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1962 distributor differences

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Old Oct 26, 2014 | 11:52 AM
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Default 1962 distributor differences

I am having a hard time finding a reasonably priced 1110984 (250hp) distributor. What are the differences between the 1110984 and a 1110985 tach drive distributor? It seems like the 0985s are plentiful...

I want it to look correct on the outside, but plan to replace the points with electronics on the inside.
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Old Oct 26, 2014 | 12:29 PM
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Other questions:
1. Does the 0185 have the oil filler or was this specific to 0184?
2. If it is a single point, tach drive with vacuum advance, can this be anything other than a 0184?

Thanks for helping me understand
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Old Oct 26, 2014 | 01:29 PM
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ALL 62 distributors were tach drive.
The 250 and 300hp distributors were SINGLE point with a vacuum advance.
The distributor for the 340hp engine (solid lifter with a carb) was dual point and NO vac adv.
The FI dist was also dual point and NO vac adv.

ANY 63 74 distributor with vac adv will work for your engine. ALTHOUGH not totally correct, they can be setup to work just fine. The primary differences between 63-74 vac adv, single point distributors will be the mechanical weight advance setting and the vac adv canister. BOTH of these features can easily be tailored to suit your engine.
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Old Oct 26, 2014 | 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by sprinter
It seems like the 0985s are

GM sold many thousands of these dual point tach drive distributors over the counter to racers
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Old Oct 26, 2014 | 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by DZAUTO
ANY 63 74 distributor with vac adv will work for your engine. ALTHOUGH not totally correct, they can be setup to work just fine. The primary differences between 63-74 vac adv, single point distributors will be the mechanical weight advance setting and the vac adv canister. BOTH of these features can easily be tailored to suit your engine.
So is there anything external visually that can identify a true 1962 1110984 vs. a 63-74 distributor? Did any of the 63-74 versions have the external oiler or no?
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Old Oct 26, 2014 | 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by sprinter
So is there anything external visually that can identify a true 1962 1110984 vs. a 63-74 distributor? Did any of the 63-74 versions have the external oiler or no?
All of them have cast iron housings (NO alum housings were used for tach drive distributors).
Yes, the REALLY, REALLY knowledgeable judges/distributor gurus can spot the difference between the really early tach drive/vac adv distributors and the later versions. But MOST people will not know the difference between a 62 vac adv/tach drive and a 74 version. When installed in the engine, they look virtually identical. The vac adv can is in the same position, the tach drive is in the same position and they all use the same single door dist cap.
I VERY SERIOUSLY doubt that there are 3 people on this forum that can describe the minute differences between a 62 and 74 tach drive dist.
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Old Oct 26, 2014 | 07:09 PM
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Originally Posted by redvetracr
GM sold many thousands of these dual point tach drive distributors over the counter to racers
We had a hard time keeping them in stock. No other points dist could touch it at the time.
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Old Oct 29, 2014 | 08:31 PM
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62 984 tach drive distributors were the only tach-drive ones to have an oiler on the side of the body, and that oiler was not a tube, it was only a spring-loaded GITS type cap. Nearly impossible to actually oil! It was used on both 250 and 300 hp 62's.

Last edited by 62corvette; Oct 29, 2014 at 08:33 PM. Reason: Spelling
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Old Oct 30, 2014 | 08:45 PM
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Can someone confirm this is a 1110984 (from above description it is). To clarify that point, I think the 1110984 is the only one with GITS cap, Tach drive and vacuum advance. The 1110985 has the first two, but not the vacuum advance; also is dual points.




Last edited by sprinter; Oct 30, 2014 at 09:58 PM.
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Old Oct 30, 2014 | 10:08 PM
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I can't absolutely say that it is, but it looks exactly like the 984s that I have been familiar with for years. The upside down gear on the bottom concerns me, though.
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Old Oct 30, 2014 | 10:14 PM
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Originally Posted by 62corvette
-------------------------------------------------- The upside down gear on the bottom concerns me, though.
A CLEAR indication that Bubba has touched it!
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Old Oct 30, 2014 | 10:52 PM
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Originally Posted by DZAUTO
A CLEAR indication that Bubba has touched it!
I swear... Bubba loves old vettes. He also removed my rear sway bar
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Old Oct 30, 2014 | 10:52 PM
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Originally Posted by sprinter
Can someone confirm this is a 1110984 (from above description it is). To clarify that point, I think the 1110984 is the only one with GITS cap, Tach drive and vacuum advance. The 1110985 has the first two, but not the vacuum advance; also is dual points.



I think the 54W football cam is correct for a 984. What is the vacuum can number? The cross gear casting is old school.....do you have the original al distributor band?
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Old Oct 31, 2014 | 12:16 AM
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Originally Posted by WKNR
I think the 54W football cam is correct for a 984. What is the vacuum can number? The cross gear casting is old school.....do you have the original al distributor band?
No band. I just bought this one and yet to receive it. I will update this post with the vacuum can number when I get it.
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