62-72 Tach Drive Distributor

[Keith McVay]

In Volume 28, #4, Spring of 2002 Corvette Restorer, pg. 33, they had an article about re-building a tach drive distributor. Does anyone know if any of those parts are still avaliable through GM? If not where is the best place to buy parts to re-build a complete distributor?

[Joe L.]

Re: 62-72 Tach Drive Distributor

Keith-----

Virtually no parts for pre-1975 Chevrolet distributors remain available from GM. The only exceptions are cap, rotor, points, and some vacuum controls---everything else is long-since discontinued.

Some distributor rebuild parts are available from Corvette vendors like Dr. Rebuild. A few other internal parts not available from the Corvette parts vendors may be available from manufacturers like Standard Auto Parts, Borg-Warner, and NAPA. If available, these can be obtained through a full-line auto parts store.

[Jack layton #896]

Re: 62-72 Tach Drive Distributor

Dr. Rebuild does sell most of the parts needed for a total rebuild of the distributor. There is a difference in years. Some where near 1970? GM started using a bronze thrust button. Dr. Rebuild shows the application as 1962 to 1974 for this thrust button but this is in error. Take yours apart to see if your distributer has one. MY 1965 distributor did not have one originally and it is not something which can be retofitted. So if you do not need it save $8 and don't order it. Prior to rebuilding mine, my research led me to an outfit in Fla. which I suspect builds these components for the good Dr. and others. They also will rebuild your component for a $. They also replace the brass? bearings
in the main housing then bore them to fit the new shaft. Try them at Hi Tech Innovation 4625 Panorama Ave Holiday, Fla 34690 727-942-4003
I think they wanted $220 for the rebuild. I rebuilt my own unit sans the main bearings. A number of folks said that those bearings tend not to need replacement. But then that depends on each unit and amount of usage.

[Joe C.]

Re: 62-72 Tach Drive Distributor

Keith:

I would recommend installing the bronze thrust button for the tach driven gear in your distributor. Although it was not originally installed, it can be done fairly easily, and is undetectable if done correctly. It was designed to bolster the "weak link", which is usually wiped out tach driven gears.

Joe