427 Distributor

[Jeremy Hedges]

I have a NOS 1111263 distributor. It doesn't have a vacuum advance or anywhere on the housing for it. It is a BB housing. What is this for?

Jeremy Hedges
#31711

[Joe L.]

Re: 427 Distributor

Jeremy-----

GM #1111263 is a SERVICE-only TI distributor which is designed for use with GEAR-DRIVE camshaft big blocks. Consequently, the distributor gear is designed for a reverse rotation camshaft. A standard rotation drive gear can be installed on this distributor, though, which will convert it to usability for chain cam drive engines. Also, this distributor uses a ball bearing for its upper shaft bearing instead of the bronze bushing used for most other distributors.

As you've discovered, this distributor has no provisions for vacuum advance, at all. Vacuum advance cannot even be retro-fitted to this distributor (as it can be for chain drive type distributors used for L-88/ZL-1). The lack of vacuum advance provisions makes this distributor a very poor candidate for use on a street engine.

This distributor also uses a special stationary pole piece which mounts differently than the pole piece for most other TI distributors. Finding a replacement pole piece for this distributor is difficult, indeed.

[Joe L.]

Re: 427 Distributor

Jeremy-----

GM #1111263 is a SERVICE-only TI distributor which is designed for use with GEAR-DRIVE camshaft big blocks. Consequently, the distributor gear is designed for a reverse rotation camshaft. A standard rotation drive gear can be installed on this distributor, though, which will convert it to usability for chain cam drive engines. Also, this distributor uses a ball bearing for its upper shaft bearing instead of the bronze bushing used for most other distributors.

As you've discovered, this distributor has no provisions for vacuum advance, at all. Vacuum advance cannot even be retro-fitted to this distributor (as it can be for chain drive type distributors used for L-88/ZL-1). The lack of vacuum advance provisions makes this distributor a very poor candidate for use on a street engine.

This distributor also uses a special stationary pole piece which mounts differently than the pole piece for most other TI distributors. Finding a replacement pole piece for this distributor is difficult, indeed.

[Jeremy Hedges]

Re: 427 Distributor

Is it worth anything?

[Jeremy Hedges]

Re: 427 Distributor

Is it worth anything?

[Joe L.]

Re: 427 Distributor

Jeremy------

Well, several years ago I foolishly paid $500 for an NOS example at Bloomington. Just yesterday, someone even more foolishly paid nearly $800 for one on eBay. So, I guess it's worth something. Like I say, though, it's a very poor candidate for use as on a street due to the lack of vacuum advance. Plus, the lack of replacement parts for it make it, essentially, non-serviceable.

It would be ok for racing applications but who in their right mind would want to use this old technology TI system for a racing application except, perhaps, some stock classes where it might be required?

[Joe L.]

Re: 427 Distributor

Jeremy------

Well, several years ago I foolishly paid $500 for an NOS example at Bloomington. Just yesterday, someone even more foolishly paid nearly $800 for one on eBay. So, I guess it's worth something. Like I say, though, it's a very poor candidate for use as on a street due to the lack of vacuum advance. Plus, the lack of replacement parts for it make it, essentially, non-serviceable.

It would be ok for racing applications but who in their right mind would want to use this old technology TI system for a racing application except, perhaps, some stock classes where it might be required?

[Wayne M.]

1111263 is a strange bird

As Joe L. said, almost nothing in this unit is interchangeable with a factory-installed T.I. distributor, except the tach driven gear and brass fitting.

It's a favorite of the Camaro crowd -- see excellent description of T.I. systems (link follows); scroll down to distributors for all you need to know about the ball bearing distr.

One sold on eBay a few days ago for $711, missing advance weights, springs, and with lower oil annulus machined fully out.

I won the NOS one in these pics for $22.71, but it cost $22 to ship
Note the stationary pole that screws directly into the cast iron base; the ball bearing is the green assembly; there is therefore no rotating sleeve on the magnet assy for vacuum advance.

Additional 2 links below compare the 263 (on left) with a 1112038 LT1 dist. (on right)

- upper shafts (note O-ring an C-clip holding rotating pole on the 263 shaft

- cam driven gear reverse rotation gear w/partially machined oil annulus

[Wayne M.]

1111263 is a strange bird

As Joe L. said, almost nothing in this unit is interchangeable with a factory-installed T.I. distributor, except the tach driven gear and brass fitting.

It's a favorite of the Camaro crowd -- see excellent description of T.I. systems (link follows); scroll down to distributors for all you need to know about the ball bearing distr.

One sold on eBay a few days ago for $711, missing advance weights, springs, and with lower oil annulus machined fully out.

I won the NOS one in these pics for $22.71, but it cost $22 to ship
Note the stationary pole that screws directly into the cast iron base; the ball bearing is the green assembly; there is therefore no rotating sleeve on the magnet assy for vacuum advance.

Additional 2 links below compare the 263 (on left) with a 1112038 LT1 dist. (on right)

- upper shafts (note O-ring an C-clip holding rotating pole on the 263 shaft

- cam driven gear reverse rotation gear w/partially machined oil annulus

[Clem Z.]

with the 2 gear drive cam there is downward

thrust on the distributor shaft not upward like the chain drive cam where the thrust is against the bottom of the distributor housing. i used gear drive cam with a regular distributor but i had to put a thrust washer under the rotating pole piece to prevent it from wearing into the top bushing in the distributor

[Clem Z.]

with the 2 gear drive cam there is downward

thrust on the distributor shaft not upward like the chain drive cam where the thrust is against the bottom of the distributor housing. i used gear drive cam with a regular distributor but i had to put a thrust washer under the rotating pole piece to prevent it from wearing into the top bushing in the distributor

[Rex T.]

Re: with the 2 gear drive cam there is downward

Could the sealed ball bearing be retrofitted to a conventional tach drive distributor?

Thanks,
Rex

[Rex T.]

Re: with the 2 gear drive cam there is downward

Could the sealed ball bearing be retrofitted to a conventional tach drive distributor?

Thanks,
Rex

[Joe L.]

Re: with the 2 gear drive cam there is downward

Rex------

No, it cannot. A standard distributor housing is not machined for such a bearing and it cannot be machined for such a bearing. It takes a whole different casting.

[Joe L.]

Re: with the 2 gear drive cam there is downward

Rex------

No, it cannot. A standard distributor housing is not machined for such a bearing and it cannot be machined for such a bearing. It takes a whole different casting.