LT1 Solid Roller Cam question.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 133
From: East Chatham, New York
LT1 Solid Roller Cam question. A friend of mine that knows the older SBC pretty well was talking to me about my upcoming Solid Roller Cam install. He inquired as to whether I'd bought a special bronze distributor/oil pump drive gear. I know what he's referring to in regards to the old SBC in that if you went to a solid roller, you pretty much *had* to use a Bronze gear because the metal of the Solid Roller Cams were too hard/different from the stock distributor gears on THOSE motors. But, I believe the newer LT1 roller cammed by the factory motors don't have that issue. Am I wrong? I've never seen anyone post about needing a special drive gear for the Solid Roller Cam upgrades. I don't even know if ANYONE makes this specialized gear.
If you know the specifics of this, pro or con, please let me know. Thanks!
David K. Wilson
If you know the specifics of this, pro or con, please let me know. Thanks!
David K. Wilson
Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Coastal NC
GM went to the "melonized" distributer/oilpump drive gear when they went to roller cams. I don't know for sure what the "melonized" process is but it hardens the gear so the hard roler cam gear doesn't wear it out.
You should be OK.
You should be OK.
You need to look at the cam manufacturers requirements to see if you need a bronze drive gear. I pretty sure all GM roller cams are compatable with regular drive or dist. gears, but you didnt state who's cam you have.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 133
From: East Chatham, New York
I have a Cam Motions solid roller I bought used from a buddy after my brand new Cam Motions Hyd roller got trashed by some fractured spring seats. This cam is for a '96 era LT1. Here's the specs (using 1.6 rockers) Cam-motion custom grind solid roller, 242/252 .606/.606 108.9 LSA. THanks guys.
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 444
Likes: 1
From: Bahrain
It's not recommended to run a one piece billet cam with the stock oil pump drive. Thats why most billet cams have a pressed cast iron gear that's compatable with the stock gear. If that's not the case with this cam, then yes a bronze gear or a polymer one is needed.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 133
From: East Chatham, New York
Originally Posted by 1SLO6
in my opinion that is a huge cam for a 355...what is it going in?
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Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 133
From: East Chatham, New York
Originally Posted by 1SLO6
in my opinion that is a huge cam for a 355...what is it going in?
I had to get some friends to go get the car and motor (the car is in Houston, I'm on contract in New York right now) and take them to another guy that is, unfortunately, almost as slow. 
Grrrrrrr..... I'll probably have to fly back to Houston, take the motor to a Fbuds house and assemble it myself to get this finished. Hmmpf.... After breaking it in for a week, I'll be driving it back to New York. 
Last edited by mightyquickz28; Oct 1, 2006 at 07:50 AM.
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