Hey all,
Looks like I'll be test driving a potential purchase this weekend (70 Malibu)and I want to know if throwing on a gear drive is good or bad to a daily driver. Should I just get a double roller instead? I will be dropping a 383 in and want to get the best performance possible but still be reliable. What's best on the valvetrain? Ideas?

I like the throttle response the gear drive has and the noise.

For a daily driver your wasting your time and money. And I would bet that after a week or two you would be ready to pull your hair out from listening to the constant WHINE from a gear drive.


Rocky

I had a Chevelle with a gear drive in it. Another member now owns it. I got used to it. people hear you coming so you get some looks. Put it this way if that car didn't already have it in there I wouldn't have put it in.

Thanks for the input guys. So a double roller should be just fine. I'd like to be hitting the 4oo+ mark with a 383 for under 5K. Is that doable? If so...I need a build sheet! Right now it's got a stock 307/TH350 combo pegleg. The suspension has been restored to stock. Just givin what I've got to work with as a baseline.

Pete Jackson DOES make a "quiet gear drive"....I know, I have one. Doesn't make much noise, as I don't like the whine but like the fact that I won't stretch or break a chain, even if it is a double roller. I don't know the life span of a gear drive vs. a chain, but I'm guessing I could go through 2 chains before I even thought about the gear drive, and they'd be at about the same price at that time. Also the gear drive is a lot easier to deal with....slide out the center gearset and you're done....don't have to remove the cam gear to get the cam out.

I have an Erson gear drive in my '69. It is the quiet version, but still makes a fair amount of noise. You don't really notice it at highway speeds over the rumble of the exhaust. It has a cast and polished cover that has an o-ringed secondary cover that you can take off with 3 bolts to change the cam or fiddle with the degree bushings. The idler gear is built into the cast cover with needle bearings. It is a really nice piece.

Would I do it again?...probably not. It is nice to think that you can easily change the cam or that the gear-drive is practically indestructible with very accurate timing, but the truth of the matter is that so is a double roller timing chain. And...how often, really, do you change out the cam? And you can't get the cam past all of the other stuff...water pump, fan, radiator, front grill. You are practically tearing the front end apart...so...why not simply pull the timing cover also. Gear drives also transmit a lot of crankshaft harmonics into the cam.

I was younger when I did it and did not know as much as I do today. Your choice, but I don't think that I would do it again.

I have never run one for three reasons. 1, I would have to believe that it takes more power to run than the chain. 2, as mentioned above it is a solid link from the crank to the cam and any harmonics are transmitted both ways (extra stress). 3, I have never broken a quality double roller. I have no imperical data to prove number 1 or 3. If someone does please enlighten us. So Chain = less transmitted harmonics, less hp to run, No noise, longevity that equals the engines expected life till rebuild time. JMO
Bill

For a daily driver your wasting your time and money. And I would bet that after a week or two you would be ready to pull your hair out from listening to the constant WHINE from a gear drive.


Rocky

True :yes: I have one in my 72 Chevelle ( it was in there when I bought the car) I don't drive it daily but I'm still going to pull it out.

I installed a gear drive in a Nova that I had back in the late 80's that was my daily driver. I ended up taking it out after a month. The whine got to be a little much to listen to. IMO if you want something whining under the hood, get a blower. :)

IMO if you want something whining under the hood, get a blower. :)

Or put your MIL under there...

like the fact that I won't stretch or break a chain, even if it is a double roller. I don't know the life span of a gear drive vs. a chain, but I'm guessing I could go through 2 chains before I even thought about the gear drive, and they'd be at about the same price at that time. .

I doubt that with the number of miles and / or amount of 'abuse' most of us put these cars thru, this isn't a problem. If its a dedicated racer - maybe.
John

I had a Chevelle with a gear drive in it. Another member now owns it. I got used to it. people hear you coming so you get some looks. Put it this way if that car didn't already have it in there I wouldn't have put it in.

That's me :D

i got a nosie jegs unit.....
i like it.....its loud yes but a good rev reminds me why i chose it......

thaqt and it wasn't to different price wise from the chain drive so...

Thanks for the input guys. So a double roller should be just fine. I'd like to be hitting the 4oo+ mark with a 383 for under 5K. Is that doable? If so...I need a build sheet! Right now it's got a stock 307/TH350 combo pegleg. The suspension has been restored to stock. Just givin what I've got to work with as a baseline.

Ryan,

Contact Mike Lewis aka Wolfplace, he will be able to set you up with a the right stuff and good prices too. I'm not speacking for him, but I think 400 hp with a 5k budget is very doable. I have it in my Chevelle!!!

The only whine I would want from my engine would be from a roots blower. Not a big fan of those gear drives.