889 DISTRIBUTOR

[Bruce B.]

MY EARLY 57 250HP FUEL CAR (#809) HAS A CORRECT 889 DISTRIBUTOR WITH THE 5360 FUEL UNIT.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE ARE OR HAVE PROBLEMS WITH OIL NOT DRAINING OUT OF THE DISTRIBUTOR AND SUBSEQUENTLY FLOODING THE POINTS. I'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT GM RECALLED THESE UNITS AND DID A "FIX" ON THEM.
HOW CAN I TELL IF THIS UNIT HAS BEEN "FIXED".
THANKS IN ADVANCE.
BRUCE B.

[John D.]

Re: 889 DISTRIBUTOR

Hi Bruce, The difference between the 889 and '905's is basically the 25 cents o'ring between the top and bottom halves of the distributor. Make sure you are running a stock engine oil pump. Also make sure you use some no name engine oil with zinc in it. When GM says they recalled the distributor that must have meant they machined a groove for the o'rings. I had a friend-Frank Cichon who is no longer with us that had an 889 that was fixed this way. It was the only one I had ever seen like that. Take care, John

[Joseph T.]

Re: 889 DISTRIBUTOR

Bruce..#775 has an 889 distributor...unrestored...this car ran with a GM part numbered Sun Tach...as used on 56 NASCAR Chevies.

I also have another January fuelie engine with a tach drive 889...

Not sure if either one has any recall fix..I doubt it...as both were factory race engines.

Joe

[Bruce B.]

Re: 889 DISTRIBUTOR

John;
Thanks for the info.
I missed seeing you at Knoxville, maybe we will run into each other at Sevierville, TN in October.
Sincerely,
Bruce B.

[John D.]

Re: 889 DISTRIBUTOR

Hi Bruce, Missed you too. No more long distance shows for me. Just going to the Carlisle shows. Hope you bought some nice rare parts at Knoxville. Good luck with the 889 distributor. They are really rare for sure. Lots of early 57 FI cars need that distributor and typically they have the replacement 905. John