Solid roller cam and MSD distributor, which gear?

I have a billet solid roller cam going in the 545 I am putting together now. I need to know what distributor gear to get. My distributor is a MSD 8580, and I am using a high volume fuel pump. I am not crazy about using a bronze gear, had them wear out before on a small block. But, if a bronze gear would be the best option for me I will get one.

I am looking at these three;

http://www.jegs.com/i/MSD+Ignition/121/85813/10002/-1

MSD 85813
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http://www.summitracing.com/parts/crn-52971-1

Crane 52971-1
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Or the MSD bronze gear 8581

http://www.jegs.com/i/MSD+Ignition/121/8581/10002/-1

Other suggestions? Thanks.

Jess

Mustang-junky wrote:I have a billet solid roller cam going in the 545 I am putting together now.  I need to know what distributor gear to get.  My distributor is a MSD 8580, and I am using a high volume fuel pump.  I am not crazy about using a bronze gear, had them wear out before on a small block.  But, if a bronze gear would be the best option for me I will get one.  

I am looking at these three;

http://www.jegs.com/i/MSD+Ignition/121/85813/10002/-1

MSD 85813
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/crn-52971-1

Crane 52971-1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Or the MSD bronze gear 8581

http://www.jegs.com/i/MSD+Ignition/121/8581/10002/-1

Other suggestions?  Thanks.

Jess

If the cam is billet steel then use the bronze gear.

A dry sump will virtually end your gear wear problem.

rmcomprandy wrote:

Mustang-junky wrote:I have a billet solid roller cam going in the 545 I am putting together now.  I need to know what distributor gear to get.  My distributor is a MSD 8580, and I am using a high volume fuel pump.  I am not crazy about using a bronze gear, had them wear out before on a small block.  But, if a bronze gear would be the best option for me I will get one.  

I am looking at these three;

http://www.jegs.com/i/MSD+Ignition/121/85813/10002/-1

MSD 85813
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/crn-52971-1

Crane 52971-1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Or the MSD bronze gear 8581

http://www.jegs.com/i/MSD+Ignition/121/8581/10002/-1

Other suggestions?  Thanks.

Jess

If the cam is billet steel then use the bronze gear.

X2,if the bronz gear is set right,and is getting plenty oil,it will wear good.

There is an oil galley plug just to the drivers side of the distributor and cam gear area. Normally the gears are only splash lubed. Drill the oil galley plug and direct feed constant oil. Gears will be much happier.

I just noticed I wrote high volume fuel pump. I meant to say high volume oil pump not fuel pump.

I have done the distributor gear oil mod Paul Kane has on his web site.

http://www.highflowdynamics.net/?

Looks like the bronze gear is the way to go. I don't put that many miles on the car so It should be ok. Just to be safe I guess I will pull the distributor out each fall and check out the gear. Thanks for the help.

Jess

Check and make sure the gear location is correct depth on the shaft.

Mustang-junky wrote:I just noticed I wrote high volume fuel pump.  I meant to say high volume oil pump not fuel pump.

I have done the distributor gear oil mod Paul Kane has on his web site.

http://www.highflowdynamics.net/?

Looks like the bronze gear is the way to go.  I don't put that many miles on the car so It should be ok.  Just to be safe I guess I will pull the distributor out each fall and check out the gear.  Thanks for the help.

Jess

My apologies, My block is an A460 block, so there are dedicated lifter galley oil feeds. Same as 302 and 351W. The 351C/460 oil system doesn't have the plug I was referencing. Paul's identified MOD is the way to go for the stock blocks.

Check with Crane Cams. They have an iron gear that they say can be used on billet or cast cams, I can not remember the part number. They recommended it to me on my Crane hydraulic roller cam and I have not had a problem using it.

nord315 wrote:Check with Crane Cams. They have an iron gear that they say can be used on billet or cast cams, I can not remember the part number. They recommended it to me on my Crane hydraulic roller cam and I have not had a problem using it.

The gear is "steel" and they say it works. ??? Ford Racing had it in their catalog for while.

I have never used one with a billet cam.

rmcomprandy wrote:

nord315 wrote:Check with Crane Cams. They have an iron gear that they say can be used on billet or cast cams, I can not remember the part number. They recommended it to me on my Crane hydraulic roller cam and I have not had a problem using it.

The gear is "steel" and they say it works. ???  Ford Racing had it in their catalog for while.

I have never used one with a billet cam.

X2

MSD has a polymer gear out now to. We have tried a couple out in builds. They worked, have not had any issues. Will know how They wore this off season when they come back.

AndyLeslie wrote:MSD has a polymer gear out now to. We have tried a couple out in builds. They worked, have not had any issues. Will know how They wore this off season when they come back.

I don't think they have a polymer gear for a 460 dimension.

rmcomprandy wrote:

nord315 wrote:Check with Crane Cams. They have an iron gear that they say can be used on billet or cast cams, I can not remember the part number. They recommended it to me on my Crane hydraulic roller cam and I have not had a problem using it.

The gear is "steel" and they say it works. ???  Ford Racing had it in their catalog for while.

I have never used one with a billet cam.

Here is the information that I found in the Crane Cams catalog. I have been using one on for 15 years on my crane hydraulic roller cam, with a high volume mellings oil pump, without an issue.

"Coated Steel Distributor Gears
Crane Cams now offers precision machined, specially coated and processed steel distributor gears for popular engines using either cast flat faced lifter or steel roller camshafts. Since roller lifter cams are made from either induction hardened steel or carburized steel, neither of these materials are compatible with the normal stock distributor gears. In the past, “bronze” distributor gears were used. For street applications these gears can wear at a high rate and may have to be replaced on a regular basis.

By using modern heat treating and manufacturing processes, Crane Cams has developed a series of steel distributor gears that are compatible with standard cast cams and induction hardened and carburized steel roller cams. Crane Cams now makes it possible to use a steel distributor gear that provides OEM-style life-span, eliminating the need to frequently replace bronze alloy gears. These Crane steel gears are available for most popular engines for both stock and aftermarket distributors."

Call tech line at cam manufacture and ask them.  Removes almost all doubt then. Just my $.02 worth
Perry

rmcomprandy wrote:

AndyLeslie wrote:MSD has a polymer gear out now to. We have tried a couple out in builds. They worked, have not had any issues. Will know how They wore this off season when they come back.

I don't think they have a polymer gear for a 460 dimension.

Just looked, they only offer the bronze, iron or steel from either Comp or MSD. I should have checked before opening my mouth. It is only offered for the small block Ford.

Steel Gear 351C-460 w/Hydraulic Roller Cam

Part No. 85813

kim wrote:Steel Gear 351C-460 w/Hydraulic Roller Cam

Part No. 85813

That is the gear I had a link to in my original post. I'm going to try the bronze first. Direct oiling from the block mod, and the fact that I probably will only put about 1000 miles on the motor a summer, should make the gear last a while. If not I will try something different.

Jess