Car died randomly on the way into work today. Would not restart, no spark.
Started normal diag for a failed HEI ignition component as i was not getting spark.
Right off the bat it was obvious the rotor wasn't turning. Pulled distributor and found teeth super worn.

Never had a gear fail at all, and I have done a few roller block builds. This is the GM part# 10456413 for roller cam engines as recommended by GM.

Engine is stock L31, about 80k miles. Been swapped into my '84 L69 and running great for 3mos. CCC carb with the GM performance spreadbore intake. Standard volume oil pump.
The stock L31 dizzy and gear showed no abnormal wear when swapped.

Need advise on root cause, (endplay or deck height spec?). It has obviously been wearing since I put it in, haven't noticed any oil pressure issues, crossing fingers no internal damage done.

 

The layer of hardening is very thin on those gears. When it gets compromised they wear really fast. My neighbor had the same thing happen on his 4.3 3 months ago.

Swap a new gear on and be done with it.

Edit should of added my neighbors cam gear looked fine.

 

I want to go that route but it doesnt give me that warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

This gear shouldn't have failed so soon IMO. It only has maybe 1000mi on it.
Something is up, anyone have an endplay spec once the distributor is tightened to the mainfold?

 

There is ALWAYS the possibility that you received a defective component. Keep in mind, about 5% of electical equipment leaves the factory with some sort of manufacturing defect. Whether or not, that defect ever comes to light, is a total cr*p shoot.

 

You better check out the cam gear before you just slap a new distributor gear on. When one goes, usually they're both shot. I'm talking about a flashlight and a blanket over the fender so you can see straight down the distributor hole.

 

Cam gear checked out ok.
Bought a shim kit as i had about .060 endplay. took it down to about .020
Going to check clearance to intake/make sure i'm not bottoming out on the oil pump, have shims if it is.
Also cut .030 groove in distributor body for direct oiling to gear.

Going to stab it back in tmrw. probably pull it back out and check it after a week.

 

How sure the cam wasn't swapped requiring a different dizzy gear??.

 

Positive. Pulled the engine myself out of a running 98 1500 with 80k on the clock.

Distributor is back in as of yesterday. Shimmed the gear, it needed .060 worth of shims and ended up with .016 endplay.

Distributor also ended up needing a .060 shim added to the manifold as is was bottoming out on the pump and shaft (Melling std pump/arp shaft). Had about .050 here.

I drained the oil and filter didnt notice any chunks, Ive put about 50 miles on it. Still strong oil pressure. Going to drain the oil tmrw and pull the dist. and check it out. Puttin that WIX filter to the test that was on it