Distributor Question
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
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From: Newark DE
pretty much so. Different ones will have different cam and advance curves built in but all can be set-up on a Sun Distributor machine to give you a good working curve and set-up for your car.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Greenville, Indiana
If by interchangable, you mean will they funtionally run the engine? If so, the answer is yes, short of some reverse rotation marine/industrial applications.
There is also the matter of point type and transistor type but they interchange also along with the related unique parts.
There is also the matter of point type and transistor type but they interchange also along with the related unique parts.
Last edited by MikeM; Oct 21, 2008 at 09:08 PM.
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ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL SB & BB distributors are interchangeable. This includes BOTH point type and HEI.
The W motor (348-409-427) distributors are different and WILL NOT interchange with the SB/BB distributors (YES!!!!!!!!! SB & BB distributors are the same basic part, the differences are in the adv curve).
Ya, ya, ya, ya, I know, there are also the tall deck truck distributors (366-427), but we're not referring to tall deck distributors here, we're just concerned with the pass car type distributors.
As an example, you can literally pull the HEI dist out of a 1985 454 and stick it into a 57 Chevy 283, rotate it to fire on #1, connect 12volts to it and drive it away. Yes, the advance weights/springs and vac adv will be different, but ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL of those components are adjustable or can be changed out with different parts to achieve a desired adv curve (of course, a few came without vac adv cans).
The 55-56 single point, some FI and some dual point distributors had points that had to be adjusted by removing the dist cap and making adjustments with a screwdriver. Beginning in 57, point type distributors had a window added to the dist cap so that adjustments to the points (changing the dwell) could be done while the engine was running.
The W motor (348-409-427) distributors are different and WILL NOT interchange with the SB/BB distributors (YES!!!!!!!!! SB & BB distributors are the same basic part, the differences are in the adv curve).
Ya, ya, ya, ya, I know, there are also the tall deck truck distributors (366-427), but we're not referring to tall deck distributors here, we're just concerned with the pass car type distributors.
As an example, you can literally pull the HEI dist out of a 1985 454 and stick it into a 57 Chevy 283, rotate it to fire on #1, connect 12volts to it and drive it away. Yes, the advance weights/springs and vac adv will be different, but ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL of those components are adjustable or can be changed out with different parts to achieve a desired adv curve (of course, a few came without vac adv cans).
The 55-56 single point, some FI and some dual point distributors had points that had to be adjusted by removing the dist cap and making adjustments with a screwdriver. Beginning in 57, point type distributors had a window added to the dist cap so that adjustments to the points (changing the dwell) could be done while the engine was running.
Last edited by DZAUTO; Oct 21, 2008 at 10:22 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Southeast Missouri
