88 4.9l has a bad oil leak at the timing cover. Should i look at replacing the gears while I'm in there?

 

I would.

 

What kind of gears would you go with?

 

Stock or after market would be fine. It is a inline 6. I don`t know much about the 6, does it have a chain or just gears?

 

Just the nylon gears. Should I replace with the same material or is there a better material to use?

 

The gears rarely go bad.

 

Ill check them out when I pull the cover. If they look alright I might leave them

 

dont mess with them...

they are Nylon and the top gear is Press-Fit... meaning pressed on the cam.

Unless there are actual teeth missing you dont need to mess with it.

Not only that most do not know how to properly remove the cam gear and break the Retainer Plate the holds the cam in.... it is very thin and brittle.... you break it have fun finding a new one...

 

I had removed the timing cover before to check the gears. Didn't have time to put it all back together so I had someone do it for me. And they reused the old gasket...

 

It's not fun...I went with metal ones. Not fun at all. Stupid press fit bs! lol