Can I use a steel distributor gear on my roller cam?

[methemike1]

I have a distributor with a steel gear, its not a cast gear its steel. I'm just running a Ford B303 cam. I have read some places that I need a bronze gear but I've also heard I can run a steel gear. Can someone help me out?

 

[HISSIN50]

Roller motors came with steel gears.

Bronze is too soft for a street car.

 

[EMW150]

Cast gear is for a flat tappet cam. Steel gear for a hydro-roller. Bronze is only for a solid-roller cam. So you have the right one for your B cam.

 

[methemike1]

Thanks guys

 

[methemike1]

I put the steel gear in and I ran it a while and drove it about 30 miles and nothing has happened yet so it must be ok.r

 

[nickmobile67]

Any update on how that gear worked out for you?

I ran a bronze gear for a few years but after pulling the distributor it was pretty worn...

 

[liljoe07]

Usually on bronze gears it take two to get it to act right. The intial meshing between the cam and bronze gear is kinda rough. So the first one gets removed and a second one thrown in. The second should last a long time. As long as oiling and clearances are adequate.

MSD makes a Bronze gear with nickel content of hardening. Damn good gears.

 

[nickmobile67]

Does this look like it would do the job with the Ford cam? COMP Cams: Composite Gear for Ford FW Engines 0.530-inch shaft

also what about pressing it onto the shaft? I don't trust just a parts bin roll pin...

 

[liljoe07]

You can use the composite gear with a steel roller cam.

 

[GDTrumbo]

^

GT

 

[90lxcoupe]

Usually on bronze gears it take two to get it to act right. The intial meshing between the cam and bronze gear is kinda rough. So the first one gets removed and a second one thrown in. The second should last a long time. As long as oiling and clearances are adequate.

MSD makes a Bronze gear with nickel content of hardening. Damn good gears.

could you explain how this theory works? what your saying is that the bronze actually wears the cam gear which would defeat the purpose of even getting a softer gear.

Does this look like it would do the job with the Ford cam? COMP Cams: Composite Gear for Ford FW Engines 0.530-inch shaft

also what about pressing it onto the shaft? I don't trust just a parts bin roll pin...

all dist gears have to be pressed onto the shaft but if you do buy that gear be careful, i was going to run one, until i heard of guys cracking them when they went to press them on the shaft. I've been running my steel gear on the MSD distributor for 2 seasons now, no issue, good wear on the teeth

 

[liljoe07]

The intial meshing can wear out the first bronze gear kinda quick if not dont correctly. So it normally takes two gears to get it right.

Were did I say it wheres the cam gear out?