[Joes67ss]

Which do you perfer and why?? Does the gear drive get annoying after awhile??

[Vintage 68]

Originally Posted by Joes67ss

... Does the gear drive get annoying after awhile??

Oh, no more so than taking your whining mother-in-law everywhere you drive with you
Actually they are the automotive equivalent to "nails-on-a-chaulkboard" to most engine builders

They are a mess on the street - impresses only those who don't know $hit about building a good performance motor - IMHO of course.
The newer 'noisey' drives a re manufactured with rough gear surfaces ('excessive asperity' in engineering speak ) and a miss-mesh to produce the noise - this will result in metal spalling on the gears in a short period and a bunch of krap in the oil and filter after that - cool huh ???
The older original drives would whine because they wheren't set-up right or were wearing out - don't why/when it became "cool" to have a new set do the same thing.
The 'noise' results in odd harmonics within the Cam/Valve and Distributor drive systems and can lead to wierd things like spark scatter and timing issues.
Obviously the 'warning' not use them on new/polution equiped vehicles is because the noise will drive the "knock-sensor" system nuts trying to adjust the timing to reduce the 'pinging' - but I've still seen a few install them...

So I guess you'll need to put me in the 'don't "prefer" them' column

[ssdoug]

Remember JMO. I HATE heat generating power robbing harmonic trannsfering GEAR DRIVES. There is a reason there noisey.Think about what it takes to make noise .

[Badbird]

I prefer the noisy Pete Jackson gear drive set up for precise, accurate timing!.....Been running these for a long time and no, it's not annoying, you get used to it after awhile!.....Gear Drives are definantly for the true Gear Heads, for sure!

[68rs406]

But other than what John said, yeah they are cool....
Put me in the not cool column as well, I even hated them when I was a kid.
Good chain or if you want the best for performance a belt.

[dubs68camaro]

Originally Posted by Vintage 68

Actually they are the automotive equivalent to "nails-on-a-chaulkboard" to most engine builders

They are a mess on the street - impresses only those who don't know about building a good performance motor - IMHO of course.

Couldn't disagree more. I love my PJ noise......but it's also in front of my M-22 4 speed. Now that has a whine too so does that make it a P.O.S.?? Solid cams are noise.....so people that don't know $hit about performace motors use those too??? I'm going out to light my car on fire right now. I didn't realize I had it all wrong!

P.S. My spool clicks in the pits......going back to an open rear end!

LOL......Just teasing John

[Badbird]

Originally Posted by dubs68camaro

LOL......Just teasing John

At least Johnny knows how to tell a good funny dog joke!.....NOT!!

[speedfreek]

I got the "quiet" pj gear drive and it still was a little loud for my taste. I had zero problems for 8 years and continuing. I got it because it is supposed to never wear out and is so much more accurate than a timing chain. My engine builder said we were going with a gear drive in my bbc that is being built now.

I understand about the harmonics and everything but have never read anything actually proving something bad happening to an engine if used.

Put me on the "I like" list.

[6089WALLY]

I dont mind the noise. Its hard to hear over the flowmasters. I like em.

[tilley88]

If ya want whine then get an old 6 volt generator and hook 'er up, or an old worn out power steering unit will do the trick.....I agree with the Flowmaster comment......

[class67]

There is nothing cool at all about gear drive, it's obnoxious and lame and just sais "look at me"....get a good double roller or a belt (expensive).

[ccmblack]

Had it when I bought my car....took me 2 days to get rid of it....

I even had neighbors who knew nothing about cars ask me why the motor sounded so whiny!

[2x67rs/ss]

Don't like gear drives and don't understand how they are supposed to be more accurate?
I run a belt drive but wouldn't be able to hear a gear drive if I had one anyway.

[dubs68camaro]

Originally Posted by class67

and just sais "look at me"....

Are you kidding me? Isn't that why we do this? If you say no and don't get a grin when someone about breaks their neck to look at your car......you either need a reality check or another car!

[SY1]

I think it comes down to preference. I hear about the accuracy, I read about the harmonics issues also. Remember some kids put playing cards in their bike spokes too! I did, but I've never run a gear drive. Reminds me of running a power steering pump dry.

I'm not pro or con, they just aren't on my list of must have items and the jury is out on the pros vs cons IMO. I'd want to hear from a lot more users before I'd give one a try.