Anyone using gear drive?

sixtynine Mach

Member

Apr 18, 2004

53

0

6

California

Apr 18, 2004

#1

• Apr 18, 2004

• #1

Hi, I'd like to use gear drive instead of a chain just because it sounds cool. But the question is, which one? Is the Pete Jackson one so noisy that it will eventually become annoying? I think milodon has one that's not as loud but I've never heard it so I can't make a decision. My Mach will already be loud but it isn't a daily driver so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. If anyone is using GD please let me know which brand and how you like it. Thanks!

 

NorCal66

New Member

Aug 12, 2003

334

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0

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA HOME

Apr 18, 2004

#2

• Apr 18, 2004

• #2

I am not using one, but looked into it pretty well as I was planning on getting one. I learned that for the most part the floating gears (the cheaper ones) are unreliable and break often. The fixed ones from milodon and others ($$$) are great, but expensive and require machining. As far as the sound goes, most companies make "quiet" and "machined for noise" versions of their drives. How loud "annoying" is obviously varies from person to person

 

sixtynine Mach

Member

Apr 18, 2004

53

0

6

California

Apr 18, 2004

#3

• Apr 18, 2004

• #3

Hey Norcal66, what do you mean by machining. Do you mean "make it fit?" Sorry, I don't know as much as I should and I have to tell my engine builder exactly what I want. Thanks.

 

zookeeper

Founding Member

Aug 25, 2001

3,415

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109

Rogue River, Oregon

Apr 18, 2004

#4

• Apr 18, 2004

• #4

I had a Pete Jackson in my '65, it was a quiet drive and sounded great, plus dropped right in place of the chain. You could faintly hear it fromn outside the car, but couldn't hear it from inside, I loved it and will be using one on my '68, check ebay as I've seen several new ones on there for half of retail. As far as reliablity being an issue, don't believe everything you read. Find out EXACTLY what the problem could possibly be, I for one would really be interested, since I've niether experienced or heard of any failure of any kind. By contrast, everyone's heard of timing belt failures, right? Yet what is the most commonly used cam drive in new cars? Treat a gear drive like a roaster from Ronco, set it and forget it!

 

Route666

Active Member

Aug 16, 2003

1,652

6

39

Brisbane, Australia

Apr 18, 2004

#5

• Apr 18, 2004

• #5

I would be inclined to get a quieter version of a gear drive, as it should be a little stronger and be tighter than a noisy one. Reason being that if it was made quieter by being cut helically, there is more tooth contact all the time.

 

ratio411

Founding Member

Apr 21, 2002

3,870

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109

Pensacola FL

Apr 18, 2004

#6

• Apr 18, 2004

• #6

I had a Pete Jackson.
I got it before a "quiet" drive was available.
It was straight cut and fairly loud.
Personally, I loved it. I literally never used my radio for the years that I ran this engine. Between the cam, flows, toploader, 4.11s, and Pete... a radio was a distraction from the symphony going on around me
I will never build a carb engine again without a noisy PJ.
As for strength, the engine ran almost 10 years. It was never a daily driver though, but it was rode hard and put up wet. When I finally took the engine apart, I sold off the PJ for $125.
Dave

 

zookeeper

Founding Member

Aug 25, 2001

3,415

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109

Rogue River, Oregon

Apr 18, 2004

#7

• Apr 18, 2004

• #7

I've also never seen a helical gear drive. My Jackson was a quiet version and straight cut, same as the noisies. Also, I agree about mechanical noise being better than any racket coming from a stereo (well, maybe except for George Thorogood), wild cams, gear drives, intake roar and sweet sounding exhaust are worth the price of admission!

 

Route666

Active Member

Aug 16, 2003

1,652

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39

Brisbane, Australia

Apr 18, 2004

#8

• Apr 18, 2004

• #8

I just assumed that is how they make the gears quiet, by helical cutting. How are the quiet ones quieter?

 

zookeeper

Founding Member

Aug 25, 2001

3,415

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109

Rogue River, Oregon

Apr 18, 2004

#9

• Apr 18, 2004

• #9

I really don't have a clue. I suppose it could be the clearance, but I wouldn't want to tighten that up too much, but my quiet drive was straight cut and fairly (for a gear drive) quiet.

 

mrmcmillen

New Member

Aug 14, 2002

43

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0

Carrollton, Texas

Apr 19, 2004

#10

• Apr 19, 2004

• #10

i have the Pete Jackson "quiet" version on my '68 302....it is not as quiet as i would prefer it to be - even after 2 years and 1000 miles it has a pretty good whine to it. the hardest part of the installation is the "trimming of the timing cover".....to cut off too much....trust me.