[falconerr67]

Can anyone tell me what are the advantage to a gear drive over a timing chain or is there a differance at all aside from the whine ????? Any help or advice would be helpful . Thanks .

 

[tjcrawfo]

I guess theoretically the advantage is more accurate timing, however, a good timing chain takes less hp to operate and is much less noisy. I would think the best option is a good billet roller chain.

 

[wizwrath]

gears shouldnt be run with computer controlled vehicles (retards timming, etc.), gears have dead on accuracy but eats a little horsepower to turn and also metal shavings end up in the motor after a while, (gear teeth becomes razor sharp after long use), use a true double rollar billet chain setup for true street and belts otherwise for ease of degreeing and racing only.

 

[MHumpy]

I remember a debate about this on FordMuscle once (or twice) before...and someone brought up an interesting point that I had heard before. The timing chain is easier on the cam, apparently the gear drive, while allowing you to maintain accurate timing, transfers more drivetrain vibration to the camshaft. The chain allows a tiny amonut of flex to happen with out transfering it to the camshaft, therefore saving a little wear and tear on the valvetrain.
Some will say the gear drive also eats up a few horesepower...but so far no dyno results have been posted to verify or prove this wrong that I have seen.
Mike





<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Humphrey351 on 2/18/06 10:58pm ]</font>

 

[bassman97]

Though I may be new here, in the October '05 issue of Car Craft, they had a cam drive shootout in which chain, fixed gear, dual idler, and belt drives were tested and in terms of power, both gear drives produced more peak power than the chain but the chain had a better average horsepower. The difference in power though is around 1hp or less so unless you need every hp, might as well stick w/ the chain drive for the cost.

 

[89Trooper]

Unless you like the whine... like me! It's great pulling slowly into a car show... keeping it in first with the RPMs up... everybody stops what they're doing to see what's coming.

 

[71hotrodpinto]

Yah aggree with 89troop , heard a early falcon with a 302 and a gear drive, I had to ask if it had a blower, even though i new better. (He didnt have a blower to sticking through the hood)
Sounds wicked, However I dont know if I could live with it on a daily driver. Maybe im old now LOL
Id spend my money on a nice steel billet high quality roller setup from "rollmaster" or something like thiers.
I have one in my 302. (You know when you hold a nice watch it just feels expensive? Well thats the way it felt to me -precision and high quality.)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/302-HO-Ford-Rollmaster-billet-timing-set-new-b4t_W0QQitemZ8039627152QQcategoryZ33625QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Id bet that a High quality roller would stay accurate for as long as the rest of your engine IMO.
Good luck
You failed to mention what engine you had. I assumed a 302, but this company has sets for all ford engines.

_________________
71 Pinto
5.0 Roller block
B303 , 1.7 roller rockers, Crane beehive springs.
'68 302 Iron port polished heads.
Mod Must II headers.
Edelb Rpm Airgap
Holley 570
Msd dist ,Crane HI6 igntion
Bla Bla Bla
The money pit, "So... when will it be done?"

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 71hotrodpinto on 2/19/06 12:10am ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 71hotrodpinto on 2/19/06 12:11am ]</font>

 

[tonys10sec306]

I will take a timing chain anyday

 

[89Trooper]

Daily driver... timing chain.

Race car/show car... gear drive.

 

[steharz]

ive been using a gear drive for a couple of years now without any wear or other problems except that whine is getting pretty old ,and it makes it hard to hear whats going on inside the engine,id say a quality chain is the way to go

 

[1 Bad 88 GT]

Here's where I'd put my money.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 1 Bad 88 GT on 2/19/06 9:35am ]</font>

 

[71hotrodpinto]

Big Money and no need for the street imo

 

[1 Bad 88 GT]

I never said it was cheap or for street use.

 

[mikemustang289]

this is kind of off topic, but is there any benefit to buying a timing chain with billet steel gears vs. iron gears?

The billet steel gear timing chains are more expensive and look better, but is there really any benefit? How often do you break a timing gear? I have never seen that happen, I have seen chains let go but what difference does it make if the gear is billet steel or iron?

 

[71hotrodpinto]

Well they look cooler!! and youll know that its in there. You could always take a picture of it and then show people!! LOL! Really though I couldnt say that theres much benefit Only thing i can say is that this rollmaster set comes with "Chain is German IWIS chain, the finest in the world."
I bought one because i wanted the highest quality set made. I felt this was it.

 

[falconerr67]

On 2006-02-18 08:30, 89Trooper wrote:
Unless you like the whine... like me! It's great pulling slowly into a car show... keeping it in first with the RPMs up... everybody stops what they're doing to see what's coming.

I could relate to that . I would sure like to be the "What the heck is that??" noise . I guess it is all a matter of taste and if it is a more accurate way to keep the timing , then I guess I could put up with the whine . What the hey !!!

 

[falconerr67]

Thanks for all the options . This being made to be a weekend toy (small block) I think I will put up with the cool sound of the whine . I am adaptring a shaker scoop from Australia (boss 302 ) style to the car so it should have a lot of people guessing as to what's going on under the hood . Thanks to all for the help and can hardly wait till the snow melts in April to get back at her in Winnipeg Canada here . good luck to all !!!!

 

[289nate]

On 2006-02-19 00:31, 71hotrodpinto wrote:
Only thing i can say is that this rollmaster set comes with "Chain is German IWIS chain, the finest in the world."

There are some rather successful custom cam grinders that seem to sing the praises of this product. Seems word on the street is that it's the king of the hill as far as chains go.

Talked to one builder who would only use gear driven. His only reason was that he felt it was a safety factor (for the pistons hitting the valves not safey of the driver).

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 289nate on 2/25/06 11:46am ]</font>

 

[MY TWO STANGS]

The new Hyvo chains and gears that the Roush team are using in NAscar are a big improvement over the stock chain. We have been switching these into our mountian Snowmobiles and have eliminated chain failers.

 

[dbu8554]

ummm Nascar uses Timing Belts must be because those chains give them an unfair advantage or something, also I would not believe any test in any of the car mags out now a days because its all paid for by advertisers