My 86 has the HEI style, TPI setup. My buddy has an 89 with the smaller cap, remote coil. Can we trade distributors and everything hook up properly, coil wires excluded.

 

Connectors are differant sizes but the wire colors are the same.

 

The early large coil in cap HEI distributor uses weights and springs inside to control spark advance. The late model small cap HEI is computer controlled. Although it will fit, you need a computer to control spark advance with a small cap HEI.

The large cap Chev HEI can be dropped into any V8 Chev and work as long as the proper wires are hooked up to provide power.

I use a small cap HEI distributor in my race car. I don't use any spark advance since that's for part throttle operation. The distributor is installed at full advance and the ignition has a start retard built into it. My engine is running very little when not at WOT. WOT is the only time I need the ignition at full advance.