Thread: L88 gear drive cam

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Hello! I am new to this forum, and have a question for any L88 "gurus" out there. I was fortunate enough to stumble across a #3925533 gear drive reverse rotation cam, brand new and still in the tube since 1967. Where can I find a distributor gear? Does the distributor still turn in a clockwise rotation, since the cam gear is cut opposite that of a chain driven cam. Do I need to run the old 1111263 ball bearing TI distributor? Thanks folks, any help at all is greatly appreciated.

going have to wire it the way the dist turns you are gear to gear marine gear should work of the dist i think the very old 283 /327 used gear drive on STD rot you will need a cam plate to keep the cam from screwing out of the block. the timming gear is the same as rev marine bbc? as well as the cam plate ? and there a spacer ring to .i have seen the l 88 cams like yours the dist need some work as well curve advance plate will need work for advance if i am thinking right .isky may have a dist gear as well

First thing to find out with a marine cam is, what rotation is it for? Some marine engines turn the other way, better find out before you spend any cash on a dead horse!

if a l88 cam they did make a gear to gear cam no chain so it going the other way but for STD rotation engine just the cam is going the other way so marine dist gear should work and hold down plate as well

Hi guys! Thanks for the input. I do have the cam retainer plate, timing gears are still available from Cloyes--- part #2532S. This is the same timing set as used on older 366/427 truck engines. According to older (no disrespect intended) GM guys, the cam is supposed to be ground so as to use standard 18436572 firing order, and the distributor still turns in clockwise direction. Engine is standard rotation, also. You just have to use the correct distributor gear. My question is, why did Chevrolet reccomend the ball bearing distributor? Was it for continuous high RPM use, or did the distributor shaft try to walk up the housing? I am pretty sure that with a factory marine gear drive (2 gear) set-up, and CCW rotation engine, the cam gear is cut the same as a chain driven cam. Wouldn't there have to be a special oil pump if it were the other way around?

Originally Posted by RobLS7

Hi guys! Thanks for the input. I do have the cam retainer plate, timing gears are still available from Cloyes--- part #2532S. This is the same timing set as used on older 366/427 truck engines. According to older (no disrespect intended) GM guys, the cam is supposed to be ground so as to use standard 18436572 firing order, and the distributor still turns in clockwise direction. Engine is standard rotation, also. You just have to use the correct distributor gear. My question is, why did Chevrolet reccomend the ball bearing distributor? Was it for continuous high RPM use, or did the distributor shaft try to walk up the housing? I am pretty sure that with a factory marine gear drive (2 gear) set-up, and CCW rotation engine, the cam gear is cut the same as a chain driven cam. Wouldn't there have to be a special oil pump if it were the other way around?

i pulled the rev bbc cam off the shelf for marine use the dist gear is cut the same as a std rot so the oil pump will pump .over 20 years ago a guy had some still new in the GM tubes .we did talk about this he wanted to sell me one . you say the dist it will turn the right way then your set. i was not thinking very good yes it still need to turn the right way as a STD direction so i was wrong on that .i would worry more about the thrust end play on the dist then the ball bearings in the dist i think that was for HI rpm use that the L88 cam likes. stock dist would not do.that cam was copied by many cam grinders every one put there spin on it .it in the day was just plane BAD in a good way

Hi Pat. The cam I have, #3925533, has the distributor gear cut opposite that of a chain driven cam, so the distributor should still turn in a normal rotation with the correct gear, no? I appreciate the input, especially about the distributor. Rob. P.S. Here is a lesson in Scottish Diplomacy--- The ability for a man to wear a kilt, and not be called a pussy, or scare any sheep.