Gap between distributor cover and firewall? (L98's)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 984
Likes: 154
From: Columbia MD
Gap between distributor cover and firewall? (L98's)
I've noticed that a some L98's have a gap between the distributor cover and the rubber hood seal on the firewall. You can see it in this picture: (Credit: Bubba91's 1991 Vette)
And some don't. On my car (1985) there's no gap at all:
So I'm wondering, how does your L98 sit in its engine compartment?
Are the frame/engine/body tolerances really this sloppy on our C4's? Or is there some other explanation?
And some don't. On my car (1985) there's no gap at all:
So I'm wondering, how does your L98 sit in its engine compartment?
Are the frame/engine/body tolerances really this sloppy on our C4's? Or is there some other explanation?
Last edited by LWesthaver; Oct 24, 2006 at 03:14 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,818
Likes: 2
From: Alive and well in Burlington NC
Originally Posted by Michael_ERT
Just by looking at those pictures, the one cover looks longer.
Perhaps one is an aftermarket unit. Don't know which one that would be though.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 12
From: New York
The covers are the same, look at the weatherstripping, I would suspect that may be pushed over, or flattened more. It really isn't anything to worry about though. Here is a picture of mine, it has a fairly large gap, and that is the stock distributor cover.
Last edited by LS6 Motor; Oct 24, 2006 at 02:39 PM.
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Canton GA
Mine is so far back that I cant get the cap out from under the weather striping.. I can BARELY get to the rear screws holding it down.
I'll take a pic when I get home tonight, but its pushed way back, even further than yours.
The carfax I pulled before I took ownership of the car indicated no accidents.
I was actually going to post this question soon as I know I need to replace the cap/rotor, but have no idea how I'm going to remove it.
I'll take a pic when I get home tonight, but its pushed way back, even further than yours.
The carfax I pulled before I took ownership of the car indicated no accidents.
I was actually going to post this question soon as I know I need to replace the cap/rotor, but have no idea how I'm going to remove it.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 984
Likes: 154
From: Columbia MD
I'm skeptical that the changes (SD vs. MAF, Aluminum heads vs. Cast Iron, etc.) made between the 1991 and the 1985 (mine) account for the difference in the gap.
I'd also be surprised if there were two different distributor covers (though it is possible.) Could a Chevy parts guy could determine if there were actually two different covers?
FYI, the length of my distributor cover is 6 5/8" from front edge to back edge. Does anyone have a shorter cover?
I'd also be surprised if there were two different distributor covers (though it is possible.) Could a Chevy parts guy could determine if there were actually two different covers?
FYI, the length of my distributor cover is 6 5/8" from front edge to back edge. Does anyone have a shorter cover?
Last edited by LWesthaver; Oct 24, 2006 at 04:04 PM.
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Canton GA
Originally Posted by LWesthaver
FYI, the length of my distributor cover is 6 5/8" from front edge to back edge. Does anyone else have a shorter cover?
The thing w/ that is, even though there might be a longer or shorter cover, our distributor is still pushed further back compared to the others...
Like I said earlier, my 85's distributor is so far back against the firewall, I'm not sure how I'm going to remove it... and thats independant of the cover length.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 984
Likes: 154
From: Columbia MD
Originally Posted by Thrak
The thing w/ that is, even though there might be a longer or shorter cover, our distributor is still pushed further back compared to the others...
Like I said earlier, my 85's distributor is so far back against the firewall, I'm not sure how I'm going to remove it... and thats independant of the cover length.
Like I said earlier, my 85's distributor is so far back against the firewall, I'm not sure how I'm going to remove it... and thats independant of the cover length.
The only other thing that comes to mind is the possibility that the engine is tilted backward due to a loose "C" beam??? My understanding is that the engine/transmission assembly is supported at three points, the left and right engine mounts and the transmission tail mount (in our case the "C" beam.) If the "C" beam was letting the transmission droop, then the distributor would tilt towards the firewall. The trouble is, I don't have any symptoms of the "C" beam being loose.
Still, I would like to hear from more L98'ers about the distributor cover to firewall gap.
Last edited by LWesthaver; Oct 24, 2006 at 04:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 984
Likes: 154
From: Columbia MD
Originally Posted by KODAVETTE
...look at the weatherstripping, I would suspect that may be pushed over, or flattened more...
...Nope, just checked it. The rubber hood seal is where it's supposed to be, not deformed in any way. So that's not it.
Last edited by LWesthaver; Oct 25, 2006 at 09:24 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Overland Park KS... Car: Stock 95 Coupe
Originally Posted by LWesthaver
I'd also be surprised if there were two different distributor covers (though it is possible.) Could a Chevy parts guy could determine if there were actually two different covers?
I asked our parts guys and the part # of 10108425 was the same for years 85-91 and is described as....Extension, intake manifold plenum.
Hope it helps.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 445
Likes: 0
Yeah....I have found the same thing....their are differences in distance from the dizzy cover to the w/strip.
The differences don't just stop there.
The actual rear of the engine.. block, heads, intake, are closer to the f/wall on some cars than others.
On one 86 while fitting the engine, I had another 86 in the w/shop and was referring to it regularly as I was having trouble getting the engine to fit!!
Sure enough, after it was finally in, I realised that there was a significant difference in distance from engine to f/wall between the two cars.
After taking measurements under the cars, esp. of the relative positioning of eng. mounts, I came to the conclusion that the bodies are mounted slightly differently.
In other words, the cars with the "small gap" had a body mounted further forward on the chassis than the other.
My understanding is that there is no difference in size of cyl. heads, blocks and dist. covers between L98's..
There is, however, a significant difference in how bodies are mounted.
This might explain why there is so much adjustment available for doors, hood and front bumpers..!
The differences don't just stop there.
The actual rear of the engine.. block, heads, intake, are closer to the f/wall on some cars than others.
On one 86 while fitting the engine, I had another 86 in the w/shop and was referring to it regularly as I was having trouble getting the engine to fit!!
Sure enough, after it was finally in, I realised that there was a significant difference in distance from engine to f/wall between the two cars.
After taking measurements under the cars, esp. of the relative positioning of eng. mounts, I came to the conclusion that the bodies are mounted slightly differently.
In other words, the cars with the "small gap" had a body mounted further forward on the chassis than the other.
My understanding is that there is no difference in size of cyl. heads, blocks and dist. covers between L98's..
There is, however, a significant difference in how bodies are mounted.
This might explain why there is so much adjustment available for doors, hood and front bumpers..!