Oil pump gears?

Heres the story, I'm currently putting together a timing cover for a 70 455 and am doing the modifications for longevity. I took the new gears to the machine shop to bead blast them and get the .060 hole drilled thru the idler gear,the owner told me he couldn't do it because the gears were made of "hardened steel" anybody run into this problem before?o No:

 

Anyone have this happen?

 

Hi Kenny,

I couldn't begin to count the number of gears I've drilled over the years...with a 1/2" hand drill to boot too!:grin: I just did one for a fellow V8 Board member a couple of weeks ago.

Take a punch and dimple a spot halfway down between two of the "teeth" of the driven (idler) gear. Then use an 1/8" bit and drill, be sure to carefully debur afterwards (I use a miniature file set or a rat-tail also works good). This is somewthing you can definately do yourself at home in just a few minutes.:TU:

Sounds to me like it's just something that that shop didn't want to waste time messing with so he shot you a lame answer...ou:

Hope this helps....

 

Uh, I don't think I've seen this before about drilling a hole in the idler. May have overlooked it in the various things I've seen regarding oiling system mods. But I gotta ask, what's the purpose of the mod and where does the hole go? I'm guessing it's a small (.060 to .125?) hole between two of the teeth on the idler. Purpose of providing oiling to the idler shaft? Wouldn't it get oiled around the end clearance normally? Thanks for helping out a Buick-challenged individual!!!

 

Kerry,
Thanx for the reply. I thought it was kinda wierd of the shop to say that. I've read about the tip of drilling the hole in the idler gear for years and thought his answer was lame,nobody ever mentions any difficulty with it. I just wanted to make sure,Thanks again:TU:

 

Hi Guys,


Jim....I consider drilling this hole as extra insurance as I have seen the idler seize on the shaft from lack of lube. There are no downsides to doing this mod either.....other than the few minutes it takes to do it.

Just ask Jim B. (a.k.a. Buick535 on the board here) about how it feels for this to have happen while in the burnout box!?!? ou:

Kenny.....you're welcome.:TU:

 

I used a punch to mark/index my gears...If you can mark em with a punch...for sure you can drill them!:grin: