The Ford Barn

gavinnz · 03-19-2019, 07:46 AM

Does anyone know if someone still makes straight cut timing gears for the flathead?
I read about some in a book but when I looked them up I could not find the maker...
Or does some have an old set laying around they would part with?
Regards
Gavin

Tim Ayers · 03-19-2019, 07:51 AM

Curious: Why do you want these?

In all my time fooling with these motors, I've never seen a set.

gavinnz · 03-19-2019, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

Curious: Why do you want these?

In all my time fooling with these motors, I've never seen a set.

I like the noise of straight cut gears...

Tim Ayers · 03-19-2019, 07:59 AM

This is going in a boat, right?

gavinnz · 03-19-2019, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

This is going in a boat, right?

Yup a 1930's, 16 foot, rear cockpit, barrel back, slopped v stern speedboat.

Mart · 03-19-2019, 08:20 AM

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The angle of the gears is used to keep the crank thrust in the right direction. You'd have to rig up an end float limiter if you could get straight cut gears. I must admit I've never heard of any, or even thought of it before.

Mart.

rotorwrench · 03-19-2019, 08:23 AM

Which series of V8 do you have, ie 8BA or earlier? Thrust is important to the cam in either style for different distributors. Straight cut gears provide no thrust either way so the cam wanders around. If you want noise just add more throttle.

Ronnieroadster · 03-19-2019, 02:51 PM

Straight cut gear sets are being used in flathead Ford engines at Bonneville so the gears are available if you can find who makes them. Before Im asked no i dont use them LOL
Ronnieroadster

JSeery · 03-19-2019, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronnieroadster

Straight cut gear sets are being used in flathead Ford engines at Bonneville so the gears are available if you can find who makes them. Before Im asked no i dont use them LOL
Ronnieroadster

Ronnie, any idea what the advantage would be, slightly less drag?

Flathead Fever · 03-19-2019, 03:09 PM

Supposedly you run them on the later overheads to replace the timing chain to achieve a more valve timing because there is no chain stretch. There would be no advantage to them on a flathead that already has gears. I ran a Pete Jackson gear drive setup in a Mustang, It sounded really cool but I doubt it made that much difference over a chain. With those 289 gears you have idler gears between the crank and cam gear. You have to machine the front timing cover to give the idler gears the correct end play. I probably drove them 50K miles without any problems.

Pete · 03-19-2019, 05:05 PM

I have been using them in flathead Ford race engines since the 50's.
Dan McEachern makes them commercially.

I make my own with a 3 degree angle for thrust.
I have run Dan's straight spur gears and the cam did not "walk" but I have both thrust surfaces pressure oiled.

And, yes, you can notice more power on the dyno. Not enough to bother with on a street engine for the added cost though.

Ronnieroadster · 03-19-2019, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSeery

Ronnie, any idea what the advantage would be, slightly less drag?

Like Pete wrote more power. For all out top speed Im sure its worth the effort.

Ol' Ron · 03-19-2019, 10:35 PM

The first 32 V8 engines had straight cut gears, not sure when they switched to the ahgle cut gears. But they didn't last long. Too bad Walt isn't around, he'd know.

Dan McEachern · 03-20-2019, 08:09 PM

So it seems the secret is out, yes I do make steel straight cut timing gear sets for flatheads. I 1st made these for Jay Steele at Taylor Engine in Whittier, Ca for a reverse flow engine he was building for a customer to be run at the salt. The advantage is to these is that there is no thrust load on the engine due to the straight cut teeth. Although its a slight amount of power loss, it is a loss that can be used to possibly get another few MPH. Yea, ya gotta deal with thrust issues on the cam, but these engines tend to be so highly modified that the thrust issue is trivial. Noise wise, if everything is set up correctly they are not much louder than a stock setup. Going to try and post a picture of a set. If ya have any questions, my e-mail is dmcgearsatyahoodotcom. Dan

Charlie ny · 03-20-2019, 08:49 PM

Dan,
Those are more JEWELS than gears............so great guys like you are out there.
Charlie ny

Tim Ayers · 03-20-2019, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie ny

Dan,
Those are more JEWELS than gears............so great guys like you are out there.
Charlie ny

Dang! Agreed.

cas3 · 03-20-2019, 09:57 PM

x3, i have bought some of dans stuff...all good

03-19-2019, 07:46 AM	#1
gavinnz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: New Zealand Posts: 208	Straight cut timing gears?? Any out there? Does anyone know if someone still makes straight cut timing gears for the flathead? I read about some in a book but when I looked them up I could not find the maker... Or does some have an old set laying around they would part with? Regards Gavin

03-19-2019, 07:51 AM	#2
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,179	Re: Straight cut timing gears?? Any out there? Curious: Why do you want these? In all my time fooling with these motors, I've never seen a set.

03-19-2019, 07:59 AM	#4
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,179	Re: Straight cut timing gears?? Any out there? This is going in a boat, right?

03-19-2019, 08:20 AM	#6
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,750	Re: Straight cut timing gears?? Any out there? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The angle of the gears is used to keep the crank thrust in the right direction. You'd have to rig up an end float limiter if you could get straight cut gears. I must admit I've never heard of any, or even thought of it before. Mart.

03-19-2019, 08:23 AM	#7
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,430	Re: Straight cut timing gears?? Any out there? Which series of V8 do you have, ie 8BA or earlier? Thrust is important to the cam in either style for different distributors. Straight cut gears provide no thrust either way so the cam wanders around. If you want noise just add more throttle.

03-19-2019, 02:51 PM	#8
Ronnieroadster Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: East Coast in CT Posts: 1,529	Re: Straight cut timing gears?? Any out there? Straight cut gear sets are being used in flathead Ford engines at Bonneville so the gears are available if you can find who makes them. Before Im asked no i dont use them LOL Ronnieroadster __________________ I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead , Focus and Finish. "Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block" Owner , Builder, Driver of the First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 in one and a half miles burning gasoline. First ever gas burning Ford flathead powered roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH

03-19-2019, 03:09 PM	#10
Flathead Fever Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,095	Re: Straight cut timing gears?? Any out there? Supposedly you run them on the later overheads to replace the timing chain to achieve a more valve timing because there is no chain stretch. There would be no advantage to them on a flathead that already has gears. I ran a Pete Jackson gear drive setup in a Mustang, It sounded really cool but I doubt it made that much difference over a chain. With those 289 gears you have idler gears between the crank and cam gear. You have to machine the front timing cover to give the idler gears the correct end play. I probably drove them 50K miles without any problems.

03-19-2019, 05:05 PM	#11
Pete Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wa. Posts: 5,408	Re: Straight cut timing gears?? Any out there? I have been using them in flathead Ford race engines since the 50's. Dan McEachern makes them commercially. I make my own with a 3 degree angle for thrust. I have run Dan's straight spur gears and the cam did not "walk" but I have both thrust surfaces pressure oiled. And, yes, you can notice more power on the dyno. Not enough to bother with on a street engine for the added cost though.

03-19-2019, 10:35 PM	#13
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: Straight cut timing gears?? Any out there? The first 32 V8 engines had straight cut gears, not sure when they switched to the ahgle cut gears. But they didn't last long. Too bad Walt isn't around, he'd know.

03-20-2019, 08:49 PM	#15
Charlie ny BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,019	Re: Straight cut timing gears?? Any out there? Dan, Those are more JEWELS than gears............so great guys like you are out there. Charlie ny

03-20-2019, 09:57 PM	#17
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,572	Re: Straight cut timing gears?? Any out there? x3, i have bought some of dans stuff...all good