Thread: Gear Drive Question

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This has come up before, and people have opinions both ways.

Twenty-two years ago I bought a 69 Camaro, the guy I bought it from spent four years building it. His girl friend’s father built the engine, he built and raced big block Chevy engines in a 67 Camaro God rest his soul. Ron told me about the car and how he showed the young guy how to drive it hard because he put the engine together. I never had any problems with it. The guy I sold it to had to sell it because he couldn’t keep his foot out of it he got to many tickets. Ron used a PJ gear drive unit and I really like the sound. The car had a 350 trans with a shift kit, 4:11 rear end. If I drove the car for a long distance it was tough on the ears with the 4:11 keeping the rpm’s up. I couldn’t tell how fast I was going but running a little slower then the other cars I think it was around 2500 rpm, at the time I used the tach because the odometer was way off. The gear drive was loud. Today I don’t think I would be able to handle the noise with the constant ringing in my left ear now. Light to light it was great. I sold it bought it back, sold it again, then the guy that built it originally bought it back saying he would never sell it again. That car was so clean I would polish the floor pans underneath the car, it was black, black vinyl top, black interior.

Richard

This is a good example of, "if it works, don't fix it!" Sure, the odd gear drive works, but lots more fall to pieces and I've seen them take the front end right off the camshaft. I shouldn't complain, I've made some good dollars pulling them out of guy's engines, but I'd rather not have to do it.