Opinions on gear drive in BB
We run one on our 471 B front engine dragster. I wanted a Milodon fixed-idler system but my partner wouldn't go for the increased price over a PeteJackson "noisy," because the engine was originally built for his '62 Valiant gasser. Car Craft or Hot Rod had recently run an article that disproved the myth that the dual-idler gear drives were "power eaters." It made zero difference over the Milodon on the BB MoPar they did the testing on. We ran this engine several years and then decided to try a Racer Brown tight lash roller cam, replacing a Howard's solid roller. Broke it down and everything looked brandy-new, no wear discernible on anything, just shiny contact areas. Gained basically zero swapping the cams, BTW, except a little better "cackle" from the zoomies!!
We run one on our 471 B front engine dragster. I wanted a Milodon fixed-idler system but my partner wouldn't go for the increased price over a PeteJackson "noisy," because the engine was originally built for his '62 Valiant gasser. Car Craft or Hot Rod had recently run an article that disproved the myth that the dual-idler gear drives were "power eaters." It made zero difference over the Milodon on the BB MoPar they did the testing on. We ran this engine several years and then decided to try a Racer Brown tight lash roller cam, replacing a Howard's solid roller. Broke it down and everything looked brandy-new, no wear discernible on anything, just shiny contact areas. Gained basically zero swapping the cams, BTW, except a little better "cackle" from the zoomies!!