Timing belt vs timing gear set which is better???

[rjwillia37]

I am currently running a timing chain set in my 415 SBC I have the best of everything in the engine I am turning this thing 8000 to 8500 and we are afraid the timing chain isn't going to continue to hold. So with all that said what is everyone running belt drives or gear drives which is more durable???

[7uptruckracer]

Belts Just flat out break with no warning, At Least Chain you normally know before they go

[fastford]

how do you know the chain is fixing to break?

[FlatTire]

-The chain drives and gear drives transfer harmonics, belt drives do not.
-The belt drives are lighter so you have less rotating mass.
-The belt drives are very accurate compared to a chain drive.

[hucktyson]

The big time engine builders like Cornett , Jay (not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)(not a nice word)ens , RYR , Clements ETC all run Jesel Belt drives .. Those guys spare no expense to build power and reliability ...

[rjwillia37]

Well my worries are turning to many RPMS with a chain drive system which i have the best one money can buy but i feel that 8500 rpms is to much for the chain and I have also heard the belts break easy so now everyone is going to the gear set without chain

[hucktyson]

Owens , lannigan , Bloomquist , kid rocket , oneil , Blankenship and any other superstar driver you can think of runs a jesel belt drive and NONE of them are sitting in the pits with timing belt failure . Oiling issues , fuel issues, timing issues such as reverse polarity and running them out of water are the main causes of engine failures not timing belts breaking .

[powerslide]

They also probably get those things refreshed every 15-20 races and the belt is changed then.

[let-r-eat]

Belt drive with the belt changed each freshen up.

[fastford]

gear drives were a fad , they rob horsepower , all there good for is making a neat sound on your street car when your cruising around town.