Gear drive timing set good or bad?

[dyb003]

Has anyone put in the gear drive timing sets? I have a 1990 5.0 (no longer EFI) I dont think I would get the noisey one as I have read about several people saying its to load. My question is, is there any problems that I should know about with the gear grive timing sets? Some people say they take away power is this true? Any input or thoughts about the gear drive timing set would be great. Thank you.


1986 Ranger 2wd shortbox new paint last year NO rust, anywhere.
1990 5.0 HO large tube shorty headers
air gap intake 600cfm carb E-303 cam
2 1/2 in exhaust front to back
373 gears with posi and t-5 trany
I am the second owner of this truck
my mom was the first.

 

[ram360]

Had one in my car for 500 miles...ended up taking it out. You def. knew it was there. Noisy f'sho. I've heard they ruin cam bearings, and mess with the ignition system due to the vibration....Dunno if there is any truth to it. I went back to a double roller myself....no particular reason for doing so in my case.

 

[dyb003]

I have heard that they will mess with knock sensors, but I have no electronics. Any one else have some in put?

 

[87GT 306]

I dont think foxes have knock sensors. Im playing with the idea of getting a pair just to try them out becuase I was always curious. A rep at Summit told me that even the "quiet" gear drive sets are noticeable.

 

[dyb003]

Thanks guys. Has anyone else used the gear drive? The quiet one will be how I will go as I dont want it real loud. But, what I dont want is for it to take power away. Thanks for any input.

 

[ARTTII]

I ran the Pete Jackson NOISY gear drive. It was great. Until the "blower whine" upset too many neighbors (I like to drive my mustang to work in the summer, I leave at 6am!). The PJ NOISY gear drive lives up to its name, you will NOT sneak up on anybody running it... For attention and car shows it is great rolling up in first/second with the RPMS up... really breaks some necks to see what is coming in

 

[2000xp8]

Get a FMS timing chain, the one with all the keyways to retard the cam. It's $75 and proven reliable.
Why risk a gear drive? Doesn't seem logical to me, i've almost never heard anything good about them.

 

[dyb003]

I dont need to replace my timing chain, at least it shouldnt be bad it only has about 23,000 miles on it over the last 4 years sence rebuild. I was just thinking of doing some up grades and thought the gear drives where supose to be ok. And I would like the noise of the quiet one. They say even the quiet ones make noise and I have heard many people complain that the noisy ones where to loud. My big question was has anyone had any problems with there gear drive setups???? Thanks again all for you input.

 

[87GT 306]

well, heres my advice. Get the quiet one and try it out. Its not a entirely big deal to swap out a chain for the gear set if you dont like it. BTW, the gearset will require some minor machining that can easily be done with a dremel. All I know is there was a kid with a 85 that had one who worked at the local parts store a while back who had one and it sounded nasty IMO. It wasnt like a boeing 747(which is what Ive heard noisey drives sound like), but it was definately something that you would notice.