Distributor Cam Lubricator

[Floyd B.]

[Chuck S.]

Re: Distributor Cam Lubricator

Floyd, I think about the only place you may see one of those for sale anymore is at some NOS part vendors at Carlisle, and those will be drier than the Nevada desert. I'll bet they haven't made them in 25 years.

Those lubricators were a lame attempt at providing a replaceable maintenance part to prevent overlubrication of the distributor cam. I believe most people never changed them, or threw them away along with their radio interfernce shielding. Wiping a thin film of grease on the distributor cam with your finger is an easy alternative that has worked since distributors began, but if you overdo it, you will pay. Don't worry about the judging aspect...it's hard enough to see the RFI shielding.

[Chuck S.]

Clarification...

When I mentioned RFI shield, I didn't mean to imply that your distributor should have one...I don't know if 73s had the RFI shield or not.

When the distributor cover went to one piece (late in 70), the late 70s through 72s have a two piece, stamped steel enclosure that fits around the ignition points, condensor, and probably the lubricator as well. This shielding is intended to compensate for the reduced shielding of the one piece distributor cover.

On Corvettes that have this two piece RFI shielding, it is judged by raising the dwell adjustment window cover.

[Joe L.]

Re: Distributor Cam Lubricator

Floyd and Chuck----

1973's did use the internal RFI shield. You should note that there are tapped screw holes in the distributor base plate for the mounting screws.

As far as the lubricator goes, it was GM #1852935, but it has, indeed, been discontinued for quite a few years. However, I think that a replacement may be available from other aftermarket sources like Borg-Warner or Standard Auto Parts.

[Floyd B.]

[Duke W.]

Re: Distributor Cam Lubricator

Joe - the original cam lubricator in my SWC was a small felt wick -tetrahedron shaped. I replaced this in the seventies, and the design had changed to cylindrical shaped polyethylene foam, which included and plastic clip to mount it on the breaker plate. Which design is the 1853935 you refer to.

I have searched for a functional equivalent in the aftermarket, but have come up empty. Most point sets include a small capsule of grease.

Duke

[Mike M.]

Re: Distributor Cam Lubricator

Duke: if there is an old established AC Delco dealer nearby, try him for nos plastic- held felt wicks. got several that way several years ago. dust was thick on their containers. mike

[Joe L.]

Re: Distributor Cam Lubricator

Duke-----

The 1853935 is the "foam" type lubricator, mounted to a white nylon retainer which snaps into the base plate. This style replaced the earlier felt wick type many years ago.

[Joe L.]

Re: Distributor Cam Lubricator

Floyd-----

First of all, 73's used only the 2 rearward horizontal RF shields, one on each side. As I reall, early 1970, or thereabouts, was the last use of the 2 front shields.

These rear shields can be difficult to "articulate" with the vertical shields. The right side shield attaches to the vertical shield with a wing nut. The left side shield has to attachment to the vertical shield, just a "tab" that "fits" into the vertical shield. It's very hard to get this to fit right. I don't think that they even came from the factory properly fitted. The best thing to do is to leave the manifold bolts that secure the support brackets AND the wing nuts that hold the shield to the support brackets LOOSE. Then, adjust the whole thing and tighten everything when it fits as best you can get it.

The left rear horizontal shield is a really poor fitting piece. The original shield on my original owner 69 came from the factory with the bottom "bent" to clear the cross shaft. I'm sure that this was a "mod" done at St. Louis to make it fit. The left rear shield was the same for 1968 through 1979.

[Chas Henderson #28127]

Re: Distributor Cam Lubricator

Guys,
I purchased the wick and the white plastic holder as a set from chicago corvette about a year and a half ago. Try p/n A2551 68-74 lubricator kit - point opening cam (retainer w/wick) $10.25. They also sell the rfi shield, p/n C2503 70-74 NOS, but pricy $44.95

Chasman