1954 ignition points

[Peter R.]

About a year ago I replied to a thread asking about ignition points for 1954. I provided a link to NAPA's selection of points that are supposed to fit. Well, now I'm looking for points for my '54. Yesterday I bought NAPA points, part number CS763P. They don't fit. The layout of the holes in the baseplate of the points is not right--too much distance between the mounting holes. Maybe they fit the passenger car or truck 6-cylinder distributor of the same vintage, but they don't fit the Corvette distributor. I've checked the pictures of the points sold by Advance and AutoZone on-line and they appear to be the same mounting hole layout as the NAPA points that don't fit. Has anyone had any luck getting points at a local auto parts store? If so, what brand? If you can tell me the part number, that would be even better. Thanks.

[Peter R.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

Since my first post on this subject, I gave up trying to find ignition points for my '54 locally. To ensure that I got the right points, I ordered them from Paragon; they arrived today. They don't fit. What is going on? Attached are pictures of my distributor and the old and new points. You can see from the picture of my distributor with the old points installed that it is an original, correct distributor for the '54--part number 1112314. So the holes for mounting the points must be in the right place. And the old points fit fine. As you can see in the pictures of the old and new points side-by-side, the new points are very different from the old points. The baseplate is way too long and the mounting holes will not match up with those in the baseplate of the distributor. See the picture where I laid the new points into the distributor. Is it me or do the new points just plain not fit? I think the answer is pretty clear. The new points are in a Paragon box labeled "11454, Points 53-55 Distributor Ign w/6 cyl." They are the same as the ones I got from NAPA, which also didn't fit. How has the parts industry, especially our own Corvette parts industry, gotten this so wrong? Are we reaching the end of the availability of ignition points for the Corvette Blue Flame engine?

[Ken A.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

Your old ones look like every set I ever saw. Why don't just file and reuse the old ones?

[Peter R.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

Yes, I did file the old ones as a temporary measure to get the car running, but that's not going to keep the car running well forever. This afternoon I sent my photos to Paragon for their tech to take a look at. We'll see what they have to say.

[Ken A.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

They should last 12K miles. That's a lot on a 54 or any other C-1.

[Dave S.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

They should last 12K miles. That's a lot on a 54 or any other C-1.

Guys,
If you email Dave Brigham, the National Judging Chairman he should know. I Have the Delco number somewhere but I'm not at home.

[John D.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

Peter, 54 6 cyl points. GM 1948810 D111. But the problem for you is this. CS763 supposed to be the replacement??? THis is not my forte so wait for others to chirp in. John

[Peter R.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

Hi John. According to the '29-58 Chevy Parts Catalog, the part number for 53-55 Corv 6 cyl is 1925852 (D110). I don't see the number you cited for any ignition points in that catalog--maybe it's a slightly later replacement? Incidentally, late yesterday, thanks to a suggestion by Joe Trybulec that I check eBay, I found a complete tune-up kit consisting of NOS Delco-Remy points (1925852), cap, condenser, and rotor, which I immediately snapped up. So my problem is solved for now. But I remain worried that every place I try seems to have the same wrong points for the Corvette Blue Flame six. I'm waiting for a reading from the tech at Paragon who is supposed to look at my photos. I'll update this thread when I hear from them.

[Duke W.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

It's my understanding that the Corvette six-cylinder distributor uses the same contact set as used on the dual point V-8 distributors, which is Delco D103P.

I have a BWD catalog and IPB and the D103P is their A72, and the photo looks like the set installed in your distributor.

The NAPA/Echlin number is CS777A, and Standard/Bluestreak is DR-2236P/DR-2236XP. You can use any brand cross reference to find the same part under any other brand, and keep in mind that whatever "brand" you buy including "Delco", what's in the box is very likely the same Standard Motor Products manufactured part, so buy on convenience and price.

Also, some of the parts under these basic numbers may have different or additional suffixes to indicate special features such as "heavy duty" or "ventilated", but all are dimensionally the same.

Let us know if this contact set is correct. It's possible that the catalogs are in error, which is not uncommon, and errors are rarely corrected, so they can persist for decades.

Duke

[Peter R.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

Duke, In my earlier post I cited the part number information directly from the GM parts manual, which says the '53-55 Corvette 6 cylinder uses points with the part number 1925852. I bought a set of these points on eBay yesterday (along with the other distributor tune-up parts). In the eBay listing (eBay item #300593746070) there is a picture of the Delco-Remy box the points come in that shows the GM part number 1925852 and D110. How do you reconcile these numbers with the ones you and John cited? I would think the GM parts manual would list the correct part number. No?

[Barry H.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

Peter, Talked to Ken Amrick, of SACC, Solid Axel Club, The correct points for 54 corvettes are avail from Grossmullers.
gccorvettes.com website. Part #E23 6cyl Origional $25. Repro $14.24 Ken is a great guy & has been involved with 54 Corvettes as long as I have known him. (30 Years) Good Luck
Barry Holmes 940

[Peter R.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

Thanks Barry. I did find an NOS Delco-Remy points set on eBay the other day, so my problem is solved for now, but for the future and for other '54 owners, it's good to know there's at least one good source remaining.

[David L.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

Pete

GM # 1925852 was removed from service in Jan. 1971 as per Chevrolet Parts History. My 1957, 1963, and 1969 Chevrolet Parts Catalogs (Mar. 1957, Oct. 1962, and Oct. 1968) list GM # 1925852 only for 53-55 Corvettes w/6 cyl.

Dave

[Duke W.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

On second inspection the D103P could not be the point set because of the design of the leaf spring retainer.

1925852/D110/D110H crosses to NAPA Echlin CS779A, which appears from the photo to be what fits your six-cylinder distributor including leaf spring retention. This part is listed for the Corvette I-6. All other Chevrolet I-6 for the same years list CS763P.

So, what's the answer? Which GM/Delco/Echlin part number contact set fits your distributor?

Duke

[Peter R.]

Re: 1954 ignition points -- new points don't fit

Thanks, Duke. Now we're on to something. The NAPA Echlin CS779A does look right and looks like the old points that came out of my distributor. So I think we have a readily accessible source of points that will work for the '53-54 Corvette. The funny thing is that if you go to the NAPA web site enter your vehicle as a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette and then search for points, you do not get the CS779A. Instead you get the points that I bought from NAPA a couple of weeks ago that don't fit--the CS63 and CS763 series (which from what you found fits the Chevrolet I-6, except for Corvette). In fact if you specify 1954 Chevrolet Corvette and then search for CS779A, nothing comes up--clearly NAPA doesn't think the CS779A fits the '54 Corvette! So I think the problem is solved--we can go to NAPA and ask for "ECH CS779A" and we'll get a set of points that will fit, but don't tell them it's for a '54 Corvette! Thanks to all for the help. And hopefully this will help the next '54 owner looking for a set of points.