Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

I ordered a Jones cam that I assume is billet, not sure which distributor gear to go with.

The Comp Poly- thing.

Bwh998 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 12:47 pm I ordered a Jones cam that I assume is billet, not sure which distributor gear to go with.

Ask Mike, I am sure he will tell you what you should use with his camshaft..
I use a composite gear if there is one available.

Melonized steel gear.

Geoff2 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 3:44 am Melonized steel gear.

X 2 !!
Guy

You Chevy guys have all the neat stuff. For a Mopar the only thing available that I know of is a bronze gear.

Doesn't he have an option for a pressed on iron gear?

rebelrouser wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 9:05 am You Chevy guys have all the neat stuff. For a Mopar the only thing available that I know of is a bronze gear.

Crane offered their melonite-treated gear for BB Mopars, but I don't remember if there was a SB version. Anybody know if COMP is going to offer them after absorbing Crane's assets?

Bwh998 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 12:47 pm I ordered a Jones cam that I assume is billet, not sure which distributor gear to go with.

Mike Jones owns this site and is a frequent contributor; perhaps he'll chime in on this.
The required type dist gear material depends entirely on cam gears type of material.
Mike Jones KNOWS exactly what material you Jones cam is and which dist gear it requires; suggest ask him.

GM OE roller cams in sbc & BBC are a rather mild billet steel such as 1050/1055. GM uses a Melonized dist gear for those. GM specifies Melonized dist gear Must be used for ITs crates w/ steel cam. GM supplies Melonized gears as does MSD & others.

rebelrouser wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 9:05 am You Chevy guys have all the neat stuff. For a Mopar the only thing available that I know of is a bronze gear.

Have you tried TRITEC?

Mancini racing has the Melonized gear for Chryslers & I think Hughes racing does too.

Put Moly grease or some cam break in crapola on both gears and let them break in together. Fack that metallurgy crap you have been taught.

SOME billet cores can use a Melonized Steel gear... and some cannot. I believe people have good luck with the 8620 cores (copper colored between the lobes) but not the 5160, etc. They either need to have a special gear pressed on, or use a bronze gear.

I bought a cam from Mike Jones when cores were scarce, and all he had was one that needed a bronze gear. So, not all billet cores can use the Melonized Steel gear.

Another tip for ANY camshaft is to burnish the cam's distributor gear on a wire wheel. There will often be sharp edges from the cutters left that can chew up the distributor's gear. After burnishing with the wire wheel, the gear will feel a lot smoother as all the sharp edges will be removed. Has to help with gear life. Good grease on both the cam and distributor is also needed.

Good Luck

77cruiser wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 9:09 am Doesn't he have an option for a pressed on iron gear?

Yes.
(Whoo, 15.000 posts! Mr. Motofinger strikes again! (I think time's too short to aspire to 20k. )

Some sellers of Melonized dist gears claim they can be used with all/any cam.