where do i get one? what type? where do they go in the distributer? hard to install? please help thanks chris..

 

any parts store, either the cheap or the more expensive one, they go on the shaft in the distributor, not hard at all.

You will have to pull the distributor out, take the pin out that holds the ring gear on the bottom of the shaft. Then take the distributor apart, and replace. I would go with the more expensive pickup coil since you have to completely disassemble the distributor to get a new one in.

Best bet is to do a search for distributor rebuild, I just did mine last week and it took about an hour.

 

Also, there's no performance pick-up coil available; it can't be made into a performance item. It's just is just to pick up magnetic pulses, and send that info to the ignition module. You can't really make that any more efficient. Although, difference in price might mean the difference between a cheaply made one, and one that'll last 10 years.

 

so i pull the distributer out and then what? what pin? what dose the pic up coil look like?? thanks chris

 

If you pick up a Haynes 82-92 Camaro or 82-92 Firebird manual, it has details on rebuilding the distributor. You can see the pickup coil if you remove your distributor cap; if it's old, it'll be the yellowish/brownish/burnt/peeling-apart looking thing right above the spark module, with two wires coming out of it. The two wires go into the black spark module.

(New pickup coils are a bleach-white color!)

 

I noticed that too... couple fair warnings on the Distributor Rebuild -

1) When you remove the distributer, it may be VERY tight, and require a LOT of force to pop her free. I know it did on mine. On that note, remove the hold down bolt/clamp COMPLETELY.

2) You may have a long shaft come out of the bottom - that goes to the oil pump. I'd recommend putting that back in.

3) the shaft MAY be VERY difficult to remove, after removing the roll pin that is below the gear (You'll see it when the distributor is out). I FINALLY got mine out by pulling/twisting *like I'm unscrewing it* till it got stuck, pop it back down, then pull again. Clean it - the shaft - with some carb cleaner + 220 grit or so sandpaper (that's what I did, anyway). Polish that bad boy! I used some white lithium grease in a spray can to lube it up. I love that stuff.

As far as putting it back in... um... gimme a couple minutes. I'm working on that!

 

Hey now, this is a family board! You don't want little kids reading about how you cleaned and polished and lubed your shaft!

Couldn't resist!