Mystery Distributor, what do I have here?

[Wayne B.]

Now that I'm done throwing up from my AIR pump being thrown out by accident...sigh, My LT1 had the TI taken out and I was digging through my part boxes and found what I thought was it but when I checked the number in my 68-82 books it doesn't show, I'm guessing it goes to a Vette, the number on the tag is 1111060. I took the cap off for the picture. Build date looks like J 14

[William C.]

Re: Mystery Distributor, what do I have here?

1111060 was used on '64 and '65 365hp with TI only.

[Wayne B.]

Re: Mystery Distributor, what do I have here?

Thanks Bill, wonder how that got in with all my LT1 parts but, oh well.

[Vincent F.]

Re: Mystery Distributor, what do I have here?

I bet someone would love to have that

[Wayne B.]

Re: Mystery Distributor, what do I have here?

Well I'd certainly swap it for one for my LT1, can't find the old one in any of these boxes

[Joel T.]

Re: Mystery Distributor, what do I have here?

Wayne;

You might contact Dave Fiedler at TI Specialties, perhaps you guys could work out a swap deal....

Joel

[Timothy B.]

Re: Mystery Distributor, what do I have here?

Wayne,

Other than the advance curve and aluminum tag I don't see the differences. The distributor you have has a very aggressive curve and I think it would work fine with your LT1. If you have the other parts, I would consider keeping that distributor and trying it in the car first.

The housings are the same as points distributors as well as weights and springs.

Tags are available from Paragon

[Wayne B.]

Re: Mystery Distributor, what do I have here?

Thanks, I might give this one a try, it seems fine from a visual inspection, the picture seems a little rougher than it is, the rust was very light and wiped off with a rag and turns fine by hand, no nasty feel or nasty sounds. Inside looks pretty clean but i'll go ahead and take it apart. I'll replace the vacuum advance for sure, I don't trust a vacuum anything on an old C3 after taking apart and restoring my 71. I figured out how this distributor got mixed into my boxes. A friend that restored three Vettes from that era had some parts left over and just gave them to me, not much but I have an instrument housing, what looks like a chrome distributor part and this distributor.

Oh well a little plus always helps, takes the edge off the disasters. I just found out a friend had thrown out the newly rebuilt AIR pump that I bought (cost:arm and leg) and was about to put on, thought it was an old alternator not worth anything. Now that will make a guy sick.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Mystery Distributor, what do I have here?

Wayne, Your friend gave you a nice gift, these things are not cheep!! Take it apart carefully and clean, paint and replace the upper seal and repack the grease cavity. Be very careful with the two wires from the magnetic pick up removing and replacing then from the housing. $$$ part!!

Also, If there is wear inside the housing where the tach gear rides, STOP and have a bronze button installed because this gear misalignment will ruin the mainshaft gear. If this happens you will have no tach drive and will need to replace the mainshaft. The mainshaft has a autocam brazed to the top which is a important component in the high performance advance curve, you don't want to ruin this mainshaft, loose the springs or change the weights.

Check archives for lots of discussion about advance curves etc. The vacuum advance control in this distributor should have #236 stamped into the top. This will work for your car, read about connecting advance to full manifold vacuum.

I am not sure what vacuum your car pulls at idle, if it's more than 13 you can taylor a different control to better tune your engine. Lots of info in archives and help here. Also, make sure all the engine and wire harness grounds are good and clean!!

[Wayne B.]

Re: Mystery Distributor, what do I have here?

Thanks Tim, that's all good news, I thought I'd have to buy another system (which isn't in the budget right now). The owner before me started the restoration but wasn't interested in NCRS judging, just getting it nice to drive. The car hasn't been driven since 88, just cranked a few times through the restoration to keep things moving. He put a brand new distributor and Holley on which are nice but not correct. I have a nicely rebuilt carb, date correct, i'm mounting this weekend and I'll poke around for the rest of the system, I'm pretty sure I saw it in there. you can check it out if you like, I set a site up for it at www.1970lt1restoration.com

[Wayne M.]

Re: Mystery Distributor, what do I have here?

.....a nice gift, these things are not cheap!! Take it apart carefully and clean, paint and replace the upper seal and repack the grease cavity. Be very careful with the two wires from the magnetic pick up removing and replacing then from the housing. $$$ part!! ..

There has been some past work done on this distrib; the magnet (or possibly the entire stationary pole piece assy., incl. coil and wires) has been replaced by the newer design magnet, post-70(?) with the "lips" around the 3 mounting screws. See pic below for lips (left) and early design (right).

Small point, one could argue, but for the really anal (ie. not in the judging manuals, but known by every MJ worth his/her salt ), two of these screws are visible looking through each side of the points window (but almost hidden by the lips, if present).

[Timothy B.]

Re: Mystery Distributor, what do I have here?

Wayne, That's a good point, for your information I have one dated 1969 that, (I think) I was the first to take apart and it has the lips around the magnet. The groove in the casting from the tach gear would have ruined it for sure if installed.

The mainshafts are the same as points distributor and cast housings look the same also. Neat set up, and as discussed before with the new amp board and good grounds, a nice system regardless of new technology.