1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Query

[Richard M.]

Gents, My first time fuelie install so I have about a thousand questions coming.....

I've looked at every document I can think of but nowhere can I find the proper configuration for the distributor cap orientation. If it exists somewhere please inform me. The AIM is no help.

Does it mount this way.......? Note black coil- wire at the rear. Me thinks this is it as most non-FI distributors act this way. However one of the cap windows faces the back of the plenum, so that is confusing.


Or does it mount this way.......? Note black coil- wire at the front. This way the cap windows are easier to get at.


Also, is there a particular orientation for the clamp screw position? Access from Driver or Passenger side, front, rear, side ???


Thanks,
Rich

[Terry D.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Querry

Richard
The only picture I could find is on page 381 of Nolands book, revised updated edition hope this helps. It appears to me the window faces directly forward.
Terry

[Richard M.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Querry

Thanks Terry, but if you look at page 382, it's just the opposite.

Pg 381


Pg 382


AIM - no details

[Richard M.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Querry

Bruce Bursten, John DeGregory, Jim Lockwood, anyone? I'm sure stumped on this. Is there NO GM documentation showing config?

[Jim L.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Querry

Bruce Bursten, John DeGregory, Jim Lockwood, anyone? I'm sure stumped on this. Is there NO GM documentation showing config?

Rich, I would take the completely practical approach of installing the cap such that the two windows are conveniently accessible. Ditto for the band clamp.

I've never seen GM docs showing the recommended position of these parts, but don't take that to mean they don't exist.

Jim

[John D.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Querry

Richard, It does not appear that your distributor is correctly installed. You could be a tooth off in either direction.

Here's rule of thumb on the distributor cap. The two distributor cap screws should be parallel to the firewall. Perpendicular to the engine block.
Yours is way off.
Now the top of the distributor swivels. As you know (but a lot don't) to advance and retard a '57 to 65 FI distr. you unloosen the clamp and then swivel the top. I alway remember the initials AL & RR = Advance to the left and retard to the right. That's looking down on the distributor.
If you remove the FI distributor and then in the next minute you re-install it the distributor will be one tooth off!
The adjustable clamp is positioned incorrectly. I see you are using a white auto store rotor. I would get rid of that rotor Rich.

*Look at the '62 engine Rich. The one with the GF-90 fuel filter. See the installed distributor cap. Its questionable also.

Don Baker and I have the blue prints for the distributors. Don can explain the situation better than I can.
That picture from the book above.. In the old days someone really didn't go buy the book. What is going on with the accelerator rod. The bellcrank is pointing toward the firewall. I assume the engine was off when the pic was taken. Something goofy here.
The accelerator return spring bracket and the capacitor bracket are installed incorrectly. Not sure what is going on with the accelerator spring.
Call Don Baker at 815-498-9522. He's the worlds best fuel injection distributor guy. He is expecting your call.
Nice pics Terry.
More later as going to be late for a chapter meeting.

[John D.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Querry

See the 62 fuel filter and fuel line friends. Notice how far that original fuel line is off the valve cover. The repros are alll incorrect.
Nice pic.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Querry

Jim/John, I have family in town tonight I'll check in later. Thanks much for the replies. I will study more late tonight or in the early morning.

Quick note to John.....The cap screws are exactly 90* to crank axis. The pic is at a angle and is a optical illusion.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Querry

Richard, It does not appear that your distributor is correctly installed. You could be a tooth off in either direction.

Here's rule of thumb on the distributor cap. The two distributor cap screws should be parallel to the firewall. Perpendicular to the engine block.
Yours is way off.
Now the top of the distributor swivels. As you know (but a lot don't) to advance and retard a '57 to 65 FI distr. you unloosen the clamp and then swivel the top. I alway remember the initials AL & RR = Advance to the left and retard to the right. That's looking down on the distributor.
If you remove the FI distributor and then in the next minute you re-install it the distributor will be one tooth off!
The adjustable clamp is positioned incorrectly. I see you are using a white auto store rotor. I would get rid of that rotor Rich.

*Look at the '62 engine Rich. The one with the GF-90 fuel filter. See the installed distributor cap. Its questionable also.

Don Baker and I have the blue prints for the distributors. Don can explain the situation better than I can.
That picture from the book above.. In the old days someone really didn't go buy the book. What is going on with the accelerator rod. The bellcrank is pointing toward the firewall. I assume the engine was off when the pic was taken. Something goofy here.
The accelerator return spring bracket and the capacitor bracket are installed incorrectly. Not sure what is going on with the accelerator spring.
Call Don Baker at 815-498-9522. He's the worlds best fuel injection distributor guy. He is expecting your call.
Nice pics Terry.
More later as going to be late for a chapter meeting.

John, Thanks for the lead to Don. I will certainly call him later this morning as I'm anxious to get this resolved and would prefer not to do it twice. I agree that Noland's photos are of unknowns and I did in fact have doubts about their accuracy.

I'm anticipating first start today and since this is my FI first time I'm feeling a little anxiety. All I have left is valve covers, FI unit drop, fuel lines, linkage, wire up my JD anti-siphon Solenoid(), coolant, and fuel it up. I have 5 gallons each of 100 Octane and REC 90(non-ethanol) and planning a 50/50 recipe. BTW the engine is stock RPO 582, using CS133R cam and AT992 lifters, 461 heads(decked) with Felpro composition gaskets(0.039" CT) to get me finished around stock CR.

I will certainly pay very close attention to spark plug wiring for a backfire-less runup to protect my NOS CSV that I sent to Frank Antonicelli to rebuild for me.

Here are more shots of the distributor from top view and some reference views. I also used my surface gauge and pointer to show the cap #1 position for a idea where the dist gear ended up. I walked the distributor to get me there, and FYI the gear dimple aligns with the rotor tip. The balancer timing mark is on #1 cylinder but advanced about 4* at the moment so cap position #1 and rotor position #1 does not line up precisely. Yes I don't like the look of that Napa Echlin rortor either but that's what I had lying around to do these tests. I need nice good black Delco but my stock went dry.

I think I'm okay but if you or anyone still think I'm off a tooth just yell.

Rich

[Peter M.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Querry

Hi Rich,
Take a look at figure #3 and #4, page 6Y3 and 6Y4 of the ST12. I went through what you are doing about 45 years ago so my memory isn't the greatest, but I would have used the ST12. It was a 1960.
Kind regards,
Pete

[Richard M.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Querry

Hi Rich,
Take a look at figure #3 and #4, page 6Y3 and 6Y4 of the ST12. I went through what you are doing about 45 years ago so my memory isn't the greatest, but I would have used the ST12. It was a 1960.
Kind regards,
Pete

Thanks for checking in Pete,

The ST-12 was also one of the references I first looked at after the deficiency in the AIMs but the wording states to put it back on the (undisturbed) engine "...positioned as noted during removal", and it doesn't show the original configuration.

It shows it in detail on Fig 3 on pg 6Y-3 but if you look close the notch for the cap is at 7 o'clock which puts the screws at 0* with respect to the crank axis, so again, not helpful.

Rich

[Peter M.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Querry

Sorry Rich,
If I find anything in my old books/manuals I will let you know.
Kind regards

[Richard M.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Query

I talked to Don Baker earlier and have received the answers to my questions. He has some detailed data which shows the 914 installed in the engine and the config is cap screws at 90* to crank axix as we know, and the coil- wire orients to the front of the engine/plenum. The breaker plate base clamp screw should be positioned under the cap screw on the drivers side.

I know it didn't really make a functional difference, but now we know.

Thanks Don, and Thanks to you John for the great lead. Don and I spoke for quite a while and I learned more about this distributor thanks to his vast knowledge.

I'm happy...

Rich

[Peter M.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Querry

Hi Rich,
Take a look at the photo on page 287 in Noland's book. Is it helpful?
Kind regards.

[John D.]

Re: 1110914 1961 FI Distributor Configuration Query

Hi Rich, Before I read your post about you talking to Don Baker I checked out your overhead shot of the distributor and it looked correct.
I did not know until yesterday about the location of the cadmium plated base to top clamp (holds the two halves of the distributor together)
screw. Baker said it goes under the cap hooked screw on the drivers side. Cool.
Baker has the distributor rotors if you like.
Corvette Servicing guide. You said 6Y2 Fig 2. Not much good is it.
So check out Fig 1. See the distributor cap installed on the FI distributror on right. But the pic doesn't have the clamp installed according to print.
Actually that's not even a camera photo is it. It looks like an artist drew it.??? John