Tech Tips

Fuel Gauge Test - Does your Fuel Gauge work? Here's what you need to know to trouble shoot the problem. Click Here

Distributor Gears - It’s a popular misconception that roller cams require a special kind of distributor drive gear, but it’s simpler than that. Flat-1appet camshafts are made of iron and call for the use of an iron gear. Roller camshafts are made of steel and call for distributor gears with the same hardness, either steel or bronze. Of the two, steel is preferred over bronze because it lasts longer. Use an iron distributor drive gear with a steel roller camshaft and you can expect failure. The steel shaft will eat an iron gear alive, with iron particles finding their way to your oil pickup.

Flywheels - 28 Ounce versus 50 Ounce - We’ve seen this one time and again. Small-block Fords, which are externally balanced, have a given offset balance that mandates a compatible harmonic balancer, crankshaft, and flywheel. Offset balances are 28 and 50 ounces respectively. Prior to 1982, 302ci engines had a 28-ounce offset balance which exists outside of any dynamic balancing you may do during engine build. When reciprocating mass weight increased in 1982 with the 5.OL High Output engines, offset balance increased to 50 ounces. The mistake comes when you install a 28-ounce balancer or flywheel on a 50-ounce offset balance crankshaft, and vice versa. When you are amassing parts for a small-block Ford, remember the 28/50-ounce difference. It will save you a lot of grief.

 

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This site was last updated 12/07/07