Quote Originally Posted by Blown353
Best bet for reliability and longevity in all departments is to get a billet core cam with a pressed-on iron gear and run a GM melonized gear on your distributor. I hate to say it, but I'd eat the cost of that cast core cam and have another one ground on a -9 core, which is a billet core with the pressed on iron gear.

Troy
Troy - you seem to have a wealth of knowledge in this area so I'd like to ask one more question...
After reading about all the problems with cast-core Comp HR cams I had mine ground on a billet core like you recommended. My engine builder handled this at my request, and when I saw the cam yesterday I learned they ground it on a smaller base circle for stroker clearance and used a pressed-on cast gear. This was a pleasant surprise since I was expecting the cam gear just to be machined into the billet core and I would have to use a bronze dist. gear as a result. I just ordered an MSD E-Curve distributor and I'm wondering if it's gear will play nicely with the Comp pressed-on cast gear? I understand the MSD gear with a cast core is bad news, but what about the MSD gear with a billet core? Is the GM melonized gear still a necessity with a billet core?

Thanks in advance for your help!