CAM Gear Question????

When did Detroit start using Nylon tooth cam gears, more specifically Buick

 

They make less noise than the steel ones.

 

I'd say early seventies...about two weeks before the parade of new cars started coming into the service department on a hook with jumped chain and a cup of plastic teeth in the sump...
I first heard of this roughly 1972 when my father-in-law's new Olds 98 died suddenly. We stood and marveled at the little pointy bits of nylon the mechanic gave him...

 

chevy used fiber cam GEARS in the 50s. They used aluinum/plastic cam SPROCKETS in the 60s.

not sure about Buick, but I would guess some time in the 60s look for the casting date code on it

 

this is just a guess - but I'd say '64. I had a 215 under the bench for a number of years (a '63) and it had a steel ge****t - if I recall right.
'64 was the first year for the 300 - I don't recall much nylon being used for bushings, etc on pre-'64 cars.

 

Not really certain when the first ones appeared, especially in Buicks, but I would "guesstimate" around the mid-to-late '50's.

By me here they are still very popular. They are actually able to deliver some slightly higher HP numbers than a "steel" gear setup or a "tru-roller" link one.
<O</O
There's two another very distinct advantage's to the "nylon" gear, it helps to keep the drivetrain "vibrations" from the lifter area AND it runs somewhat quieter.<O</O

I still sell/use a high number of these sets when I can get them. They ARE slowly disappearing! I bought some of the last ones around for the "HP" BB Chevs.<O</O
Thanks, Gary in N.Y.
<O</O
P.S. Below is a shot of a unit delivered about a week ago. It's an all aluminum BB, block and heads, with a 10-71 on top and as you can see in the photo it's going to use the "nylon" timing set. It's a high-dollar unit with "cheap" timing set! We've done this one this way for years now, NEVER an issue. Even with 700#+ spring pressure's!!!
<O</O

 

I think Ford started using soybean fiber prior to world war 2. Nylon probably came after that, even though it was in use for other things earlier. My wife's old S10 had a cam gear made entirely of some sort of plastic. I found it out when I hit it accidently and it split in two. But it had about 100K miles on it, and showed no signs of wear. But the aluminum timing gears with nylon molded on the teeth, are suposed to be good for about 60K miles. By then the chain is streached and it probably beats the teeth to death.

 

I've seen Pontiac V8s with nylon/aluminum cam gears as old as '65.

 

the plastic is actually phenololic like what pool balls are make out of. they are really light weight and dont wear very easily or quickly