Gear driven timing set? Pro and Cons

[jimmybeus]

I asked this in another one of my posts but it was overshadowed by my first question. I'm thinking of putting a gear driven timing set on my 86 but want to know if anyone else is running one and advantages or disadvantages. I mainly want the noise and people to wonder what is under the hood. Or is it just gonna sound like a time bomb ready to explode. I have only heard one in a truck and it was quite a while ago but I know it would be different. Any thoughts? Thanks

[lester622]

Theres 2 kinds "quiet" and "noisy" , They sound cool for a little while then they just become annoying. And the "quiet" one is not really quiet its just quieter.

There kinda hard on the cam since it allows the cam to abosrb every little vibration of the crank since there is no slack between the gears, like there is with a chain.

I really dont know if there is an advantage to using one other then that theres no chain to wear out or break, but i think thats about it. Most ppl just like the way they sound.

[baclay9]

My Dad's 84 had one in it when he bought it and we took it out before the sun went down that day. It makes alot of noise but it isn't good noise IMO. Sounds like your engine is ready to blow. The in cab noise is terrible as well IMO. I would go for a good double roller.

[jimmybeus]

If it is that bad maybe I'll skip that idea. Thanks for the advice.

[68Timber]

I bought one once, the Pete Jackson "noisy" gear drive. It was insanely loud and it did not sound good at all. It sounded just like a Ford with a bad power steering pump. I thought it'd sound sweet (they advertise them to have a nice blower whine) but instead all I got for my $167 was people telling me I needed to replace my power steering pump constantly. Needless to say, I regretted the hell out of the pos.

[CLASSIC87']

I just removed the one from the Blazer that I bought 2 months... it sounded like a beat up tractor. I truely HATED it...

Also note that after I removed it; ALL the other noises became noticed... which in my case the rod was knocking and crankchaft was shot. So now its in the shop getting a new motor installed...

Moreless... I would NEVER recommend installing one... hell I wouldn't even give away the POS that I removed! lol

Anyways... JMO

[jimmybeus]

Well, I think I am gonna 86 that idea. I'm glad that I asked before I had to deal with the same issues. Thanks for saving me a headache.

[fryer1979]

Put a Cloyes "noisy" gear drive in my Camaro a while back. Only put about 1500 miles on it, then pulled it out in favor of an Edelbrock double roller. The whine just got so annoying; I couldn't hear what was going on with the engine, and I was getting tired of people saying "man that power steering pump sounds shot". I'll never use another one again.

[3r!c84]

YouTube- 79 Chevy truck 454 .030 over oversize...

sounds like this

[bitchin85]

dont sound like a blower at all.. more like a swarm of pissed off bumble bees.. i think it would be cool for about a day then just be annoying..

[85Bowtie]

If you're buying a gear drive just because of the "sound" and you want people to wonder what's under your hood, then forget about buying one. No point in showing off if you don't have the power to back it up. They help maintain timing accuracy and don't break, in theory. That's about it. But the excess wear on your cam isn't worth it. People worrying about wearing out a timing chain shouldn't be driving their trucks if that's all they have to worry about. It takes a LONG time to wear out a timing chain, and if you want increased strength, go to a double roller.

[69BBsuburban]

It really depends on the gear drive....as there are some that are very accurate and quiet, but you'll pay for it....
I've ran gear-drives many times and personally like the sound....have on in my hotrod motor, barely hear it though, as the exhaust is louder....haha.

[S10Fan]

I installed one in my small block powered S-10, I LOVED it!.............for about 20 minutes. Ended up trading the gear drive for a 150 amp alternator.

[jchav62]

I'm with everyone else on this one. Sounds cool for a few, then you quickly get tired of it. Except I changed mine because it broke on me. The "dog bone" broke in two and put a hole in my timing chain cover. Towed it to the shop and put in a Cloyes double roller... It was music to my ears after that.

It's one of those things that's cool....on other people vehicles...

[S10Fan]

Just another thought......
If I had a weekend hot rod, you know, the loud obnoxious type that's only driven to shows, cruise-in's etc I'd run a gear drive just for the kool factor.

Daily or sometime daily driver, NO!

[Tex_50613]

I just installed a geardrive on the motor that I'm putting in my mudder, I like the sound of them and have personly snapped 2 "GOOD" brand new double roller timming chains on motors in my mudder in the past and am hoping that this setup will hinder that a little, but like everyone else says they are a annoying sound if you dont like it

[Goldfinger]

Mine has had one dealer installed it hasn't slipped yet sounds annoying though. people think i have some ridiculously big engine until they see the tiny 305 covered in grease. timing seems to stay perfect forever.