Distributor ID
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7th Gear
Joined: May 2018
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Distributor ID
Hey Guy's,newbie here.
I have a couple of distributors here I have had kicking around for years ,one is a 891 that I believe is '57-'61 270 horse . Am I close on that and the other has no ID tag but is a dual point tach drive with the long oil tube.
Here is some pictures of both ,any info you could give me on these would be great. THANKS!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
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From: Huntsville AL
You are correct. The 891 distributor was used on optional engines (not the base motors) from 1957 to 1961 carbureted engines (not fuel injected engines).
The only other distributors that look anything like these are the 1956 1110872 (early 1956) and 1110879 (late 1956) distributors. The most significant difference between the 1956 and 1957 and later distributors is that the early 1956 distributor (1110872) oil filling tube is bent 180 degrees opposite of the oil tube on the later 1956 1110879 and the 1957-1961 1110891 distributors.
Now, the 1955 and 1956 Chevrolet passenger car distributors look a lot like the 891, but they are single point distributors.
The only other distributors that look anything like these are the 1956 1110872 (early 1956) and 1110879 (late 1956) distributors. The most significant difference between the 1956 and 1957 and later distributors is that the early 1956 distributor (1110872) oil filling tube is bent 180 degrees opposite of the oil tube on the later 1956 1110879 and the 1957-1961 1110891 distributors.
Now, the 1955 and 1956 Chevrolet passenger car distributors look a lot like the 891, but they are single point distributors.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
You are correct. The 891 distributor was used on optional engines (not the base motors) from 1957 to 1961 carbureted engines (not fuel injected engines).
The only other distributors that look anything like these are the 1956 1110872 (early 1956) and 1110879 (late 1956) distributors. The most significant difference between the 1956 and 1957 and later distributors is that the early 1956 distributor (1110872) oil filling tube is bent 180 degrees opposite of the oil tube on the later 1956 1110879 and the 1957-1961 1110891 distributors.
Now, the 1955 and 1956 Chevrolet passenger car distributors look a lot like the 891, but they are single point distributors.
The only other distributors that look anything like these are the 1956 1110872 (early 1956) and 1110879 (late 1956) distributors. The most significant difference between the 1956 and 1957 and later distributors is that the early 1956 distributor (1110872) oil filling tube is bent 180 degrees opposite of the oil tube on the later 1956 1110879 and the 1957-1961 1110891 distributors.
Now, the 1955 and 1956 Chevrolet passenger car distributors look a lot like the 891, but they are single point distributors.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31,497
Likes: 1,313
From: Huntsville AL
Thanks for the reply,the untagged one is a dual point and has what looks like a 1 1 to the right of the tach drive and a white or beige paint marking on the shaft just above the bronze gear.I am hoping if I can ID it I could get a repro tag and I am guessing it would be the thin foil type?
That style of distributor was used for many years (1962-1974) in various configurations, but if I am not mistaken, only the 1962 version was a factory dual point setup.
If the advance pate welded on top has a number on it, that might help you narrow it down.
I am not sure if 1963 and later distributors had that oil cap on the side, but 1962 definitely did.
The distributor would have had an aluminum band around the body with the part number and date code on it, just below the breaker plate part.
Last edited by emccomas; May 28, 2018 at 02:34 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Huntsville AL
I "believe" that the advance cam that is welded to the top of the shaft is different between the 1110984 and 1110985 distributors.
Perhaps checking some pictures of 984 vs 985 advance cams will help you narrow it down.
Is there a number on the advance cam that is welded on top of the main shaft? Look on both the top and the bottom of the advance cam.
Last edited by emccomas; May 30, 2018 at 04:33 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Huntsville AL
And sometimes you get so caught up in the minute details you overlook the obvious.
The 1110984 is a vacuum advance distributor.
The 1110985 is a mechanical advance only distributor.
The 1962 984 and 985 distributors are the only Corvette distributors that I am aware of that have the oiling cap on the side of the body, but no actual tube. They were always a real pain to oil.
You almost certainly have a 1110985 1962 340hp Corvette distributor.
Check Ebay for used tags for 1110985. They always show up on Ebay
The 1110984 is a vacuum advance distributor.
The 1110985 is a mechanical advance only distributor.
The 1962 984 and 985 distributors are the only Corvette distributors that I am aware of that have the oiling cap on the side of the body, but no actual tube. They were always a real pain to oil.
You almost certainly have a 1110985 1962 340hp Corvette distributor.
Check Ebay for used tags for 1110985. They always show up on Ebay
