67 Distributor questions....

[Steve Wallach]

I'm working on the Distributor from my 67 427/390. How can I tell if it needs to be restored? It has the Delco date band, and appears to be original, how can I be sure the Distributor is correct / original?

Are the Repro Caps good enough for judging?

Thanks,

Steve

[Wayne K.]

Re: 67 Distributor questions....

Steve,

I can't advise you as to how to tell if yours is original as you may know replacement bands can be produced. I can advise you on the best way to tell if it is functioning as designed and what may need to be done to correct it. Find someone that has and knows how to use a distributor machine (old Sun machine)and have them check it out. Money well spent.

Wayne

[Steve Wallach]

Re: 67 Distributor questions....

Thanks Wayne,

yes, I'm aware the bands are reproduced, the one on this Distributor "looks" 40 years old, but who knows....

I'm more concerned with the Distributor and making sure it is working correctly.

Thanks Again,

Steve

[Howard Nardick]

Re: 67 Distributor questions....

I am no expert but disassembly is simple. You can check the lower bushing by moving the lower main drive gear sideways while still assembled, also under the tach drive side gear look for a worn circle in the housing, badly worn should get a push in bushing, the grease in the top "well" has hardened by now and should be replaced as so should the seal....you can polist the mainshaft unless it is badly grooved and then it should be replaced. You would then have to ask those smarter than I where to purchase a "good" reproduction shaft and side gear.
HN

[William C.]

Re: 67 Distributor questions....

Wayne is right, if you want to know "How it works", you need in addition to the inspection Howard mentioned, someone with a distributor machine to spin it and compare specs to the original curves.

[Gerard F.]

Does the tach drive work?

Steve,

Here's the wear damage to the housing caused by the cross-gear on this 67 SB distributor:

If the crossgear is bunged up, the gear on the shaft is usually also bunged up. You can see where the shaft gear is also bunged up.

You can get a new shaft and other parts from Paragon or other corvette vendors. They make a kit where you drill out a hole in the housing and put a set screw, bronze or plastic button in the hole where the wear spot was.

In this case, the wear was just enough to where I didn't drill the hole. I just got a plastic button, trimmed down the ears which fit into the hole, and held it in place with some grease. Changing the shaft is pretty easy, and if you have the right parts, restoration is a snap.

I think you will lose a few points if the cap doesn't have "patent pending" on it. Not sure about these new repros.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179