anyone run them and do they sound good.

 

I heard them on a SBC, sounded nice. From what I have been told they are race only and cause more resonance and vibe issues than conventional chain drives. The chain tends to dampen things a bit. Also gears and knock sensors are a huge no no.

 

Only if you plan to turn off your knock sensor. They wreak havoc on computer controlled engines because the sound makes the computer think knock is present.

 

Why would you run them for the sound?

 

Engine Masters magazine did a comparison of power produced by a conventional timing chain, a gear drive and a belt drive. There was no clear performance advantage for any system. Adjustability is a feature of the belt drive. That was about the only difference.

I saw a detailed writeup on an install of a Pete Jackson gear drive in an LT1 396. The inside of the LT1 timing cover had to be machined for clearance. The guy ran it for a few months.... and ripped it out because he couldn't stand the noise.

 

Some of them are "machined" for noise. I think at first, they think the whine is cool but get irritated with it later on. Kinda how I felt with my loudmouth.
Mine car makes enough noise, I couldn't imagine it or would want it being any noisier.