Thread: Gear Drive/ Timing Cover

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I have a gear drive setup in my small block. I recently had to pull the motor due to some unfortunate bearing wear. I noticed the timing cover has some wear marks where the gear drive has been rubbing on it. I checked the clearances when I installed it and everything was in specs. Is this something I should be worried about or is this normal wear? What can I do to stop it from getting any worse? Any help would be much appreciated.

Some companies make special covers to match up with their gear drives such as Edlebrock while most drives are used with either stock or other aftermarket timing covers... It may be possible to use a cam button depending on which manufacturer's gear drive set-up and which timing cover you are using... You might want to check with the manufacturer of the drive to find out what recommendations they have...

Also another note, many gear drives are not recommended for high-winding engines I have seen some that are not intended for use over 7000 RPM...

Hope this helps some...

Dave Brisco

I have a cam button in place it came with the drive also when I bought the drive I was told it works with the stock cover. It is the idler gears that I am conserned with. The motor doesn't see much over 5000rpms. I followed the instructions carefully when I installed them. If I have to replace a cover every 10,000 miles I won't be too conserned, but it just seems alittle unusuall to me. I have never used gear drive before so it is a new experience to me. Maybe next time I'll just put a super charger on.

what about end play
when you are breaking heavy like after a 8 sec run every thing goes forward

Gear drives stink. I don't know a reputable high perf builder who uses them unless the customer REALLY wants it.

I talked to a engine builder about gear drives,(He doesn't like them), but he told me the drive gear and the idler gear are free floating on the drive gears axle and will move in and out a bit. That's why some machining is required. He modifies the drive gear axle also. I'm considering using one mainly for the competion "sound", but I'm wondering just how loud and irritating it will be crusing at about 2,000 to 3,000 RPM?

Tzer,

It depends on your age. The older you get the more annoying it sounds.

As an aside, I think this is a fad that has mostly run it's course. Most people I hear commenting on these now express some disdain. Words like "pretender", "fake", etc creep into the conversation, unless the car is an obvious "race" car. Personally, if you really love the sound, do it, it's your car.

Bob has a point... It seems the gear drives are closely tied in with the Pro Street theme... Seems fewer and fewer guys are building Pro cars these days...

Dave Brisco

Gear drives can not be used on an engine that is equiped with a knock detector. It seems that they send harmonics through the engine that the sensor detects as knock. That is reason enough for me to decide against using one.
To kep your drive from eating through the timing cover you need to use a timing cover that is equiped with a cam button. An adjustable button will be perfered. You may want to think about using a bearing between the cam gear and the block too to fully locate the gear.

I put a gear drive in my 350. I got it from Summit. At 3000miles the idler gear let go and pieces went through my engine. The gear lost pieces of a few teeth.
I really do not like the gear drive. Not for the teeth coming apart but the noise and vibration. I put it in a van! Loud or what!
My rebuild has a double roller Cloyes now. I suspect I could never get my engine tuned to the point where the difference between a chain and gear are even measureable. It was fun for a few minutes, and then it was a little overbearing.
Go with a chain. It works.