Distributor gear ?

[streetdemon70]

I know its been asked and i searched but couldnt find a clear answer. Im in the middle rebuilding my 70 302 and i am going back with a flat tappet cam. what distributor gear do i need?

 

[65fastbackresto]

Steel I think

material needs to match that of the cam. Someone correct me if I`m wrong.

 

[entdoc]

iron or bronze, iron will last longer

 

[streetdemon70]

thanks guys

 

[Fast63]

Yeah, flat tappets use Iron, although I called comp cams once asking this question and they said flat tappet cams these days are built with an alloy that allows them to accept any gear material, even steel, but that you can't use an iron distributor gear on a roller/steel camshaft. If you are using an older cam, I would use iron for sure, but I would use iron anyway in your case.

 

[D.Hearne]

Use the same gear and distributor it came with, if they're still serviceable.

 

[Rusty67]

You could upgrade to one of those composite ones if you want to spend the money. They are supposed to last forever and work with all cams. I think Comp Camps makes them.

 

[streetdemon70]

iron or bronze, iron will last longer

are you sure i can use bronze? i found a good deal on a distributor and it has a bronze gear on the end and want to make sure it will work.

 

[Rusty67]

They do work but you need to replace them every like 6 to 10,000 miles depending on how hard you drive it. If you don't your timing will start to suffer. Also, your oil pump is attached to the bottem of the distributor so think about that as well.

 

[Fast63]

They do work but you need to replace them every like 6 to 10,000 miles depending on how hard you drive it. If you don't your timing will start to suffer. Also, your oil pump is attached to the bottem of the distributor so think about that as well.

Yep. I would not ever use bronze, I don't know why they are even made. Usually they are used in race engines only from what I've heard.