Ask Roger: Is it better/safer to run dual timing chains or gear to gear?

It's ASK ROGER time! We just uploaded the latest ASK ROGER video and are pumped to announce our November WINNER! Congratulations to Matt Erndt Jr on being selected as the ‪#‎AskRoger‬ questions of the month and winning a set of E3 Spark Plugs (up to a V8)!
Matt Erndt Jr asked "When were out racing on the dirt roundy rounds with a Chevy 355, vortex heads, 500 lift roller cam with roller rockers and a two barrel carb, is it better/safer to run dual timing chains or gear to gear?"

[@141runn]

so you have just been told a dual idler gear will rob power. and havent actually done a pull on the dyno with one

[@hatedonalot9080]

Definitely did 9yr old vid got the job done appreciate you Rodger

[@JWest1]

Personally, I would rather just have a gear drive for everything. Yes, they may rob some power, but overall reliability is my goal. Something I can drive and know I dont have to worry about the chain, and I can beat the hell out of if need be and not fret about the cam chain snapping.

[@kevinpeterson4098]

I put a cheap EBay silent gear drive. I think $45.00 anyway I have used it now for 30,000 miles. I am reusing the same one on this recent cam change. It works great! It has upper/lower gear and a middle idle gears. I haven't had it past 5,000 rpm. But I bet it would still hold! Imo.

[@thelowbudgetguy]

I had a cheap Ebay set in my fox. Loved them amd no issues either after 45k til I sold the car

[@scotthultin7769]

Gear drive Santa's harmonics from the crankshaft warped into the camshaft which can disturb the lifter sequence as its running
A timing chain sends a lot less do the camshaft Bell drive unit with a card bill does not send any harmonics to the camshaft
It really demands on what RPM level you're going to cross the finish line on what kind of chain gear drive Or belt drive you're going to use in your race motor

[@JWest1]

I just wish there was a gear drive option for over head cam engines

[@peterdiamond5677]

Good info Roger!

[@sweetness34km]

I have Pete Jackson silent love it

[@Martin750hp]

Your an Engine dyno technition?
You dyno an engine with gear drive or chain drive
Then prove what makes more horse power
On same motor then you can say chain or gear drive?

[@MrThoggs11]

Thank Roger , you continue to provide great information. I do have a question, I have a 2001 Tahoe 5.3l Vortec , and I'm running a BTR stage 4 cam kit, with other things but should I go double timing chain or Cloyes single is ok.. ?

[@dcrailgov]

I would think the belt drive on big horsepower engines wouldn't be a very good idea. How much power are they good for?

[@MasterChief-sl9ro]

Wish they had a belt drive for the Ford Modular engines. As their new 1 liter 3 cylinder uses an oil bath belt drive.

[@DragonKnighte2798]

So whats the best best gear to gear drive setup to use then

[@MasterChief-sl9ro]

The last one he showed has been around for 50 years. As the Idler load is spread across two gears.
Be warned. These things sound like you have a super charger under your hood. As they whine like crazy...
ua-cam.com/video/5BGzK-zCLYk/v-deo.html

[@davidsgarage44]

everyone has its uses.as he said chains good for most things..i hate belts they snap and bend valves and i would love to do a gear drive on my 5.7 350tbi plowtruck

[@ThePaulv12]

I installed a Milodon single idler. I spent a great deal of time setting it up EXACTLY as the instructions say. It's not cheap but it is completely silent. As silent as a Morse drive.
So for all the naysayers out there, if you say Milodon single idler gear drives are noisey then you don't know what you're talking about.

[@curtiscamaro5926]

I use jessel on mine, they cost a lot.

[@antoniohosino145]

I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR , IT MAKES NO SENSE TO LOSE AN EXPENSIVE ENGINE AT HIGH RPM OVER A CHINAMEN SPECIAL NOT HAPPENING HERE , U.S.A. STEEL IS BEST AND F.... !!!! THE REST !!!!!

[@63grandsport11]

That means an original Pete Jackson made unit.

[@Maxmgm212.]

I didn’t really hear an answer

[@iMakeMemorys]

I mean if you listen there is no definitive answer it depends on application...

[@epoxeclipse]

f1 used gear drive.. we are talking 20k redlines.

[@Thumper68]

With no torque either..

[@Thumper68]

@james avery they do need it if they had none they wouldn’t move

[@Thumper68]

@james avery chevelle only weighed 3300 pounds light in comparison to today’s “muscle” cars and less then a Ford Focus RS lol! I was never arguing that they didn’t need torque just stating a fact you don’t get any real world usable torque in an f1 car or with an engine that spins at 20k rpm.

[@Thumper68]

@james avery no such thing as power bands. Let me know when you tear down an engine and find these bands 😂. NASCAR engines have pretty decent torque still 500 ft lb or so

[@tonywalters5679]

Nobody cares about belt drives !!!!! Try to stay on track with the title!