Hmm.... the MSD is damn near a free wheeling device, so all the gear is really doing is turning the pump...stronger shaft, high volume, whatever.
Obviously, not every roller cammed FE is using an external pump, and more than a few are using 50w racing
oil in the summer.
Not all that concerned about what made my gear snap. More concerned that it could snap without jumping through hoops and about running a motor for the street/long drives/some autoX and some open track, but no drag racing (other than burnouts)...in other words, no more than I would expect from a damn new Vette.
I've been hitting the internet and visiting forums for motors and cars concerning roller cam setups, and bronze gear failures and roller lifters coming apart are more than a occasional or freak situation. And they do occur with external pumps, whether wet or dry. Racers are switching the bronze gears regularly. Mike's (Fire Dog's) synopsis pretty well summed up everything I've read. Add to that concerns about cam creeping and an assortment of other stuff we haven't even talked about here.
Really leaning toward a flat tappet. Less parts to be concerned about inside the bowels of the motor. If I give up some hp, and how much USABLE horesepower is given up is really in dispute...seems I would lose less in the low and middle if I chose the right flat tappet grind...I have some other areas to make it up if I felt the need, which is debatable given the power of this sucker in a 2200 lb car.
Two things could change the equation for sure...Schubeck liftersw and pressed in gears for FE cams. The former is still fairly new and expensive; the latter don't seem to exist this side of having a cam built (unless I missed something checking the cam sites and forums).
Only thing I haven't heard thus far are good arguments concerning the pros and cons of a roller hydraulic versus a flat tappet setup. Obviously, I'm still going to run roller rockers up top no matter what I do.
Because I am fickle...I may not change a damn thing and keep the current cam setup.