I have seen many "NOS" Delco Remy distributor caps for auction on ebay with photos/descriptions that match the NCRS judging manual for 1969 big block engines. Some of these caps have brass inserts, and some have aluminum inserts. Anyone know the difference in application?
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Re: Delco Remy Distributor Cap
Lawrence Copper was TI application and aluminum color was standard . LyleLyle
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Re: Delco Remy Distributor Cap
I was always under the impression that all TIs had the brown cap with brass termimals, but in prior discussions on this Forum, the consensus was that the brown/brass terminal caps were only used with the TI on L-88 (and I suppose the two ZL-1s).
My belief that all TIs had the brown/brass cap stemmed from the fact that for about ten years I owned and used the TI from the '67 "12-mile L-88" that sold this year at Bloomington for something over $600K. (I sold the TI to David Burroughs circa 1987 to reinstall on the original car from whence it came, so it should now be in it's OE home.)
DukeComment
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Re: Delco Remy Distributor Cap
Duke, Regardless of prior discussions and opinions. My NEW 1966 L72 Corvette with K66, built the 1st week of March/1966, ORIGINALLY had a Tan distributor cap, with brass terminals. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but the FACT is that is how the car left the factory. FWIW DaveComment
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Re: Delco Remy Distributor Cap
Duke what markings would a person look for on a brown distributor cap with brass terminals?Comment
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Re: Delco Remy Distributor Cap
Don't know as the TI I sold to Burroughs to put back on the "12-mile L-88" still had the OE brown cap, and I never thought to look at any markings back in those days of yore.
DukeComment
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Re: Delco Remy Distributor Cap
Jim, et al------
I don't know if we'll ever figure out all this business with distributor caps. There were a lot of "wierd and strange" things that happened with respect to them. However, I'll offer this:
Discounting special distributor cap applications INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO the FI distributor caps (GM #1943047 or Delco D-310) and the dual point cap (GM #1941551 or Delco D-324), there were a TOTAL of 4 distributor caps used on the VAST majority of 58-74 Corvette applications. These were as follows:
GM #1932018 or Delco D-308 (black with aluminum contacts--no "R")
GM #1942654 or Delco D-309 (dark brown or black with copper contacts--no "R")
GM #1971244 or Delco D-308R (black with aluminum contacts--"R" embossed on cap)
GM #800061 or Delco D-309R (dark brown or black with copper contacts-"R" embossed on cap)
As far as I can tell, the GM #1932018 was used in PRODUCTION for all 1958-68 Corvette distributors EXCEPT the special apps AND the 67-68 L-88 distributors. For the L-88 distributors, the GM #1942654 or the GM #800061 were specified. Believe it or not, the GM #800061 was specifed for PRODUCTION use on the 67-68 L-88 distributors. I kind of doubt that it was actually used, though. I think that the 1942654 was actually used. But, it's very possible that the GM #800061 was used. (Imagine that----if they were used, then guys with 67-68 L-88s should have a "R" on their caps!)
For 1969 to 1974, the GM #1971244 cap was specified for PRODUCTION use on ALL Corvette distributors EXCEPT the 1969 L-88. The 1969 L-88 was specified as using the GM #800061. Even for such an "illustrious" SHP with TI application as the 1971 LS-6, the GM #1971244 was specified for PRODUCTION use.
I think that a lot of the "confusion" regarding distributor caps occurs because of oddities that existed in the SERVICE parts systems which supplied GM distributor caps. First, I'll discuss the GM parts system.
During the period of September, 1957 through October, 1969, if you purchased a distributor cap THROUGH THE GM PARTS SYSTEM for most 1958 through 1968 Corvette applications (except FI, dual point, etc.), you got a GM #1942654, the copper contact cap. The aluminum contact cap AS USED IN PRODUCTION, was NOT AVAILABLE through the GM parts system during that time period.
During the period of September, 1968 through October 1974, if you purchased a distributor cap for a 1969 through 1974 Corvette application THROUGH THE GM PARTS SYSTEM, you got a GM #800061, the copper contact cap. The GM #1971244 used in PRODUCTION for all 1969-74 Corvette applications except L-88/ZL-1 was NOT available through the GM parts system during that period. Also, if you purchased a distributor cap for a 1958-67 Corvette THROUGH THE GM PARTS SYSTEM after October, 1969, then you got the GM #800061. The GM #1942654 was discontinued at that time and replaced by the GM #800061.
