VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 38 timing gear backlash

I have the timing cover off of my 38 and I checked the timing gear back lash and it measured .010". The shop manual says .002 - .005 is the spec. Should I replace the timing gear? What about the crank gear?

Thanks,
Matt

if it were mie would replace both gears.

Thanks Gene

Gene,

Will the crank gear from a newer 216 (40-62) work?

When I look at the Filling Station or Chevs of the 40s they list timing gears fitting 37-62.

Thanks

That is what I use in my 1939 years back.....The 1937-1939 orignally used the first Idesign and chnge your valve timing a a little but I never noticed the difference.
Y

Thanks Gene

Hi Matt_37,

PM me if you are interested in an NOS cam gear. I have a new fiber gear still in the box.

Typically the fiber gear wears a lot more than the steel crank gear. You might determine that the backlash is within spec with just a new cam gear.

If you are going to drive the car thousands of miles I agree with Gene’s recommendation. Replace both gears.

If you are like most of us you will be extremely lucky to get 1000 miles a year on the car. It will be many years before you wear out a gear.

Based on your prior post I know that you are checking the oil flow to the timing gears.

Thanks Rusty but one of the spares that came with the car is a new in box fiber cam gear.

Since I am going that far I will also replace the crank gear as they are pretty cheap and easy to get. It will also let me take the rear timing cover off and make sure the oil passage is clear.

You will find that the teeth in the steel gear will have marks worn into them in mesh pattern from the fiber gear. This will cause gear whine for sveral thousand miles.

ing the later gear theigniion timingwill be off slighty so you cah advance the timing (with the octane selector) a few more degees.

Thanks Gene

Gene, Rusty,

I have a new crank timing gear on the way.

What is the best way to install the new gear? Heat it up and hit it with a hammer?