**TPI/OBD2 conversion Billet Aluminum Distributor installation!** - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

Justin89Formy · 07-18-2009, 05:30 PM

Hey guys,

Ever since I had the OBD2 swap performed on my car about 2 years ago, I was never satisfied with the factory plastic distributor in my car. It always made me feel uneasy that it might break and cause problems down the road. The fact that one of the ears snapped off my distributor recently (very common) when installing the engine was the straw that broke the camels back! I know that Accel offered a Billet aluminum distributor but it was over $400!! Other vendors sell a billet distributor for around $200.

While browsing eBay one night, I came across Chandler Motorsports. They offered a billet aluminum vortec distributor DIRT cheap! It came with new electronics and a new cap and rotor!! The cap and rotor alone are near $40 at the parts store!

I contacted them and was assured that their part was the same part sold by Accel for $450, but the differences were you werent paying for the Accel name, and the CMS distributor isn't polished. Who cares! Not me!

Anyway, I purchased the distributor and got it in about 4-5 days. The packing was impressive, and then I pulled out the distributor and had a huge smile! This thing looks sweet!

Very nice piece! Very solid too! The hardware to hold on the cap and rotor also do NOT have loctite on them which made me very happy.

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Justin89Formy · 07-18-2009, 05:31 PM

Today the distributor was installed in my car. The old one was removed, and the new one was prepped to drop it in!

Step 1: make sure the distributor gasket is in place. Its a nylon type gasket which I feel may seal against the intake better than the typical paper gasket.

Step 2: Test fit the distributor to see if the oil pump shaft moved, and needs to be relocated. If so, use one of these handy deals to move the shaft

Step 3: Aligning the rotor with the number 8 on the distributor body! When the distributor is in place, the tab of the rotor needs to be pointing at the number 8 on the distributor. Keep in mind that when the gears mesh, the rotor will turn, so dont point the tab directly on the 8 before you drop it in, have it offset a little like this:

Once the gears mesh the tab will point real close to the number 8. It may not be *exact* but it can be 2* off to the left or right, without tripping a check engine light.

Here it is installed!

Justin89Formy · 07-18-2009, 05:32 PM

Almost done! Just hook up your connector

and install your cap and spark plug wires!

Here you can see I fired up the motor and revved it to show the crisp and smooth operation with this distributor. It operates as it should with no skips or sputters or anything. I'm very happy with this distributor!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-jaTl3wicU

Don't mind the header leak, its on the list of stuff to get fixed

Daniel Doerksen · 07-19-2009, 12:22 PM

looks like it worked out well, what ecm you running with the obd2 swap? doesnt really matter too much but thats a cast aluminum distrib. not billet

Justin89Formy · 07-21-2009, 11:52 AM

im running a 411 pcm. And thanks for the clarification on the distributor...at least its not PLASTIC

Daniel Doerksen · 07-21-2009, 12:34 PM

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S10Wildside · 07-21-2009, 05:33 PM

Looking good, Justin! Thanks for the pics and info.

One correction though...the Accel distributor is not the same as the cast aluminum distributor floating around eBay and Summit Racing's store. The Accel distributor is in fact billet aluminum. I have owned all three different aluminum Vortec distributors. In my opinion the best value is the one floating around eBay and Summit...the one you are using.

Justin89Formy · 07-22-2009, 06:06 AM

OK so the Accel is billet, but the others are cast. Thanks for the correction!