Hi - Just bought a built 302 that has a Pete Jackson Gear Drive installed. The builder was going to run an electric fuel pump so no eccentric was installed. I have been reading that the drive may not accept a stock fuel pump eccentric. Anyone have experience with this?? I'll find out soon enough when I try to install it but I am looking for some experience or a heads up. Thanks - Dan
We ran a Dynagear for some time before we saw the light at the end of the tunnel, also ran a stock-type mechanical fuel pump. Worked great, nothing needed to be done special. Hated the gear whine, though
I also failed to mention that there's normally different length dowel pins for the camshaft, I think I recall having to grind one off because the upper gear (on the dynagear setup) was thinner, therefore the eccentric would bottom out against the too-long pin. Ground about 1/8" off the pin, problem solved!
Thanks - just pulled the cover off. Looks like the stock eccentric should work .... Just have to buy one since he couldn't find the original when he sold me the engine ... Dan
While you have the cover off, you may want to check a few things about the PJ install. Make sure the cam is degreed in to where it is supposed to be, and make sure enough meat has been ground off the block to let the gears ride where they are supposed to. On SB Fords, the idler gears actually fit easier when they are installed BACKWARDS, so a careless/lazy installer can really mess things up. A telltale sign is a cam that cannot be degreed properly.
Thanks - I will verify that the crank and cam are lined up. Also - is there anyway to tell whether it is quiet or noisy - other than starting up the engine?? Thanks - Dan
I have quiet in my 351W and there not but not as bad as the others I hade to grind the back of my cover it had a lip on it. I had to take off but never had any problems with the gears meshing. I know you can't use a two piece fuel pump eccentric cause the outer one will not turn have to use the single fuel pump eccentric my 351w had the two piece
It looks like the pin on my cam was either ground down or not long enough since it barely protrudes from the face of the gear. There is no way it would hold the eccentric without letting it spin. Did any of you guys notice the pin was too short?? It may have been ground down so the bolt and washer sould seat correctly without the eccentric being installed. Dan
you have to use the pin from a motor that had a fuel pump eccentric stock EFI motors did not need them
Cam Pin The pin should pull out but is not an easy task in some cases. They are hardened and fit extremely tight in the cam itself. When aftermarket cams are purchased new, they usually come with two different length pins for this same reason you mention. A new pair of vise grips will normally work with a pry bar behind them. Must work it straight out, just for info, the gear drives are more of a show type add on for street machines(whine of the gears indicates this must be a real hot motor etc.) You do eliminate any variation in timing because of chain stretch, but unless you are into hard core, high rpm racing, they are really not necessary. A good quality double roller timing chain set will perform very well and last a long time but that is up to each individuals choice. We have taken both race cars and removed the gear drives and replaced with Comp Cam chains. Two years later chains are still tight and cam specs on the money, these 302's have seen many 7500-8000 rpm blasts. The dowel pin still has to be the right length for the fuel pump application though. The gear whine is determined by how the mfg. cuts the teeth, PJ did offer either a quiet one or noisey. 75.00 for the Comp. chain sure looks better to me compared to 200.00 for the gears. My reasoning for removing the gear drives is to eliminate any drag on the cam train from having that dog bone set of gears in between the crank and cam. Not trying to put gear drives down, but just don't think they are a necessary exspense unless your John Force or such. Of coursed that is why those catalogs are so thick, and my wallet always empty, trying things that may or may not work.
Do you think the gear drive shortens the life of the engine/cam? If so I will remove it - but it is already installed so the extra expense would be to replace it with a chain.
Gear Drive Hope I didn't mislead you on this, I was just giving my opinion on them. They will in no way harm your cam as is, go ahead and replace the pin and eccentric, make sure marks are aligned and let it go at that. There are zillions of these running and if installed right, perform as they should. You will not be diappointed in it. I do tend to ramble on a bit.
