timing chain versus timing gears

Can anyone tell me what are the advantage to a gear drive over a timing chain or is there a differance at all aside from the whine ????? Any help or advice would be helpful . Thanks .

I guess theoretically the advantage is more accurate timing, however, a good timing chain takes less hp to operate and is much less noisy. I would think the best option is a good billet roller chain.
[addsig]

gears shouldnt be run with computer controlled vehicles (retards timming, etc.), gears have dead on accuracy but eats a little horsepower to turn and also metal shavings end up in the motor after a while, (gear teeth becomes razor sharp after long use), use a true double rollar billet chain setup for true street and belts otherwise for ease of degreeing and racing only.

I remember a debate about this on FordMuscle once (or twice) before...and someone brought up an interesting point that I had heard before. The timing chain is easier on the cam, apparently the gear drive, while allowing you to maintain accurate timing, transfers more drivetrain vibration to the camshaft. The chain allows a tiny amonut of flex to happen with out transfering it to the camshaft, therefore saving a little wear and tear on the valvetrain.
Some will say the gear drive also eats up a few horesepower...but so far no dyno results have been posted to verify or prove this wrong that I have seen.
Mike





<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Humphrey351 on 2/18/06 10:58pm ]</font>

Though I may be new here, in the October '05 issue of Car Craft, they had a cam drive shootout in which chain, fixed gear, dual idler, and belt drives were tested and in terms of power, both gear drives produced more peak power than the chain but the chain had a better average horsepower. The difference in power though is around 1hp or less so unless you need every hp, might as well stick w/ the chain drive for the cost.

Unless you like the whine... like me! It's great pulling slowly into a car show... keeping it in first with the RPMs up... everybody stops what they're doing to see what's coming.

Yah aggree with 89troop , heard a early falcon with a 302 and a gear drive, I had to ask if it had a blower, even though i new better. (He didnt have a blower to sticking through the hood)
Sounds wicked, However I dont know if I could live with it on a daily driver. Maybe im old now LOL
Id spend my money on a nice steel billet high quality roller setup from "rollmaster" or something like thiers.
I have one in my 302. (You know when you hold a nice watch it just feels expensive? Well thats the way it felt to me -precision and high quality.)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/302-H...QQcmdZViewItem

Id bet that a High quality roller would stay accurate for as long as the rest of your engine IMO.
Good luck
You failed to mention what engine you had. I assumed a 302, but this company has sets for all ford engines.

_________________
71 Pinto
5.0 Roller block
B303 , 1.7 roller rockers, Crane beehive springs.
'68 302 Iron port polished heads.
Mod Must II headers.
Edelb Rpm Airgap
Holley 570
Msd dist ,Crane HI6 igntion
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The money pit, "So... when will it be done?"

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 71hotrodpinto on 2/19/06 12:10am ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 71hotrodpinto on 2/19/06 12:11am ]</font>

I will take a timing chain anyday
[addsig]

Daily driver... timing chain.

Race car/show car... gear drive.

ive been using a gear drive for a couple of years now without any wear or other problems except that whine is getting pretty old ,and it makes it hard to hear whats going on inside the engine,id say a quality chain is the way to go