A friend just got a new Isky roller and it allows steel gears to be used now and I also replaced mine after 6 years and it had slop but was not tore up like the op's. I also had a 3-piece Torrington bearing set up between the block bushing and the bottom of the bronze gear after Pettis machined off material to make up the difference but I was off on my measurement so it rode too high on the cam gear. Got a new Crane bronze gear which is the hardest Rockwell tested one they offer as far as bronze goes and just one flat washer off of the Torrington deal and my timing is rock solid now with my cam preloaded against the timing cover with a rollerized Isky cam button going on 15+ years and LOTS of street miles.....