I have a 1995 chevy 5.7 that i plan on swapping into my camaro. I need to get a dristributor for it. My question is why do some distributors say they fit 1955-1986 350's and others say they fit 1955-1996 350's? Is it just the cap? Will this distributor fit ? I plan on going carbed. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-S...QQcmdZViewItem

 

The factory used the style you linked from 1975 to 1986. In 1987, they went to a small cap style with remote mounted coil. From 1955-1956, they had a points style distributor with small cap and remote coil. From 1957-1974 they had another points style distributor with a window in the cap to allow you to adjust the points without having to remove the cap (could adjust them with the engine running, in fact).

All of the distributors will fit in any SBC engine up to (but not including) the LT1 style engine. So, yes, you can use the type you linked on your carb'd engine.

 

so would that distibutor fit on my 86 305 tpi? thats a damn awesome price for the distibutor, icm, and coil

 

NOt quite when we use the word "any".

There IS a difference between some TBI versus TPI distributors, due to the size of the mating hole in the manifold. TBI used a larger size hole and the resulting mating collar on the shaft is also of a larger diameter. I was told this was to get a little more swing out of it for clearance when yanking and reinstalling in a car where the cowl overhangs the distributor.

ANY Of the TPI manifolds I've seen, it's a smaller hole and shaft, less give angularly when installing or pulling

That fact is currently causing me headaches as there is not enough clearance to yank it out of my TPI powered 93 Caprice Wagon. The entire manifold has to be pulled together with the shaft to clear for removal. Unless of course I want to cut the cowl away

 

ya i know exactly what your talking about i realized that when i replaced the cap and rotor tryin to get the screw holding it in at the rear.

 

Fit, yes. Work, no, because it's a non-computer mechanical/vacuum advance type distributor. You need one without any advance mechanism.

 

Ok thanks for clearing that up with me. Im think im gonna buy that one and try it out. Has anyone ever heard anything about these distributors?

 

kinda getting off subject of my original post. I also found a fel pro gasket kit for sbc's but it says they fit 1957-1979 engines and 1981-1985 truck applications but it should fit my 95 small block right?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-C...spagenameZWDVW

 

You wouldn't get the right rear main seal parts. It's a 4-piece oil pan gasket, rather than the newer/better one-piece pan gasket.