'65 396 (L78) distributor revisited

[Barbara S.]

I've read through the archives on the issue of the correct distributor for a '65 L78 engine. The one question that seems to be discussed the most is the oil galley at the bottom of the distributor. The '093 distributor has a 280 degree groove, but small block distributors have the 360 degree oil groove.

Is there agreement on whether the L78 engine requires the 280 degree oil galley? Some have suggested that the 360 degree oil groove will also work.

BTW, I have read that the L78 cam requires a groove along the rear journal to insure proper oiling.

Thanks!
Tony

[John H.]

Re: '65 396 (L78) distributor revisited

Tony -

All '65-'66 big-blocks require a groove in the rear cam journal to get oil to the lifter galleries.

[Barbara S.]

Re: '65 396 (L78) distributor revisited

John. I have gotten that far. I'm wondering about the differences between the 280 degree vs. 360 degree oil galley? Can a '65 396/425 K66 engine run well with either or does it have to have the 280 degree galley?

Thanks.
Tony

[Joe L.]

Re: '65 396 (L78) distributor revisited

Tony-----

I've never been able to get definitive information on this issue. However, this might be as definitive as one can get: the distributor housing used for the GM #1111093 distributor was GM #1965974. That's the one with the "280 degree oil groove". That housing was discontinued from SERVICE in August, 1971 and was replaced by housing GM #1851158. The latter housing has the "360 degree oil groove". So, in effect, GM says that the "360 degree oil groove" is approved for and will, therefore, work just fine for applications originally using the "280 degree oil groove".

Also, the GM #1851158 housing ultimately replaced, for SERVICE, ALL other 1962-74 Corvette distributor housings. So, in effect, this says that it will work for any original application, regardless of whether it was a "280 degree" or "360 degree" housing.

Now, another question would be will the "280 degree" housings work for applications originally using a "360 degree" housing. I don't have an answer for that.

[Barbara S.]

Re: '65 396 (L78) distributor revisited

Thanks Joe. I recently bought a '65 396 car. Along the way, the second owner (whom I bought it from) changed the car over to a points car. I want to change it back to original. The original 093 distributor is long gone. I think I'll try my luck in finding an original 093 distributor and just end the question for me once and for all.

Tony

[Bill W.]

Re: '65 396 (L78) distributor revisited

The orig dist. in #16120 has a 360 degree groove