Hey guys, anyone out there running a Hughes Melonized gear on a billet roller core ? I'm in the process of buttoning up the bottom end on my 505 build. I have both options Bronze or Melonized on hand. Mainly gonna be a street driver because there are no 1/4 mile tracks in So.Cal anymore. It's a Bullet Racing grind. Mild "street" solid. Springs will be setup 210 seat with 500 over the nose. Bullet Racing said to use bronze, but I want to avoid the potential maintenance of a bronze gear. I will be using a standard volume/standard pressure oil pump.Has anyone had success with a Melonized gear on a bilet core ? If so, what kind of use ?.. seems like there's no defined winner when it comes to camshaft selection anymore. Always a potential stumbling block no matter what style you choose to use.

Bullet told you what to use. Maybe they told you that by experience and reason. Just saying.

I'd ask Hughes.

I've used the Crane melonized on a Howards hydraulic roller for a few years now. Lots of miles and lots of passes.

In fact, I just had the engine apart this Winter for refresh and the gear showed little to no wear. Standard volume, standard pressure oil pump.

WOW, when I was young there were many. Lots of Top Fuel nights.

I realize that, that's why I mentioned it. Of course Bullet is gonna give me the safe proven answer, but that doesn't guarantee long term success with the bronze gear either. (Lots of failures with bronze if you search the forums).Thats why I asked the question,.. if anyone had first hand experience with a Melonized gear on a billet roller?
Hughes says I'm good.. btw.. but, they also want to sell me a Melonized gear... The melonized gear situation seems like uncharted waters for most Mopar guys. So,.. Who's right? Hughes or Bullet ?

Yep..pretty sad state of affairs out here for a drag racer anymore.

I bought a bullet hydraulic roller, i phoned them and asked about melonized, and they said no problem using it, that or bronze.

I have a solid roller. I have a brand new bronze gear. I know the tricks to make a bronze gear hang in there.

But I bought a Hughes gear and plan to use it !!

Is that a billet core Hydraulic Roller ?

I've use only bronze gears on all my steel core solid and hydraulic roller cam builds with no regrets so far 26 yrs. later
I believe Harvey Crane came up wit the "Meloinized gears" before his passing years ago, why I do not know
I think keeping the cam travel front to rear to a minimum(.0030 to .0100 max) is part of the key to success

I'm running a melonized gear on an 8620 core. I don't have enough miles on it to know how it will do long term.

Agreed on minimizing travel with cam button. I'm using Andy's timing cover, nylon button, .002.

I think running excessively thick oil or too heavy of a bypass spring could put more load on the gears than needed as well.

[quote=INTMD8]I'm running a melonized gear on an 8620 core. I don't have enough miles on it to know how it will do long term.

Agreed on minimizing travel with cam button. I'm using Andy's timing cover, nylon button, .002.

I think running excessively thick oil or too heavy of a bypass spring could put more load on the gears than needed as well. [/quote

Nice, a Hughes brand Melonized gear?.. have you inspected it since install ? The cam thrust endplay is another point of contention, I see anywhere between.. .002 and .013.. ? I have mine currently set up at .008. Hopefully. 008 will be sufficient? Any further details regarding your experience will be much appreciated.

I believe the Hughes gear in actually a Crane gear Pt # CR66970-1.

Im in the process of swapping my worn bronze gear so it will be interesting to see how it goes.

Not sure. All the places I have found that have it for sale don't show what material the cam core is.

I had the same decision between these two gears and i choose the standard bronze gear as i have always had good luck with them anyway. A friend of mine found a bronze gear by Crane and it fixed his timing retard issue. Common problem with MSD and bronze gears or maybe just MSD period.. With the new standard bronze gear and timing locked i lose 3.5*- 4* timing when i increase rpm to 4000rpm. I would try the Crane gear. You will have to press it onto the shaft because they are not available with shaft i'm told. Check you timing for retard with rpm after if your dist. is locked.

That's my understanding, although maybe there's another source since Crane is no longer in business.

Re shaft, I purchased mine from Hughes installed on one of their shafts. The only thing I wasn't thrilled about was the slot in the shaft where the tab on the distributor shaft fits is wider than OEM; I had to on the distributor shaft tip to flare it out enough to take up the slop.

Yes from Hughes, as LAD mentioned, I believe it's the Crane gear. I would think .008 is fine.

I have not inspected it yet. Just drove it to the dyno and back (plus runs on the dyno) so maybe a couple hundred miles on it tops.

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Ok, thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated .