Broken distributor gear

Bluesman · #1 (**permalink**) 11-12-2003, 05:08 PM

Somewhere between shifts, I busted three teeth off the distributor gear. I found them at the bottom of the pan. The cam also got chiped. I had a new Clay Smith cam, new distributor gear (not bronze) and thrust plate put in. 500 miles later, I did it again. This time the dist. teeth rounded off. The cam teeth didn't chip or break. Last week I replaced the Mallory Uni-lite dist. Changed the oil pump. Started the cobra, set the timing and all is well. Has anyone had a similiar problem? Now I am sweating it out every time I take off.

CowtownCobra · #2 (**permalink**) 11-12-2003, 05:37 PM

Did you go from a high volume oil pump to a standard pump? I ask because I am afraid of the same thing happening. I have a HV pump, but at the next oil change I'm going back to a standard flow. Don't need 80 lbs of oil pressure...

Bluesman · #3 (**permalink**) 11-12-2003, 06:02 PM

Cowtown Cobra;

I replaced my pump with the same volume and style. I didn't go with Melling or any other high volume type. I don't race, I cruise.
The one I put in is from Summit. I have a 351W, chassis dyno'd at 300 hp. The stock number is SES-5-60-08-008 for the pump. I have around 50lbs at 1100 rpm.

Cal Metal · #4 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 08:17 AM

On an earlier thread dealing with this issue, a CC member who has had a lot of experience in engine building, told members that you need to burnish the cam gear with a wire brush to take out the sharp edges. He said that after doing that, he has built over 30 engines and has had no problem with distributor gear failures.

kingair · #5 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 08:49 AM

I went thru 3 Dist. gears, 2 brass 1 steel, within a one year period and when the engine was being rebuilt for another problem it was discovered that the intake manifold had a slight tilt to it that did not allow the Dist. to sit perfectly parallel or go all the way to a good set position! The builder ground the manifold flush to allow a perfect seat and I have not replaced a gear since, or seen any type of uneven wear. The manifold was a single plane blue thunder. Just another thing to check for.

RACER X #99 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 11:53 AM

This link can provide you with almost everything you ever wanted to know about sb Ford Dist. gears.

http://www.cobralads.com/butcher63.html

CowtownCobra · #7 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 12:25 PM

Very good info! Maybe I'll leave the oil pump alone after all...

paul cass · #8 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 02:39 PM

hey guys
for whatever its worth. a guy that used to drag race a 289, he launched at 9000 rpm!, said that in a small block to never use a high volume oil pump. a good stock oil pump would supply all of the oil needed. just about everyone that i know that used a hi volume pump had problems sooner or later. i've used a stock oil pump for over 7 years with no problems no matter the revs. however i did up grade to a heavy duty oil pump drive shaft.
paul

Bluesman · #9 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 05:48 PM

Never thought the intake manifold might not be plumb. Hmmm? How do you check? That web site that RacerX#99 recommended is a "must read". Even if you haven't (yet) had any sb Ford dist. gear failures, check out the "Butcher's" in-depth analysis. I am thinking maybe I need to check the depth and where the gear sits either too high or to low. Interesting because it seems that a lot of conditions can cause the gear failure. Thanks for the info.

Rick Parker · #10 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 08:02 PM

http://WWW.MELLING.COM

Good info here..........

Rick

Bluesman · #11 (**permalink**) 12-19-2003, 10:24 PM

ssshhhhh! The distributor doesn't go through the intake manifold
on a Ford Eldebrock performer.

Tommy · #12 (**permalink**) 12-20-2003, 06:27 AM

This may not apply to your problem, but I'll throw it in just in case. I destroyed the distributor gear/cam gear in my 351W while autocross racing. I believe the oil sloshed away from the oil pump long enough for it to sieze and lock up the distributor shaft. Do you know if your oil pressure was good before the gears failed?

Bluesman · #13 (**permalink**) 12-20-2003, 10:03 AM

Before I changed out the old oil pump and distributor, I typically would run above 40 lbs dependending on conditions. I replaced
the old pump with an exact duplicate and now I am running at approx. 35 lbs. I don't like what I see but I don't road race, just cruise around town.