Timing Gear Drive

Well, that's another part of the equation. I haven't measured the spring pressure yet but interpolating from the build sheet(I bought these heads finished) open pressure is likely to be around 325lbs if I go with the .450 lift cam I already have on hand. I know 450 doesn't sound like much but old hemis don't require as much lift as some other motors. I haven't ruled out changing the springs, depends on the cam I end up with. If I go to over .500 on the cam open pressure will increase.

My tentative goal is 6000 rpms or so(seems a safe rpm for the reworked stock 392 rods, which Garlits told me he used up to 6500 rpms on nitro in his swamp rat 1. I've ordered some exhaust rocker reinforcement ribs that get welded on (old school I know but titan rockers just too much $). I'm told that will be strong enough for the springs and rpms, jury still out though.

I'm also told that the harmonics kick in around 7000 rpms. If that's correct the gear drive shouldn't be a problem as far as that goes. But who knows? Most of my info comes from the web, and well...its the internet, you know?

Sorry to be talking hemi here on a smallblock board but I thought since the timing sets are the same between the two motors maybe somebody here had some hard facts that I could apply to my eventual decision.