mustangmike33

how many of you guys have ever used a gear drive? what are the advantages and dis-advantages of using one? and what are the best brands to get?

FivePointOhh

they are loud and annoying. generally only last 50k miles or so(what i've been told...not 100% sure on that)

almost elimnate the possiblity of "jumping a tooth" and they dont stretch. very accurate timing.


but mostly loud and annoying. even the quiet ones are super annoying...

Portmaster

Advantage is they eliminate chain stretch for more precise timing

Disadvatage. They are noisy and will give you a headache, will lead to premature valvetrain failure because they transfer crankshaft vidration into the valvetrain. If your block has been line bored the clearance will be to tight. I don't know any engine builder that would endorse the use of a gear drive. Buy a good true roller chain would be my advice. I've taken a few of them out because what sounded cool in the begining got annoying in a few days.

mjr46

save your money for a mod that is useful

Modular_Madness96

POOR MANS BLOWER!

theyre very accurate and as said eliminate skipping a tooth.

the part i disagree with is the harmonic distortion supposedly transmitted through the valve train.Ive used them many times with no problems and have known quite a few others to use them with no issues.

if you get one and i would get the pete jackson "NOISY" those are about the loudest and best sounding out there from what ive used.

Modular_Madness96

First of all they sound no different than a healthy blower,and second thats not true about them only lasting 50,000 miles (just to clear that up since thats what you have been told)

Are you saying a blower whine is super annoying?Have you ever heard a beefy V8 with say a 6-71?Maybe an 8-71?Sound annoying?Theyre no different than the gear drive.

FivePointOhh

i test drove a 80's camaro that had them many times before i bought the mustang. first time i heard it...sure it was kool. i think they sound nothing like a blower. i think they sound annoying. so i disagree with you. and i only drove the car maybe 25 miles before i had enough. i've ridden in blown cars, turbo, centri and roots blower. sounds nothing like any of them.

but thanks for the clarification on them. i only asked about them before i got into cars, so i dont know anything about them other than pretty much not used in general for most applications.

BlessedHellride

my old man used to run a gear driven set on his 482cid BBC Malibu and I for one loved the sound they made and he never had an issue with them what so ever. But it was a straight up drag car / trailer queen. I know the set had well over 200 passes because we counted up time slips one day. He was spinning his BBC to 7400rpms also.

FORD TOUGH

I have heard they are junk. Just stick with a double roller timing chain.

projectresto83

This thread just made me realize my motor didn't/doesn't have a double roller chain on it. Just the old weak single chain. Good thing I was gonna replace it anyway while its torn apart .

OO yea gear drives are annoying.