[Darrellv]

I'm a Chevy small block type of guy. I like the sound of a Gear Drive in a motor when the car comes into a cruise inn or parking lot etc. When ever I put another motor together or have one torn apart. I often think about putting a gear drive in it but I drag my feet in doing so. I'm curious guys that have ran them or run them now. Are you still happy with them or do you wish you didn't have to listen to it all the time etc.etc. I like to drive my car rather than trailer it and curious about highway driving with the gear drive "zinging".

Those of you that have had experience with gear drives. How much difference or is there any between the "quiet" and the "noisy" gear drives.

[F-BIRD'88]

That noise is friction.

[vinniekq2]

Belt drives are the way to go in some applications

[46streetrod]

After about a 2 hour drive you will be wearing ear plugs.Yes it sounds cool at cruise ins.

[dwwl]

I have one in my 355 1977 concours nova. I realy don't hear it that much. My brother says he can hear it when i drive up. But doesn't notice it hardly at all when we are in the car. He thought its because the concours nova of mine has a better insulation package than most car. We went to the nova nationals and drove five hours and it was only noticable. Also, it made a difference when i put in the 200 4r tranny. My lower highway RPM's helped alot

[xxllmm4]

I have a noisy gear drive in my truck and love it. Yes they rob a few HP but I have never seen any A-B dyno results too see how bad it actually is.

Most of the negative comments about gear drives seem to be copy and paste what other people say. If there is any proof of valve train failures I would love to see some pictures.

[68NovaSS]

I don't believe valve train failure or noise to extremes is the issue with gear drives so much as harmonic effects I've heard complaints of.

[ap72]

Don't forget your distributor is driven off your cam...

[LATECH]

I would rather hear dem pipes.... but thats just me.

[bentwings]

I have a gear drive as well as a blower. No problems after 20k miles. The gear drive really doesn't make a lot of noise. Kinda rattly if anything. The blower whines when you step on it.

I've checked the timing dozens of times and it stays rock solid.

I haven't adjusted the valves in a couple of years.

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

About the worst thing you can put in a small block

[ap72]

Originally Posted by bentwings

I have a gear drive as well as a blower. No problems after 20k miles. The gear drive really doesn't make a lot of noise. Kinda rattly if anything. The blower whines when you step on it.

I've checked the timing dozens of times and it stays rock solid.

I haven't adjusted the valves in a couple of years.

Check your timing scatter at high rpm

[KA67_72]

I have one in my 59 Chevy PU. It sounds good but it's too much. If you're under the hood listening for rattles you can't hear anything over it. David Vizard says they are power robbers. If you like the noise put one on. I can't tell you how many times I've had someone ask if it was a gear drive or a blower and I had to say gear drive. If I ever swap the cam out of the motor, I'll be installing a chain.

[Actionjk]

Iv'e had a couple of them in my cars,can really only hear them at idle and up through the gears,once in high gear you really don't even know it's there.

[33Willys77]

I have a Milodon in my Hemi - has a fixed idler gear. My timing stays put throughout the RPM range. If I run the engine without the blower belt, I cannot hear any noise (from the gear drive). The noise comes from the design of the teeth, just like a blower belt. The air is getting pushed out between the teeth creating a noise. It all depends on how the teeth are cut and how the gear drive is designed and installed. I would not run a dual idler gear drive, but with a fixed idler, I see less slack than I do with a chain.