I'm planning on running the straight cut gears to reduce thrust on the cam retainer.
I'm ALSO planning on using the ATI damper/harmonic balancer!! I used them on my big block drag cars with confidence. When the SFI rules began calling for them, we started with the old Moroso balancer and lost a couple of crankshafts.
Jim Beatey, the founder of ATI sent us one of his balancers to try and the dyno showed a measurable gain in HP. The vibration was eliminated and harmonics almost disappeared completely, even on the 454" based engines!!
We tried Fliudamper and the TCI clutch style one as well. Went back to ATI and stayed! GM started using them later, as did several other manufacturers.
If I decide the next build, (if there is a next build) merits one, I'll be in the market for one of those Joseph timing gear sets.
