i have a 1987 camaro, it has a 305 with the computor contolled quadrajet carb. i just bought everything to do a good tune up on the car.when i got to the rotor i had a hard time getting the old rotor off . i guess i better mention i have the distibutor with the external coil. i noticed that the round metal part the is under the rotor buton, (not sure what it is called but i know its magnetic) could this be the pick ups? i don't know im lost, anyhow the part was cracked and fairly rusty.when i went to start the car it was a no go. i checked under the cap and the matal part was in pieces.its fot a collar or something around it . is this part replacable?it is right above the module on the distributor? any help would be greatly appriciated. i would have put a pic of it on here but my camera also quit working. thanks again and now its off to buy a distirbutor wrench so i can get the thing out.

 

Hmm.... sounds like someone's been 'revving' on that thing! Sure the parts are replaceable.... but you're better off swapping to an HEI unit (internal coil).... less hassle, less clutter (and they look better)!

 

actually no revving, the car is not driven much. i think the thing just got bad from sitting. as i said i had to pry off the old rotor.i would love to swap for a hei unit ,thats what i have in my firebird with an accel supercoil. i don't know about the wires though, as far as swapping the distributors out. the hei units are all over the place, i have found one junkyard locally that may have one like i need. $60.00 if anyone knows how to wire an hei up let me know . thanks

 

Disconnect the battery, and remove the coil, and the distributor from the engine (mark the location of the rotor). You can now discard the coil spark wire leading to the distributor cap...

Install the new/replacement HEI distributor (body only, leave the cap off for clearance), and adjust the rotor to proper timing location....

The two wires from you're harness that went to both the positive and negative terminals of the coil (the positive should either be pink or red, and the negative should either be white or tan), they now get placed on the side of the HEI cap. The positive is closest to the firewall, and the negative is closest to the CARB (or Plenum). You might want to go to a junkyard, and get the proper connectors from a donor car that had a stock HEI ignition..... then either crimp new terminals on you're wires, or use 'posi' lock connectors.

That's it! Hook battery back up and enjoy

 

thanks for the help. if i cant find one like's in the car( i am trying to keep it original) thats the route i will go. i have 4 wires though are the other two for the tach? thanks again for your help.

 

The other two do not come from you're harness, they come from the distributor itself (the module)..... and gets connected to the coil.

You're tach wire is the negative wire that goes to the coil (from you're ignition harness)....

As for keeping it original, you don't have to throw anything away.... just upgrade it for yourself, you can always go back....

 

hopefully i will have one or the other today, i really appriciate all your help on this thanks