Hey Everyone,

I was wondering if any of you had a gear drive installed on your chevelle! I'm considering changing my chain to the gear.

I was wondering what you all thought about the pro's and con's (besides noise), is there a power loss or gain, wear things down faster, and if/where I can find one for a good price!

Thanks

The Pete Jackson ones are supposed to be real nice. They make "non-noisey" ones too which Im going to put on my next engine build. No chain worries :D I havent heard much bad about them. The noisey ones almost sound like a power steering pump with no fluid, I dont like the sound of the noisey pete jackson ones a guy has it on his 350 nova at my work, and ehhhh. Sounds like a popcorn maker. :D

I took the Pete Jackson out of my car because of the noise-- not that I didn't like the noise, but because I couldnt hear the engine over it. It made it almost impossable to tune...

The PJ 'quiet' drive is noisy. Don't let them kid you. Nothing beats a chain, unless you're driving a fuel pump directly off the end of the cam. Gear drives, neon lights, big wings.... they should all be in the same catalog.

i just put a edelbrock accudrive with there timing cover love the setup and i think it sounds great,nothing but compliments....
shane

I have the quiet drive on my 460 bb. No noise problems to speak of, but then again, you might not hear the noisy one over it either... :D

Hey ovelle, check out my other post and chime in please.

http://www.chevelles.com/forum/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=019922

Originally posted by d1_bradley:
The PJ 'quiet' drive is noisy. Don't let them kid you. Nothing beats a chain, unless you're driving a fuel pump directly off the end of the cam. Gear drives, neon lights, big wings.... they should all be in the same catalog. I agree. Not only are they tacky, they create more friction and parasitic drag. Double roller timing chain is the senseible way to go

I put a Pete Jackson Quiet drive on a 502 - it is very noisy and you can hear it a mile away over the engine noise and this car has aloud exhaust! I prefer a good true roller chain, and they are cheaper.

Gear drives transfer more of the crankshaft harmonics to the camshaft/valvetrain than a chain... I think the belt drives are the best.

I had a pete jackson quiet and it was too loud. It was hard to tune my motor or hear my valves in my 427. I chose a double roller timing chain this time for my 454.

Personally If a gear drive manufactuer were to offer me a drive for free and then offer to install it in my engine for free ... I would still decline the offer.

That said if I were forced to use a gear drive I would opt for a quality drive made up of 3 gears.The old Summers Bros drive was a high quality piece back in the day.... Far superior to any of the 4 gear set ups.... Milodon , Cloyes ect 3 gear set ups are simular to the old Summers drive. But in the end I would prefer a chain or a belt drive to any gear drive.... Just my 2 cents worth.

I have a PJ in my motor but honestly I can't hear it. I can hear the blower whine but it sounds different than the PJ. Mine's one that's been around since before there was such a thing as quiet or noisy. I've heard the noisy ones and they are *really* noisy on a motor that isn't super loud. In fact, all you hear in front of the car is the gear drive.

The sound is kinda cool I guess but if it were a daily driver it would probably get really old really quick.

After you install the gear drive, you'll need one of these-
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33646&item=2463481666
And then finish the back off with a pair of these-
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33636&item=2474873302&rd=1

Say what you might about the Pete Jackson gear drive, but I love mine. Well, maybe it's because I can't hear it tongue.gif ...I bought mine about 4 years ago, installed it when I twisted one of my rods. I went with the noisey one because I wanted to be that bad ass lil punk :D ...anyways, it's in my 388ci, and I can't hear it. All I hear is my exhaust, I've got a dual 2 1/2", X-Pipe and Spin Tech mufflers. I stil couldn't hear it before the x pipe. Seems like the only time I can really hear it is when I rev it up, or I'm driving in 1st gear and let it spin up :D ....When the hood's up, it's still not even loud...sounds like my alternator's going out...that's what it sounds like...lol Anyways, regardless, I like it. I can just imagine how much quieter it woulda been if I woulda went with the "quite" one tongue.gif

To all the people who think gear drives suck...That's all well and good but remember the Chevrolet straight six's used a type of gear drive.

Yes, the old Chev straight sixes did use a gear drive, but the driven gear was made of a fiber material, which is quiet but has about the same consistancy as compacted cardboard. This is an excellent setup (as is the Ford 6 cylinder, which uses aluminum gears), but run a stout cam with increased spring pressure and you are headed for trouble.

If I was going to run a gear drive in a Chevrolet V-8, I would use a two gear setup, with reverse rotation cam. This eliminates the need for idler gear(s)and the associated clearance which results in slop. The problem with a gear drive, as stated in a previous post, is that all crankshaft harmonics are transfered through the camshaft, which will affect cam and ignition performance.

In my opinion, a good true roller is best for street, dual purpose street/strip and bracket racing applications. All-out racing engines should be fitted with a good quality timing belt system.

I used to have a gear drive in my car, then the engine went to schizzle. They are kinda cool, but I wouldn't ever get one again. Had the engine rebuilt and a double roller timing chain put in. Should be starting it up this weekend, and I imagine I will like it more than the gear drive. It's not too cool when you can't hear what's going on under your hood....but then again, mine was REALLY loud. I had a buddy who would hear me driving to his house when I was still about 6 blocks away and he was in his basement listening to music. graemlins/clonk.gif To each their own. smile.gif

A good double roller will last a long time...If like a bunch of noise put a blower on top :D
Troy

Just took a PJ off my 460. I went with a double roller chain. There are no plus's, other than the noise, which really isnt a plus...and there are lots of negatives, such as the harmonics and possible timing issues...ask about any cam expert what they think of gear drives.

Originally posted by Greybeard:
After you install the gear drive, you'll need one of these-
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33646&item=2463481666
And then finish the back off with a pair of these-
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33636&item=2474873302&rd=1 LMAO That fake blower is one of the most rediculous things I have seen. I thought wings were bad. Wouldn't you be imbarrased to drive around with that? The only way I would put one on my car would be maybe on the top of the roof, or the back window, or sticking out the side of door. lol

I use a Milodon 3 gear Geardrive and its really quiet.. graemlins/beers.gif

Had a PJ gear drive on my 383. Couldn't hear the motor, could still hear the whine over the extremly loud exaust. I liked it but tuning wasen't possable by ear, couldn't hear problems when they came up etc.

Then the key on the crank snout sheared off after 30,000miles. Roller chains for me from now on.

I recently pulled the PJ off my 427 in the '69 pickup. It seems to idle better now and I can hear the engine. The whine of the gear drive tends to get old. At speed the truck is a lot more pleasurable to drive.

And for the final assesory to your Chevelle with your gear drive, Marlene.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=324&item=4164412129&rd=1
She won't complain about the noise
She'll look good when cruising
She'll let you use the "car pool" lane

My gear drive works fine,the quiet does still make a little noise, but i kinda like it.

Gear drives are great if you like your car sounding like the front pump on a powerglide transmission is going out! But God Bless America for being able to make that choice!


Rocky