Thornburg

Howdy all,
So I have been reading all these great. Posts over the past couple days trying to figure out the best steadily for my tune up. I just got the car and the PO knows nothing of the car and never did anything other than put gas in it. So I want to rebuilt the distributor inners (unless there is a complete distributor I can buy for just a little more) cap/ rotor/ ICM/ plug wires and new plugs. Most of the threads I read people people list the manufacture of their tune up parts, which helps, but MSD makes a dozen varieties of each unit I want. So what I'm looking for our actual part numbers of parts that people have used for their tune? Keep in mind I'm trying to keep it all stock no superpowered anything no dragracing anything. thanks in advance for all your help

Vader

If you suspect problems with the HEI module, pickup coil, and/or reluctor, and if the distributor bushings have wear, a complete reman distributor can be found for about the same cost as a replacement module and coil. I've seen them online (large cap HEI distributor) for under $100, whereas a new cap, rotor, coil, pickup coil, HEI module, and RFI capacitor will run you over twice that before even touching the drive gear and bushings.

Thornburg

Thanks Vador, that seams a little better than parts and pieces.

Thornburg

Ok so I check a bunch out on EBay and they all say for carborator. Do I need to look for one for TPI? Not sure about the vacuum advance, maybe there is a port for the vacuum advance, haven't looked yet. Also the the distributors I looked at don't have a coil on them, so do I go for Mallory or Accel???

Vader

Not only do you need a different distributor from a carbed V-8, using a different HEI module, but the distributor cap is different (lower) and if I recall correctly slightly larger in diameter. The cap has to be lower to clear the plenum extension on the TPI.

O'Reilly has new distributors for about $70.00, as one example:

New Distributor

Thornburg

Geez this is driving me nuts Vador!!! I don't understand why you say I need a carborated HEI distributor if mine advances from the computer???? The link you posted from O'Reilly does not to have the vacuum advance, so now even more confused! I contacted he vendor That was suggested here, hen I started questioning the seller, he comes back with" wow your right his wont fit your car, sorry"..Thinking I would just rebuild my distributor, pretty much so I don't have to mess with the timing, but I can't find an AC Delco coil..only Accelerate or Mallory or a company called Pertronix Flame Thrower??? I am going to do some more digging around locally (I would rather keep my money local) but I must be making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Vader

"Not only do you need a different distributor from a carbed V-8"

What that statement means is that your distributor is different than one found on a carbed V-8, NOT that your car should use a distributor designed for a carbed V-8.

If your car is a 305 TPI it has no vacuum advance. Advance is controlled by the EST module and ECM. If a reman distributor is not readily available, rebuild the original. The reman distributor should be an ACDELCO 88864781.

Stock ignition coils can still be found at NAPA, most of the chain stores, and anywhere that lists an AC-Delco D573A coil. The same applies to the HEI module (AC-Delco 19179581), cap (AC-Delco D338X), rotor (AC-Delco D468), pickup coil (AC-Delco D1943X), coil cover (AC-Delco 1875960X)etc.

A search for any of those part numbers should reveal multiple sources.