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Distributor Gears - Crown, Msd?

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by FlatlanderCJ5, Sep 7, 2022.

  1. Sep 7, 2022
    FlatlanderCJ5

    FlatlanderCJ5 Member

    Wichita, KS
    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2022
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    151
    I have a general question regarding what brand of distributor/cam gears that folks have used as a replacement.
    They vary in price from $50 to $180 a set from what I have seen. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to cheap out. I expected to pay some bucks for things, I am doing a full rebuild and just got my new cam and lifters (Melling stock grind), but is one brand really that much better than the other to justify 4 or 5 times the price of another? I have been reading reviews all over the place and some say avoid Crown at all costs, buy the MSD, others say they worked fine. I know any car part these days can be good, bad, or in the middle. If I get a lot of folks that really recommend going for the more expensive parts, no problem, I'll order some this week. Just trying to spend wisely with the experience of others. Thanks.
    By the way, I will be running a Motorcraft distributor that would have been in later year CJ's, I have the proper dowels in the front cover for alignment and know about the oiling mods to the new timing gears. Also, if there is another brand that I haven't mentioned, please advise.
     
  2. Sep 24, 2022
    Joe Dokes

    Joe Dokes New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2016
    Messages:
    36
    As long as your camshaft and distributor are made from compatible materials it shouldn’t make a difference. For example roller cams often have bronze gears so you want to use a bronze gear on your distributor.

    i suspect that most of the problems with the crown stuff come from today’s ****ty oil without enough zinc. If it were me I’d add a zinc additive when you first start the motor. This additive will give your flat tappet cam a fighting chance during break in, plus it will help the two gears mate as well.

    Once your motor is broken in I’d switch to a quality synthetic oil.
     
  3. Sep 25, 2022
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    I'd be curious to learn the country of origin for the Crown part. I believe they are not the same company they were many years ago and much of their inventory is reboxed, lower quality items. I've seen the same part in a Crown box and a box that came a vendor who stated on their site that the part was sourced from Omix. Identical pieces.

    I think that distributor gears are not a place where I'd take a chance just to save money. Save that line of thinking for shifter knobs and such if you like.

    Just my opinion. No offense offered.
     
  4. Sep 25, 2022
    FlatlanderCJ5

    FlatlanderCJ5 Member

    Wichita, KS
    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2022
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    151
    After thinking it over I agree. I have some MSD products on order. I was sort of surprised that this topic didn't get much traffic, maybe I sounded like a grumpy old man, ha ha, not my intention. Thanks for the input though, I appreciate it.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2022
  5. Sep 25, 2022
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Silver Hill,...
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    Dec 4, 2018
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    I would go the better quality MSD part. The zinc is also very good advice.
     
  6. Sep 26, 2022
    dnb71R2

    dnb71R2 SuperDave 2023 Sponsor

    Grand Mesa, CO
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    All I know is DON'T SKIMP here!!!
    There are many cheap dizzy's on eBay for the Dauntless and other 'modern' engines that are manufactured outside of the US.
    I've read the drive gears are not the correct pitch or somehow cause premature failure of your cam gear (BAD NEWS!).
     
  7. Sep 26, 2022
    jeepdaddy2000

    jeepdaddy2000 Active Member

    Eagle Point oregon
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    Jun 24, 2004
    Messages:
    1,132
    Someone a while ago did some research on this and found that there seems to be three different hardnesses to the various gears manufactures are churning out. The issue is mixing them, which leads to premature failure of the gear with the softer material. The prevailing thought is to either reuse the old gears as a matched set or replace them as a set.
     
    dnb71R2 likes this.
  8. Sep 26, 2022
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    Jan 15, 2011
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    2,115
    I have run for 10 years a bronze distributor gear. Never add an issues.
     
  9. Sep 26, 2022
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
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    4,460
    With a Melling, cast stock cam replacement, you would want to run the stock type melonite coated cam gear. It is all about hardness of the cam and the gear. If you have an aftermarket cam ground on a stick of 8620 or similar alloy steel, which is softer than the cast versions, then you need the softer distributor gear, either bronze or composite. Neither of those wear as well as the stock melonite coated gears on a stock type cam composition. The composites actually wear better than the bronze.

    As above, this is no place to skimp out. Buy quality USA parts.
     
    Ol Fogie and FlatlanderCJ5 like this.
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