difference in distributors??
 

What is the difference between a distributor for a roller block and on that is for a regular block?

The difference is essectially the cam gear. The 85 models that were still carbeurated had an electronic dist. In 87 when they went to fuel injection the electronics of the dist changed. I am using a 85 model Duraspark dist. from Advance Auto in my 86. It is a vacuum advance unit but thats the only difference. For the roller cam you need a steel gear. For a non roller motor you have to use a cast gear. You can change the gear on the shafts as they are the same size.

Brad

Roller Cams do not require a steel distributor gear. All of the cam part #'s I have listed below are the popular ford racing roller tappet cams and are made out of Cast Iron. Not steel. I have had a cast iron distributor gear for 2 years with no problems with the E303 cam. Just don't want you to waste 50 bucks like a did.
Have a good one.

FMS-M6250E303
FMS-M6250B303
FMS-M6250F303
FMS-M6250X303

THEN I MAY HAVE MADE A BOO BOO. I just got my distributor about three weeks ago. I have a roller cam. The distributor I bought has the steel gear. I was told I needed this. It was higher so I figured it was the truth with my luck. Do I need to exchange it and get the cast gear? Or is it ok like it is.

Thanks
Brad

I always thought that roller cams required a bronze gear.

Roller cams have a steel gear, whereas flat cams have a cast gear. The gear on the distributor should be made of the same material as that on the cam. Otherwise, the weaker of the two will wear out faster. This not only causes the gear to fail, but leaves metal deposits it the oil, which your bearings aren't too fond of. Bronze gears can be used with both types of cams, but should only be used for race engines that will be serviced regularly, due to their rapid deterioration.

Take care,
-Chris

Thanks PKRWUD, I thouhgt I was right about the gear.

Thanks again
Brad

So your saying everything is made of cast iron on those cams except the gear? I called summmit before I put the MSD in my gt-40 crate motor which has the E303 cam. They said the cam is made of cast iron and there was no need to change the gear?????????? I've driven it 5000 miles since the MSD and no problems. Huuuuuum? PKRWUD no's his stuff but I always trust the summit guys too. Who knows, I have a steel gear laying around so I guess I'll drive it until it brakes. I would think after 5000 miles, it would have already.

The E303 is a steel cam. If you have an aftermarket cam from Summit that mimicks the E303, it may be cast, I don't know. I do know that Ford roller cams are all steel, and their flat cams are cast. As far as yours failing, it's not likely to just break. The odds are better that it will slowly wear away the cast gear until it just strips it. This could take 50k miles, if your grandmother drove it. Thing is, while it wears away, the shavings get into the oil, and metal shavings in the oil is just not a happy thing. If you wait until the gear "breaks", or fails, you may have already done plenty of damage with the shavings.

I'll go look through my Ford catalog, and if I can find a place where they confirm this, I'll scan it and post it for you. I don't want you to be unsure of who to believe. I've helped you before, but I'm sure the guys at Summit have too. I'll prove my point. I want to earn trust.

Take care,
-Chris

This is from the summit website. Not trying to start world war III, just want to figure it out. Let me know what you find out PKRWUD. Thanks.

FMS-M6250E303

Overview
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Material Cast Iron

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Performance camshafts just for Fords


Small Ford: 1985-95 302, 5.0L (with roller tappet cam), 1994-95 351W (with factory roller cam when used with mass air EFI), 282/282 degrees duration, hydraulic roller camshafts


Advertised duration: 282 intake/282 exhaust
Duration at .050 in. cam lift: 220 intake/220 exhaust
Gross valve lift: .498 in. intake/.498 exhaust
Lobe separation: 110 degrees
Peak horsepower rpm: 5,500
Peak torque rpm: 2,500
Good idle

Those Motorsport guys live, eat, and sleep Ford. This is an excellent street cam with low and mid-range power and good idle. Emissions legal, great for use with Superchargers and a five-speed transmission.



Sold individually.

Here you go. The first picture pretty much says it all. The second picture is straight from the GT40 Installation Notes. Both are out of the 2000 Ford Racing (FRPP) catalog.

Take care,
-Chris

http://homepage.mac.com/pkrwud/.Pict...DistGears.jpeg

http://homepage.mac.com/pkrwud/.Pict...40install.jpeg

PKRWUD You da' man. Glad I didnt f up.
Thanks again
Brad

Found another one...

http://homepage.mac.com/pkrwud/.Pict...erCamTips.jpeg

PKRWUD is right. I called a local shop today and they confirmed what he said. I think I will use jegs from now on. Summit's online catalogue even right this minute says that the cam I have is made out of cast iron. Sorry for the bad info.

Theres a surprise!! :)

andy

Just my opinon but i think what you are dealing with at summit is to the bone chevy guys that never took an intrest in any thing ford. The guys at summit are not morons in the least, they have helped me with tech on things that i was suprised they had any idea about(not the tech line just the guys that answer the phone)typo's like that are somewhat understandable (although not necessarily acceptable)for instance if a cowmarro driving friend calls you for any tips on what he may run into during a timing gear change, would you tell him he needs to throw his timing cover away because they are plastic one time use covers? Probably not because as ford guys most of us wouldent dream of such a silly thing, however that info would be very important.The point is the summit catalog is mostly chevy and i dont think those guys are careless they have always tried their very best to help me when i call.





sorry so long had a defensive moment