I just finished my 305 to 350 swap. When I went for the test drive, the car stumbled, backfired and shut-off. Afterward it wouldn't start. AFter looking for causes of the problem, I found out that the gear on the distributor shaft has about 4 teeth sheared off and all of the other teeth are worn about 2/3 of the way through. From what I can tell the camshaft looks alright.

I have a high volume oil pump. My camshaft is a flat-tappet hydraulic Competition Cams Xtreme Energy camshaft. I know that you have to change distributor gears when running a roller cam, but didn't think you had to switch the gears for a standard hydraulic camshaft. Will getting a bronze gear solve my problems?

Thanks,Dave

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Better to keep one's mouth closed and be thought a fool, than to open
it and remove all doubt.(Mark Twain)
Homepage of VTCamaro/Arntzman
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dont run a bronze on it, most likely just from age and the high volume pump puts a bit more strain on the gear and was just a little too much for it, just get another (new) steel gear and you will be fine

 

hey man,.. I had the same thing happen on my 409 sb in my '80,.. I was running a new hydraulic roller camfrom comp cams,.. it was a CAST cam, not billet, so I ran the steel gear. I had the same things you did, jumping timing, ran rich too . Pulled the dist out,.. all teeth were thin and like one side was worn off. I replaced it with a bronze one, had no problems since. Comp cams and a few reputable engine builders had no idea why it did it,....just a freaky thing I guess. The dist. was rebushed and endplay set prior to the first installation. Hope any of this can help!

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1980 Camaro- (sub) frame off resto, my drag car

1985 Z-28 - My newest toy and driver

1967 Camar - to be purchased SOON!!

 

So, will running a bronze gear hurt anything, such as the camshaft?

-Dave

 

no but you have to change them about every 3,000 miles

 

I've never heard that, there;s no way it would only last that long.