Distributor

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SUBURBAN5

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If a vortec I've heard it's just the design of the gear that's known to wear over time. Plus what the gear is made of matters. Meaning vortec 5.7 calls for a regular distributor that's pretty much means any one you find that's the crab style. If a high performance motor like a 383 then gm calls for a different gear that's made of a different type of metal. I think its softer for the cam gear. I read it In the specs for my ht383e a while back when i was searching for a distributor
 

JeremyNH

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Distributor gear also spins the oil pump so there is real mechanical load on it beyond inertia of the distributor rotor. It would wear same as any other gear under load with operating time. Exacerbated by poor lubrication (wrong oil, low oil, contaminants, high temperature) and misalignment (cam bearing wear).
 

Rojo

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Incompatible materials between the gear on the cam and gear on the distributor.

Excessive oil pressure can be an issue as well.

A .020" x.020" (.5mmx.5mm) slot filed into the bottom raised boss that lines up with the gear to gear can reduce the gear wear quite a bit.
 

Rojo

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If a vortec I've heard it's just the design of the gear that's known to wear over time. Plus what the gear is made of matters. Meaning vortec 5.7 calls for a regular distributor that's pretty much means any one you find that's the crab style. If a high performance motor like a 383 then gm calls for a different gear that's made of a different type of metal. I think its softer for the cam gear. I read it In the specs for my ht383e a while back when i was searching for a distributor
I have heard the same but not experienced it
 
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