hey im doin the tbi to carb swap and i need to get this thing on the road already.im kinda on a budget so my question is...i need a distributor.i cant afford an accel unit right now so is there a replacement distributor i can get from autozone that is made for like a certian vehicle that will work.i would like one with the coil on top.vaccum advance.thanks

 

if you are a budget, cheapest bet would be to try and get one from a junkyard. Replace the cap and rotor, and run it.

 

well ill have about 80 bucks to spend.i would still need to know what car to get it from.can i use a distrubutor from an older model carbed firbird

 

all GMs basically had the exact same distributor. Pick the cleanest looking one in the yard. With your left over $ you can get a new module, cap, rotor, or crane 96001 vacuum can. (pick whichever you want/need the most...)

 

I usually pick a '75 350 pickup truck or a monte carlo or camaro.
be careful with the firebirds-- if they got a pontiac, the dist turns backwards compared to your chevy, and they won't fit anyway, neither will the olds.
last time I checked they were around 55 bucks exchange at oreilly's but you still need the cap, rotor and coil and a cover too.

you might figure out where to get the extra bucks and put it towards the accell-- it's a shame to spend the 80, then spend 150 later to replace the 80, then you got 230 in the whole mess....

 

Summit & Jegs usually are offering a complete HEI for less than $150.

The range of non-computerized HEI was late '74 to early 80's. The computerized and non-computerized look & mount basically the same - I even have one that is both computerized and has vacuum/mechanical advance. So, if you go junkyarding, know what you're getting. All Chevy V8 HEI's fit both SBC and BBC, but beware, there are "tall deck" BBC truck engines out there.

The weaknesses of the factory HEI's are the module and coil. Let's do the math on buying a JY distributor: Let's say you get a deal for $35. It'll need a new cap & rotor, $25. New module, $35. New coil, $40. That's $135 for the mix of new & used parts. Adjustable vacuum advance (and the factory vacuum cans do go bad), $20. Guess what? You're over the cost of a new one from Summit/Jegs that already has new "good" stuff.

 

I have a GM hei with accel supercoil, Accel cap & rotor. It also has a new gear and pickup coil. I can let you have it for $65 plus shipping.

I had it in my car but upgraded to a probillit.

 

summit sales a summit brand complete distributor(good stuff) with a 50000 volt coil, high performance module and uses brass for all the plug connects, and it is completely brand new, not just a rebuilt body, for 85 bucks. Best band for your buck in my opinion.I have one it it really shoot some fire boy.

 

yea...i got the summit brand dist. installed it, drove 200miles from tucson to flag only to have it go out at 8pm at night 30miles from flag leaving me on the side fo the freeway. not sure what happened but it just went out. luckily i had my old one in the back seat. it sucked.

 

well i tried to order one and they were back ordered.

 

Nuh uh. Every GM motor design used a different distributor body. Olds and Buick distributors won't work in each other, much less a Chevy.

Then you get the fun ones, like big block vs small block Buick, where one used a 13 tooth gear and the other used a 12... they'll physically fit and allow you to start the car. It'll run for about 10-15 seconds before dropping out of time bad enough to backfire and stall.

 

ok, I mean all chevy engines, the ones that clutter up the wrecking yards at-naseum. I haven't seen very many buick/olds motors in the last few years, since they weren't being made since I was born! However all SBC distributors, that look like the one you have, will work.

57 has a good point though, if you can get a summit one complete, brand spankin' new for $85, I think that's a pretty good option.

 

A good tip I learned the hard way when I bought a used distributor: Take it apart and check for corrosion! I bought one about 4 years ago and just dropped it in, ran ok for awhile, but lost power going uphill. Turned out it was corroded on the inside. Used a bunch of WD40 to break it loose. Works ok now.