[MidOHasp]

I don't think it has much to do with extra crap on the grear. It's a metal vs. metal (which is harder) fight.

Roller cams are steel, and will munch an iron gear pretty quickly. Steel cam needs a steel gear, and amazingly enough, MSD and Comp Cams don't make the distributor gear required to mate an MSD distributor to a steel cam!! I guess you're saying COMP does now, in the "plastic" variety.

Crane Cams make a steel gear for the steel cam. I think the bore is .531", but I really don't remember. Doesn't matter who makes it, you just need the right distributor shaft diameter, and to replace the stock iron gear with a steel gear.

That's what I did. Don't have enough miles yet to tell you how it has worked (5,000 miles), but will be pulling the distributor soon, and if I remember, I will let you know - my guess is it is fine, from what I've heard and read in many other places.

Hope this helps.