if i purchase a gear drive for my sbc 327 can i use the same timing chain cover?? probably a stupid question but you never know unless you ask!!
Most are designed to fit under stock cover. Now that I said what you wanted, here is my $.02: geardrives **** and I can;t stand them. They do not provide any significant benfit for performance ovfer a good chain set-up. They are obnoxious noise. They do not sound like a blower. OK, off my soapbox..........
As said above , it will fit under stock cover ! And as for my preference they sound cool as hell ! I run one in my 265 !
Don't do it. I've made good money taking those things out of other people's engines when they fail. Many times the valves are bent when the cam stops turning. "If it works, don't fix it!"
Gear drives have a single purpose. To drive the injector pump without wearing out a "chain". If its not equipped with mechanical injection, the louder the gear drive noise, the slower the car.
Sorry, I think they sound great (the quieter ones) and have never heard of anyone having problems with one. Yeah, I've read all the voodoo stuff about them causing valvetrain hysteresous, but seriously doubt it could be proven for a street car. Lots of Honda sportbikes had gear-driven cams, and they seemed to be fast and reliable. I say go for it, if nothing else it'll irritate the know-it-alls...
I want one of those gear drives that you can switch on and off like Mel Gibson's blower drive in Road Warrior...... Oh..... I guess the engine wouldn't run, would it....... let me think about that.
It can be like driving around with the gf, wife or mother in law in your car all the time when they're in a bad mood, constantly badgering you and there's nothing you can do to make them quiet. It's your call either way.
I put one in my girl's Fairlane with a 351W. I had to do some minor grinding on the inside of the cover, but that's just a Ford for ya. Nothing is easy on a $*&@#% Ford. On the SBC, you should be fine. I like the sound and after about a week, you forget it's making any noise at all unless you turn down the radio and roll down the windows. From outside the car, it sounds *****in'. She's been running it for about 4 years now and she's a lead foot. Never had a problem.
Yes, it will fit under the stock cover. The center pin is designed to be ground as necessary to fit on a sbc as well. I have a Cloyes cast aluminum cover on mine and the pin did require grinding. Just dry fit the cover with a gasket and grind only if necessary for a snug fit. With a tin cover, it will flex just enough to allow the pin to fit as is. MY two cents on a gear drive... I think it sounds *****in on the right motor. It sounds MECHANICAL like everything else on my drivetrain. With 4.88 gears, a whining Muncie Rockcrusher, Solid Lifters, lots of compression and cam, a fairly limited exhaust and a 7000 rpm redline, there is nothing sweeter than the combo of noise. A symphony if you will. On a stock small block with quiet or loud exhaust, well, lets just say it is kind of like the big picnic table wing on the back of a stock Honda. And, yes, in that case it does sound like a power steering pump going out... Do what makes you happy either way!
I read once that you can get the same results by rinning a wire from your coil to a a.m. radio with the speaker under your hood, at least you would be able to switch it off when you wanted. personally, I think gear drives are cool, but can understand it would be noisy on a long drive.
thanks for the responses. glad to see i will not have to buy another item... and for the record i love that noise!!! it should complete my straight header to lake exhaust system sound in my 50 chevy. cops will probably love it too!! YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!
Gear drives & mini spools rule ! People are always saying dont do either ! I do both and enjoy both !
My 2 cents i have a noisey pete jackson in my 302 and with the lakes headers you can only hear it in 2 and 3 rd gear and all the input i have from everybody is that it sounds good, i say do what you want
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