gears or timing chains

[signsbyesa]

need to know if the milodon timing gears are reliable and good for
drag racing or should i just go with a billet true rolling tiiming piece.
the gears cost more but if they realy work well that would be the
choice, i don't want to go with a belt, for some reason i don't like
the idea that the belt will start to crack just like a serpentine belt
thanx for looking and helping out :D

[davis419b]

Spend the money! If a timing chain breaks it will cost alot of dollars.

[signsbyesa]

davis419b
but you know I think about one small gear taking the punishiment
when a dbl roller chain is a unit of strenght, mmmm don't know,
and a dbl gear rotating that fast wonders if it would bind one day
or just chip a little at a time. im thinking of going with the milodon
system with 3 gears. well see
thanx :wink:

[edvancedengines]

I can agre with previous poster except the same possibly applies to belts too. Gears do trasmit crank harmonics more into the cam.

I have built literally hundreds of engines over my lifetime. I have no idea how many and have never had a Cloyes True Roller Double Roller chain to break. I have engines in all horsepower ranges using the best Cloyes. Low to medium spring pressure engine I like the Hex-A-Just. It is much easier and is quicker to degree in. IN the high horsepowered and big strong spring pressure engine I like to use only the Cloyes Quik-Adjust which uses 6 perimter bolts in the two piece Billet Cam Gear. I have those on engines over 2,000 hp and with 460 # seat and over 1,250 lbs open pressures. No issues.

Do use Gear drives with engines using Roots styloe blowers with blower drives on front.

If it is a spring pressure lower than 225# seat I suggest the Cloyes Hex-Adjust. iF it is higer I suggest the Cloyes Quick-Adjust for more money. It is really nice.

Ed

[Robert1320]

X2 with Ed's info!

[alscoupe]

Ed and Robert;

What's ya'lls thoughts on the "Pete Jackson" style gear drives for a medium range blown street/strip SBC?

[RonOwensRacing]

I have sold a lot of those gear drives in the last year or so never had one come back they have been on street cars

[signsbyesa]

you know when i was going for the timing chain the
Cloyes Quik-Adjust billet gears is the one i was looking at
i just think that the chain has more of a grip than a single
gear high in hp, need to realy lool cause if the chain
can go a good season with around 800hp than for the
price is right :wink:

[gyrogearloose]

need to know if the milodon timing gears are reliable and good for
drag racing or should i just go with a billet true rolling tiiming piece.
the gears cost more but if they realy work well that would be the
choice, i don't want to go with a belt, for some reason i don't like
the idea that the belt will start to crack just like a serpentine belt
thanx for looking and helping out :D

We have always used a Comp belt drive system. We put a new one on at the start of the season. Never had a minutes problem.

[billhendren]

Ed and Robert;

What's ya'lls thoughts on the "Pete Jackson" style gear drives for a medium range blown street/strip SBC?

In back to back tests on my superflow dyno the Jackson lost 8 h.p. compared to a stock timing gear set,probably due to the wedging action.the best gear drive out there is the Shaver Wesmar which is the same as the old Summers drive but updated with aluminum frame and polished gears.
The Jesel or C.V. products belt drives will run for several thousand race miles without a belt change and are the best choice if the budget allows. Bill

[sp2816]

billhendren wrote:The Jesel or C.V. products belt drives will run for several thousand race miles without a belt change and are the best choice if the budget allows. Bill

I bought my Jesel belt drive new in 2001 for my 539 BBC and only have about 200 runs on it. (Due to career change have not drag raced very much in the last several years) That is not very miles, but it is 6 years old. How long does the belt last?

A CompCams rep told a friend that he should replace his belt every year, but that seems a bit excessive. His belt had broken on his SBC 429 after about 3 years and the spider gear was well worn, so he is now wanting to change every year.

Thanks for your inputs,
Bill M

[billhendren]

Look at it this way, the Nextel cup guys run them for 500 miles at a time with no problems.we run them at least that far on our super late models and have never had a broken belt.some of the early belts were only 20mm and we did see a few failures but after they went to a 25mm belt we haven't seen any breakage.Bill

[sp2816]

Bill, thanks again for the advice. That was along the lines that I was thinking (at least 500miles).

Bill M

[Robert1320]

Sorry guy I don't get to this forum often enough.
A chain or belt is the way to go.
For the money a good chain is hard to beat.
If the budget allows I like the CV Products Belt drive.