Anyone installed a single idler gear drive ?
If so, how's the noise factor ?

 

Don't know about the single gear but the ones I've heard w/ two gears have a slight whine like a blower. Which is not all bad.

 

Will be going the route of the fixed single idler gear drive on the Z-28 302 transplant as it maintains cam timing to where it was set & don't want to change any more timing chains.
From what I've researched so far, it is quieter than the "quiet" dual idler gear drives and almost as quiet as the timing chain.
The fixed single idler won't put wear on the timing cover like the free floating dual idler gear drive as it is mounted in the aluminum timing cover in a fixed position and is durable while maintaining cam timing.
Gear is adjusted by the movement of the timing cover by using 5/16 to 1/4" bushings or putting in a 5/16" timing cover pilot pin in the block. Clearance between the gear teeth is .004-.006" with a dial indicator or running a 1/2" strip of newspaper while turning the gears which should leave a slight imprint on the newspaper surface. Gear lash is check through the removable cam cover of the timing cover.

Gear is set once & will maintain its cam timing.

 

Sounds expensive if you need a special timing cover.

 

One of my toys in my toy box is a new single idler gear drive which is built into the aluminum timing cover which also has a removable cam cover to pull the cam gear out to adjust the cam timing button or when changing cams
Was saving this puppy for the Z-28 302.
Kit came with the matching heat treated 8620 steel alloy crank & cam gears in polished die cast timing cover with built-in single idler, bronze cam thrust washer, torrington cam thrust bearing with thrust adjusting shim pack (.000 to .115") for .005" cam thrust clearance, lock plate for thrust bearing and cam bolts, allen head timing cover bolts, cam timing buttons for 0,2,4,6,8 degree adjustments, cam secondary cover w/ O Ring, timing pointer, timing cover gasket & oil seal, 2 sets of bushings (1/4" or 5/16") to align the cover, regular as well as extra thick water pump gaskets & installation instructions.

Ditto on your quote: "So many toys, so little time" !

 

Will this all fit w/ the Corvette short arm water pump?

 

The kit has a set of double thick water pump gaskets to move the pump away from the timing cover without going out of tolerance on the pulley belt alignment if it is needed.
The aluminum cover is a bit thicker than the stock steel cover.
Regular water pump gasket is also included in case the double thick ones are not needed.