What is the "go to" distributor for an '89 L98 IROC if I'm looking for a trouble-free product with quality ICM and pickup coil?

Looking for a replacement distributor, not to rebuild the existing unit.

Rockauto lists a bunch of options. Is the $285 reman Delco the way to go?

Rockauto options

 

A new GM one is what id look for 1st .
If No luck there, id rebuild the original one with gm parts.
3rd choice would be something like that but it looks to have china parts on It.

 

Relevant thread:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...ibuter-ac.html

I can't decide if I want to go OEM or get a Davis unit paired with a hotter coil. Considering trying to fire some Iridium plugs with a larger gap I have laying around.

 

Definitely a relevant thread!

@Airwolfe has some NOS distributors for sale, but they are GM item 1104096. What are the applications for this P/N? My GM parts catalog lists 1103749 as the correct number for my car.

 

This is a good deal. Good quality. Have no problem with it. ICM matched the OEM one for latency (personally tested it). Was recommended to me by a trustable TGO member.

JEGS #555-40006

https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/40006/10002/-1

 

That looks a lot like the Speedmaster unit:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sdm-pce376-1001

Could they be the same?

 

I would suggest going with a GM fuel injection small cap distributor, fits 87 - 93 Camaro TPI. It is listed in the GM performance parts catalog. That is what I used on my TPI conversion in my Monte Carlo SS. For ignition, I suggest staying with GM. I have had issues with Mallory and MSD.

 

I ended up ordering components to build a new distributor. Went with a combination of NOS and OE parts. The only components that will transfer over from the existing distributor are the drive gear, roll pin, and washers.

Hope this plan works out. I would have preferred to just drop in a new distributor but I wanted to keep it as close to original as I could.

 

Do you have a part number? I just looked in the GM Performance Parts Catalog and didn't see anything for our cars.

 

CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE 19420927 GM has lost their dxmn mind, at almost 700.00 ill pass

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18573406672...mis&media=COPY

 

I’ve had that AC Delco reman distributor for 5 years now on my L98 and it’s been good. If I needed another I would snag one of Airwolfe’s NOS or maybe the Davis DUI, all I hear about those is good quality.

 

I purchased the distributor from Crate Engine Depot, P/N 1104060. Current price is around $360. It is listed as the one used on the Ram Jet 350.

 

Well, that was a disaster. It looks like a previous owner must have replaced the distributor at some point. None of my carefully researched and acquired components matched what came off the distributor.

I'm done trying to figure out what distributor came out of the car and back to looking for a complete replacement.

I'm confused about the different Delco and GM part numbers suggested in this thread. My GM 1989 parts catalog lists the factory distributor number as 1103749. This item number is discontinued and I'm not sure what number superseded it.

I see references in this thread to 1104096, 19420927, 1104060, and 19179575. Am I overthinking this? Will any of these distributors work? I'm leaning toward the 1104060 that @Tuned Performance linked from eBay.

 

AC Delco 19179575 was the part number of the reman I purchased if that helps, same as the one on rockauto.

 

I have had the 1104060 distributor from Crate Engine Depot for many years without issues. It is a new GM distributor. I have a flat tappet cam, so if I remember correctly I changed the distributor gear to a melonized gear. I'm sure one of the remanufactured examples should be just as good.

 

isn’t melonized used with roller cam ?

 

Which distributor gear should I buy?

According to that, melonized is somewhat universal.

 

Well, I rolled the dice and bought the NOS 1104060 in the ebay link. Fingers crossed.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and insight.

 

I had researched dist gears before I bought the GM distributor. A somewhat confusing subject. The melonized gear can be used with both flat tappet and roller cams.

Fred

 

I got the NOS 1104060 distributor stabbed in and base timing set to 6-7 degrees BTDC tonight. Went very smoothly, no problems. The car runs good, at least sitting there in the garage.

Thanks again for all the suggestions and insight.

Now we just need some nice weather so I can give it a good road test.

 

Looking at the Delco Remy website is shows 1104060 as:
Part 99MM EST (8CYL-CCW) MARINE

Where 1103749 shows:
Part 99MM EST - 8CYL/CCW

I guess there are the same except for 1104060 is for boats?
https://www.delcoremy.com/find-a-par...yl-ccw)-marine

 

Not sure about that, but I can tell you that my car is running great with the 1104060 distributor. In fact it is running the best it ever has since I've owned it.

 

I'm getting the 1104060 from Airwolfe. I hope to have the same results, on my third distributor and need to get something better.

I still think this distrubtor is for a GM V8 inboard boat motor. If it works on a boat it should work in a car.
https://maxmarineoutlet.com/product/...-newfree-ship/

 

Jegs is a good option. I went with a duralast gold from autozone, from my research it is the exact same unit as what is sold by Jegs, except that autozone puts the free replacement warranty on top of it so instead of $99 it was $149. I chased dizzy component issues for YEARS, replacing part after part after part. Finally just bought a new distributor, dropped it in, checked the timing, good to go.

edit to add item: https://www.autozone.com/external-en...m08/194319_0_0

 

Actually your getting a NOS Genuine GM 1104096 automotive distributor from me. Numbers run together in my head too and I also get confused sometimes. Seems GM put a different part number on them every single year for no good reason.

The 1104060 is a Marine distributor. Came on all the RamJet 350 and RamJet 502 create engines GM sold and they were based off the Marine versions of these engines that came in boats. As create engines for cars and trucks they had a few things changed on them that wasn't needed for street use. For example the brass lined cooling passages in the intake manifold wasn't in the street version.

I actually have 3 of the 1104060 Marine distributors and the differences between them and a normal automotive distributor is a silver coating on the distributor gear, different rotor button that's round with curly Q vanes on the bottom to promote air circulation, and a different GM ignition control module. As time went on GM revised the parts used in them. Later units don't have the silver coating on the gear, the ICM has changed in them over the years. GM 399 ICM, some aftermarket with no markings, and later on an aftermarket TRANSPO ICM.

Even though the 1104060 is a Marine distributor it seems to work just fine in a street engine. I can't make any statements as to the timing latencies and curves in the ICM they came with. People have used them in TBI and TPI cars and they seem to like them.


Much better small cap HEI rotor button used in marine, tall deck 366 & 427 engines, and industrial engines.

Made in USA. ACDelco D461, GM 10477219


Normal TBI/TPI rotor button.

Made in USA. ACDelco D447, GM ‎10496798

 

Thanks for posting that information, Airwolfe. I have been running the GM 1104060 dist for many years since I did my TPI swap. No issues.

Fred