the use of stock-type iron distributor gears instead of the softer and less durable silicon-bronze gears. "

Well I never knew this. So the cam I have I could just put on the original gear and not have to wory about screwing the cam up?

Any info on this is appreciated. Did I at least order the correct shaft size gear?

Thanks

Robert

 

I just called Crane because this was playing on my mind. I don't theed the bronze gear. Damnit!! I just bought another of those too. I'll have to see if they will give me a refund.

So what would cause the bronze gear to wear? This is what I'm now trying to establish.

Thanks again

Robert

 

They always wear. That's their job. They're sacrificial.

Just use a factory austempered ("melonized") gear. It will last the life of the rest of the motor.

 

Thanks for that. I've already dug the original factory one out. I'll fit it tomorrow.

So how long have they been pressing iron gears onto the hydraulic cams? I was always under the impression you needed bronze gears.