Best place for new distributor?

[Ric83]

My dad's truck seems to be running kind of rough lately. After looking at it and asking some questions on here, it seems like he is in need of a new dist. What would be the best place to find one. It has an stock 305 and he by no means is lookingn for anything way out there. Just wants something origional to replace it w/. Where would be the best/cheapest place to find one? Anything in perticular to watch out for? Thank to all in advance.

[CHEVYE]

if it is an hei they are easy to get ahold of. grab one at a junkyard/ebay/or here. shouldn`t be more than $40 used or so.

[Ric83]

Would a used one be ok? Should we replace anything in it before install?

[RockHQ]

I don't think a junkyard distributor is the way to go if one wants ultimate reliability. The junkyard specimens have the same faults, sticking advance weights, worn out springs, loose main shafts&bushings, shims and so on. Not to mention if the magnetic pick-up, star wheel, coil or module are broken. It gets real old having to replace parts every few months, and by the time you rebuild a HEI distributor properly yourself buying each individual component separate it will have cost you far more than a rebuilt or an aftermarket dizzy.
Plus you don't get a warranty for the whole dizzy, just individual parts.

[RockHQ]

Remember, even the newest GM stock-issue HEI distributor is 18 years old now.

[cliffsta]

How does one know if the distributor is bad? I go through distributor cap, rotor, etc, a tad more than i here necessariy, and i think my timing is off (i dont have direct access to a timing light). is there any way to know if its bad? Should i call my cousin and tell him to pop by with his timing light? Just kinda curious...

[Ric83]

How much can we expect to pay for a good rebuilt one? Best place to look for one?

Originally Posted by cliffsta

How does one know if the distributor is bad? I go through distributor cap, rotor, etc, a tad more than i here necessariy, and i think my timing is off (i dont have direct access to a timing light). is there any way to know if its bad? Should i call my cousin and tell him to pop by with his timing light? Just kinda curious...

Well in the case of my dad's truck, it has no get up and go. Seems like the mechanical advance is on it's last let or something. Also, when I put a timing light on it, the line would jump every few seconds.

[CHEVYE]

i would buy an aftermarket before rebuilding too.

[jimfulco]

Rebuilt ones run a little over $100. Here's a new GM unit for $185:

http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/923/...st-Housing.htm

[Ric83]

I found a few of these, but they seem to say they fit up to '82??
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33690
Will in not work on his 83? What is the diff?? Where else could I find a rebuilt one?? Tried a few major on line places, but seems like they cost a lot. Will I not be able to find anything under ~$180?

[RockHQ]

He claims it will fit Olds, Buick and Pontiac V8s too. I don't see how thats possible, for example on an Olds V8 the distributor doesn't go through the intake manifold at all so the mounting flange is a lot closer to the drive gear. Plus the distributor rotates counter-clockwise on an Olds.

It should however drop right into a SBC.

[ocbaud]

i believe that in 83' they starting using esc(electronic spark control). it will advance/retard the timing whenever there is detonation.

that dizzy would work perfect in his engine, but he would have to adjust the timing himself from now on.

[Ric83]

Originally Posted by ocbaud

that dizzy would work perfect in his engine, but he would have to adjust the timing himself from now on.

What do you mean he would have to adjust the timing himself from now on?? You mean like it would need to be adjusted rugularly?

[Slonaker]

The ESC engines use a knock sensor, I assume to retard the timing when it needs it. An earlier distributor without ESC will work in his engine, and is preferred by many people. I know that when the time comes, my ESC distributor will be replaced with an older, simpler HEI.

Slonaker

[1986Silverado]

AutoZone list one for an 83 1/2 ton p/u with a 305 for $104.99 with a $30 core charge. I'm sure it's a rebuilt unit but comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Also not sure how complete it is, may or may not come with the cap and rotor

[Ric83]

Yeah, I did see a couple listed at that price, but the came w/ no cap, rotor, coil, ect...

[76HighSierra]

I would go out and get a decent core dizzy (tight bushings) and rebuild it yourself, using new springs, pickup coil, etc. At least when you buy the parts yourself, you have some control over the quality. Those new "junkers" on e-bay, as well as the ones you buy at Autozone/Checker are built with the cheapest of the cheap parts.

[swervin ervin]

I agree with Marc. If I didn't want to lay down the bucks for a new GM unit, I sure wouldn't buy one from Autozone. Junk is a great word for what they would sell you. Taiwan junk.

If you don't want to get a new GM unit, find a good core at the junkyard and rebuild it with all new bushings, springs, etc.

Depending on what your plans are for the truck, I would go with a new GM unit myself. A cheap distributor will put you on the side of the road in a New York minute.

[C&C Chevy]

What about a Proform unit? They're GM authorized. (whatever that means..)

[ocbaud]

Originally Posted by C&C Chevy

What about a Proform unit? They're GM authorized. (whatever that means..)

my chevy perfomance alum. valve covers are actualy proform, and they cracked.

i myself, dont think i would buy proform performance parts.

[swervin ervin]

Proform stuff is pretty sorry also. The GM authorized thing only means they are authorized to put GM labels and names on their products. It doesn't mean they are authorized as good from GM.

[C&C Chevy]

I thought that would get a rise out of some of you guys.

[cliffsta]

OR you could find a whole core unit and send it to LMC or even take it to your dealership and have them rebuild it. If you send in a core to LMC they send you a remanufactured unit, not neccessarily the same one you supply them with. BUT my vote is along with the other guys', go with a new GM unit or rebuild a GM unit. Overall, GM distributors are pretty solid as compared to Found On Road Dead.

[RockHQ]

Rebuilding a junkyard distributor isn't the cheap way to get a "new" GM HEI.
I used http://www.rockauto.com/ 's online catalog, and priced together all the parts to rebuild a HEI. I was not able to find the rotor shaft bushings however. I chose AC Delco parts when possible but roughly 50% of the parts were Standard Motor Products (=made in Taiwan cheaper than ACD), and if there were several options priced differently i chose the middle priced one.

Remember, this doesn't include shipping/handling:
-Module (ACD#1906) $30.79
-Cap (Standard #DR450X) $17.46
-Rotor (ACD#D448) $05.36
-Coil cover (ACD#1875960) $07.10
-Pick-up felt pad, washer(Standard#DG53) $04.23
-Pick-up coil (ACD#1907) $29.99
-Adv. bushings (Standard#DG54) $07.15
-Adv. weights (Standard#DG50) $03.61
-Vac. advance can (Standard#VC234) $10.67
-Capacitor w/ harness (Standard#RC4) $11.94
-Ign. coil (ACD#D504A) $42.79
-Ign coil gnd strap (Standard#DR31A) $01.26
-Mounting gasket (Fel-Pro#70194) $00.69
-------------------------------------------------
Total: $173.04

And we still haven't touched the rotor shaft bushings.

[cochran63]

I actually have a new proform distributor on the shelf. It is junk. I put it in my motor and it would surge and buck and then in a few minutes it would run great and then back to surging. I took it out and called them. They said to replace the module and they would reimburse me the money. I did it and it did not help. I tried to send it back to them but they just kept trying to diagnose problems over the phone. so i went to the junkyard ang got a good one for $25.