Need info on 64-65 FI Dist cap details

[Tom P.]

The main thing that I know about the 64-65 FI distributor caps is that they had shorter towers. Also, I know that people have removed material from the towers of a regular cap to achieve the lower tower height, and this cannot be detected unless a wire is removed from the cap.
So, how do you accurately identify a genuine 64-65 FI cap? I presume that in addition to the word DELCO, it may or may not have Patented, R, numbers, etc, etc, correct?
Do the tops of the towers have a thin ring around them, or, are they perfectly smooth?
Anyone have a good picture(s) of an original 64-5 FI cap? What's the DELCO part number for an FI cap?

[Mike M.]

Re: Need info on 64-65 FI Dist cap details

try yer local oldmobile dealer(if they still existr) as i believe the same dist cap was used on the 1960 Olds 394 ci engines.mike

[Eric J.]

There all gone

Mike, Per my father inlaw (a former Olds Dealer) As of last year Jan/2006 All the Olds Dealers are gone..... Any GM "Car" dealer can honor remaining warantees and some Olds parts should be available until 2015. Eric

[Wayne M.]

Here's the Delco D-310 cap

GM part # 1943047. Just between you and me, I picked this off a junkyard '64 Olds (hearse)-- like Mike says; also took the original plug wires -- note the 4-Q-63 date. There's a small chip on the points adjust window upper left.

Let me know if you want details of another area.

[DANNY PANTUSO]

Re: Need info on 64-65 FI Dist cap details

Hey Tom, I thought all FI Dist.Caps from 63-65 were all tall tower part # D-310

[DANNY PANTUSO]

Re: Need info on 64-65 FI Dist cap details

D-310 were all tall tower caps

[Joe L.]

Re: Need info on 64-65 FI Dist cap details

Danny----

1964-65 Corvettes with FI used the "short tower" caps. These caps are D-310. The D-308 and D-309 are the "tall tower" caps.

[Tom P.]

Re: Here's the Delco D-310 cap

Thanks Wayne, that's EXACTLY what I needed to know/see. PERFECT!

Now, this brings up another question. If this is an ORIGINAL production cap, did the replacement short tower caps have any different words, letters, or numbers, for example, an R or a patent number?

[Joe L.]

Re: Here's the Delco D-310 cap

Tom------

They never had an "R" inasmuch as no D310R was ever manufactured. At some point during the time they were manufactured for SERVICE, they may have received a patent number, though. I would look for one just like the one that Wayne has pictured if you want it to be absolutely correct.

[John D.]

Re: Here's the Delco D-310 cap

Tom, Typically most of the D310 caps you find are the ones with the R on them. Bascially though you are looking for a low tower cap just like the one from the hearse. As long as it has that info on it and you find one with an "r" grab it as they are sooo much cheaper than the real deal. Although I don't subscribe to cheatin (fingers crossed) it is not big deal to have the "r" zipped off and in doing so you will probably save several hundred bucks.
My 63 FI car has a NOS D310 with no R. It was not an easy cap to find. Prices on Ebay are mega bucks for those caps. Happy New Year, Your friend, John

[Mike M.]

Re: Here's the Delco D-310 cap

no R or and pat #, just pat pending for a midyear FI dist cap. mike

[Danny Pantuso]

Re: Need info on 64-65 FI Dist cap details

Sorry,keep thinking of the 63FI caps with tall tower

[Michael H.]

Re: Here's the Delco D-310 cap

I agree Wayne, the cap that you have is exactly the same as one I have that came off of a brand new FI car with about 10 miles on it. Still has some interesting orange and silver paint smudges. Just about every detail is identical to yours.

[John D.]

Re: Need info on 64-65 FI Dist cap details

Danny, We used to think that the 63 FI cap had the tall towers but in fact it did NOT. The print of the 63 FI distributor shows the part number for the low tower cap. This cap actually came out I believe in 1959 on the Olds as Dr. Mike may have said. Recap: 63 thru 65 FI cars ALL have the low tower cap. Michael Hanson do you agree? RJ do you agree. You swamp critters better agree or else. Jr.

[Michael H.]

Re: Need info on 64-65 FI Dist cap details

I agree with John. I still have the original short tower FI distributor cap that was removed from Ralph Salyers brand new SCCA central division winning 63 car. The car was driven to his shop from the dealer and had less than 10 miles on it when he removed the engine and prepared the car for the 63 Sebring and Daytona events.