If you purchased a cap through the Delco parts system (regardless of whether you got it from a GM dealer who ordered it through the Delco parts system instead of the GM parts system), things were different.
During the period of September, 1957 through 1968, if you purchased a cap THROUGH THE DELCO PARTS SYSTEM for most 1963-67 Corvette applications (except FI, dual point, etc. and L-88), then you got the GM #1932018, the same aluminum contact unit as used in PRODUCTION for those model years. If you purchased a cap for 1967-68 L-88, then you got the GM #1942654, the same copper contact unit likely used in PRODUCTION for these distributors.
After late 1968, if you purchased a cap THROUGH THE DELCO PARTS SYSTEM for a 1958-68 Corvette (except FI, dual point, etc. and L-88) OR for a 1969-74 Corvette (except L-88/ZL-1), then you got the aluminum contact GM #1971244 cap as used in most 1969-74 PRODUCTION distributors except L-88/ZL-1. If you purchased a cap THROUGH DELCO for a 1967-69 L-88/ZL-1, then you got the GM #800061 cap as used in PRODUCTION for 69 L-88/ZL-1 and, possibly, for earlier L-88s.
After late 1974, the GM #1971244 aluminum contact cap became available through the GM parts system and GM catalogued it for all 58-74 Corvette applications except FI, dual point, etc. So, if you walked into your friendly GM dealer's parts department after that time and asked for a cap for the 58-74 applications, then you got the aluminum contact GM #1971244. Although the copper contact GM #800061 remained available in the GM parts system through September, 1990, it was not CATALOGUED for ANY Corvette application after late 1974. So, unless you asked for it by PART NUMBER, you got the 1971244, even if you had an L-88.
In September, 1992 the GM #1971244 cap was discontinued and replaced by the GM #12338667. Then, in Novemeber, 1996, the GM #12338667 was replaced by the GM #12363081. The latter 2 caps were still known as Delco D-308R, but they are the "generic" caps with no external Delco markings. Some of the later GM #1971244 also lacked external Delco markings.
Since distributor caps caps are routinely replaced during "tune-ups" (especially if those tune-ups were performed by Chevrolet dealers as many original Corvette owners did in those days), most cars lost their original caps early-on. The SERVICE replacement situation I described above may have caused additional "confusion" as to what caps were originally installed.
Some additional points:
1) While most copper contact D-309 or D-309R caps used the dark brown plastic material, some used black. A D-309/309R IS NOT distinguished from a D-308/D-308R by the color of the plastic. The copper or aluminum contacts are the distinguishing feature;
2) Am I saying that ABSOLUTELY NO PRODUCTION distributors received the copper contact D-309/D-309R caps except L-88? No, I'm not saying that. All sorts of anomolies might occur in PRODUCTION for a huge number of reasons. What I'm saying is that I believe that the TYPICAL factory production followed the above-described utilization of distributor caps;
3) SERVICE distributors produced after 1974 may vary with respect to the installed distributor caps from what I described above. For later-produced SERVICE distributors, all sorts of changes from the original configuration may have occurred even though the part numbers remained the same. These were probably accomplished via revisions to the original specs for the distributors. Some examples of differences well documented are the addition of the cross shaft nylon button for pre-70 distributor part numbers and the addition of the RFI shields to the same SERVICE distributors. Distributor caps may have been similarly changed from the original utilization for PRODUCTION distributors;
4) With respect to script or embossments on the caps, the "R" or NO "R" is as described above. As far as other nuances of difference in the script, including "patent pending", "patent number", etc the following is how it is: They have absolutely no bearing on GM or Delco part numbers, I don't know what all the different configurations were regarding same, and I don't particularly care what all the different configurations were regarding same.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Delco Remy Distributor Cap
Joe, I have seen shorter "Restorer" articles than your post, but I have never seen one this short with as much pithy information. This definitely looks like a "Restorer" article to me...Just in case you don't submit it for publication, I printed myself a hard copy.Comment
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Re: Delco Remy Distributor Cap
Joe;
Thanks for sharing your knowledge on this subject. I agree, this is a topic for an article in the Restorer. Other than a few photos, there isn`t much else to do.
Chuck SpiteriComment
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