[C2] Distributor
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,094
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Distributor
Can others here chime in on this please?
BTW, the engine in my 1966 is from a 1969 (427)
Member Mosport warned me about this in my WTB ad for a tach drive distributor and I had never heard of this and thought SB and BB distributors were all basically the same.
He said:
Do not use a SB distributor in you 66 big block.
You will have oiling problems.
You will also need a 66 BB cam with the groove in the rear bearing surface
BTW, the engine in my 1966 is from a 1969 (427)
Member Mosport warned me about this in my WTB ad for a tach drive distributor and I had never heard of this and thought SB and BB distributors were all basically the same.
He said:
Do not use a SB distributor in you 66 big block.
You will have oiling problems.
You will also need a 66 BB cam with the groove in the rear bearing surface
Safety Car
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,790
Likes: 661
I am sure you will get a very detailed answer to your question.
The small block distributor will work just fine in your 1969 block, it's probably the same casting, just check the advance curve. The 1966-67 BB distributor has a partial oil groove machined to allow oil flow to the lifters and the later distributors have the oil groove machined completely 360* around the distributor. I THINK the later distributor serviced the earlier application so the full distributor machined groove causes no issues on a 66 (early) block but double check me.
The small block distributor will work just fine in your 1969 block, it's probably the same casting, just check the advance curve. The 1966-67 BB distributor has a partial oil groove machined to allow oil flow to the lifters and the later distributors have the oil groove machined completely 360* around the distributor. I THINK the later distributor serviced the earlier application so the full distributor machined groove causes no issues on a 66 (early) block but double check me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,005
Likes: 1,510
From: Prescott Arizona
Darryl - to add to the correct answers you just got from Tbarb, the rear journal groove on a Bigblock Cam is only needed IF it's going into a 65-66 block. Your 69 block is a different configuration and no need for the cam to have that groove and no need to install the cam bearing set with the groove and '3' holes in the rear bearing. I'm going through this now for the 66 #942 Block I just picked up.
Here's the full story from JohnZ regarding rear cam bearings.
66 427 rear camshaft groove question - Page 4 - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Here's the full story from JohnZ regarding rear cam bearings.
66 427 rear camshaft groove question - Page 4 - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Last edited by Vet65te; Feb 15, 2022 at 10:54 AM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,094
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Thanks guys that is what I thought.
When I looked my ad I see where member Mosport got the idea that I needed this as I described that I was looking for a distributor for my L72 that and my signature so he would not have known that I have a 1969 block.
When I looked my ad I see where member Mosport got the idea that I needed this as I described that I was looking for a distributor for my L72 that and my signature so he would not have known that I have a 1969 block.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 951
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Darryl - to add to the correct answers you just got from Tbarb, the rear journal groove on a Bigblock Cam is only needed IF it's going into a 65-66 block. Your 69 block is a different configuration and no need for the cam to have that groove and no need to install the cam bearing set with the groove and '3' holes in the rear bearing. I'm going through this now for the 66 #942 Block I just picked up.
Here's the full story from JohnZ regarding rear cam bearings.
66 427 rear camshaft groove question - Page 4 - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Here's the full story from JohnZ regarding rear cam bearings.
66 427 rear camshaft groove question - Page 4 - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Mike T - Prescott AZ
And any Chevy-housing V8 distributor will work in any Mk. IV block.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,005
Likes: 1,510
From: Prescott Arizona
Rich - yes indeed, I have read all the old threads on the subject of correct orientation of the rear cam bearing and while Bill the machine shop guy is also aware of it...I'll go over it again just to make sure when the bearings finally arrive, which is about 2 or 3 weeks out, according to Summit.
Thanks,
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Thanks,
Mike T - Prescott AZ
