Engine: 140 1986cc B20B: Steel Timing Gears

[Snowman]

Does anyone have any experience of these? I realise they would be noisy but I can live with that and I know the OE fit is fibre and have a reputation for failing. My engine is uprated pretty much as far as it can go for practical purposes but this change has not been done, any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

[john h]

Hi

I reply assuming the B20 and B30 engines have similar timing gears. Apologies if they don't!

I have just bought a 164E from Germany fitted with steel (Penta) timing gears. I have not collected the car yet, so I cannot report directly. I'll reply again when I have the car. Meanwhile, a quote from the information the owner gave me, relating his past experience with Volvo timing gear failure in high speed use in the '70s, which may be of interest to you:

"The only week part of
>> the engine. Because we have no speed limit in Germany these wheels can
>> brake under full speed. But without any damage on the cylinder head. I
>> was`nt able to check if these wheels were changed already. That`s the
>> reason I bought a set in switzerland to be sure. These wheels are not
>> original Volvo Car, they are Volvo Penta
>> ( Motorboats) and full metal. What means they`ll never brake again. Later
>> I realized, that the car was driven
>> in Switzerland, what means, High speed German way
>> not possible. For further information. One of the reason I bought this
>> car was that I used the same model and color
>> in the seventies as my company car and I drove more than 250000 Km
>> without any problem, and this very,very often under time pressure, what
>> means at the limit.
>> The only thing what happened - distr.wheels.
>> The garage told me then, that I should change the product
>> to Penta. And this was the solution. No more problems.

I hope this is helpful.

John

[Gordon Hunter]

Hi,

I have fitted steel timing gears in the B18 in my P1800.
I have never been able to discern any difference at all noise-wise between it and the fibre gears in another more standard P1800 that I owned at the same time.
This comparison is at idle speed, and admitedly the car with the steel gears has a free flowing exhaust and its somewhat difficult to hear anything else under load!
I realise aslo its a B20 you are talking about, but the only difference (essentially) is bore size.

Hope this helps,

Gordon

[john h]

Ebay item 170089136138 may be of interest.

John

[Snowman]

Thanks for the observations, much appreciated.

[stuart bankier]

I fitted steel timing gears to my B18 which i use for historic rallies and it doesn't seem to generate any additional noise at all

[Mike B]

I fitted steel gears to my 164 carb 1972 about 10 years ago when the fiber ones
broke up on the M25 {Luck was partly with me as I was able to coast off the M way and onto the hard shoulder} Yes they were and still ar noisy a little less now, but at least she runs ,
Not to bad a job , hope this helps

Regards
Mike
164 & 740