Distributor gear change?

Does anyone know why I need to replace the distributor gear if I use a Crane Powermax 2040 or Ford E303 cam?
I was told that by a Ford specialty shop when I talked to them and when I asked more questions they ignored me.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_bicker.gif[/img]

Hydraulic rollers use a STEEL distributer gear. Most gears are cast iron. MSD and others sell steel gears for their distributers when they are to be used with hyd. rollers.

Good Luck!
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So, this means the Summit info on these two cams is wrong![img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img]

Summit sold me a bronze gear for a soild flat and know I find out I need a cast gear like I thought I needed but the bone head at Summit said I needed a bronze gear.
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If you are replacing a hydraulic roller with another hydraulic roller, you shouldn't need to change distributer gears. Assuming the engine originally came with a hydraulic roller) But, if the engine came with a flat tappet cam, and the distributer has a cast iron gear, it will need to be changed.

Hydraulic roller cams came out in mustangs in 1985 with the 5.0 4V HO, and were used on all 5.0 HO's after that.

Good Luck!
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I am replacing a hyd. roller with a hyd. roller...that's what had me puzzled.

roller cams are made from steel rather than iron, so you need either a steel distributor gear or a bronze one. Bronze is very soft and will wear quickly, so it is not recommended for a street application where you are apt to install it and forget about it.

If you have a roller cam already, and thus a steel distributor gear, then there is no need to replace it when installing anotehr roller cam.

capice?

67stang Did you get my message about the t5 identification site?
Thanks guys.[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_bow.gif[/img]

67stang,

My understanding is that CompCams are making some roller cams that don't require a steel/bronze dizzy gear.

But you are right that a billet cam does require a gear besides cast iron. Crane is making steel gears for Ford dizzies and Ford (FRPP) has steel dizzy gears for all engines series except FE in their catalog.
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If I remember correctly(Im no Metallurgist) Because of the Rounder Lobes on a roller Iron is a bad choice due to harmonic and oscillating vibrations. Steel absorbs these much better and is way more durable no break in period is required with a steel roller. I think that is worth the swap alone. I hate breaking in cams[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]