distributor ?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Morehead KY
distributor ?
I have a 1989 corvette 6 speed with a zz4 crate engine, just recently had it switched over to a carburetor style intake system. Was wandering will my stock distributor work without the computer, or do i need a different style distributor that is vacuum/mechanical advance. I had someone else do the swap for me and set the timing with the distributor, car idles, cruises okay, but when i get on it, it bucks and just aint getting the power down and seems like it has trouble climbing the revs. It sounds like it is working hard but just aint putting the power out and will buck and stuff. Is it the distributor? I took it back to the guys and said it was off, but was just wandering if anybody has any input on this.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
the older distributor would work better, you arent sending info to and from the ecm any more. all you need would be a 'one wire' hei, so your plugs would receive good voltage and the advance would work right.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Sounds like you need an early HEI with vacuum advance. The OEM L98 distributor depends entirely on the ECM to make changes in the advance curve.
Note that you may have to get a different coil for the early HEI unit. The unit will have a tach hookup and that should work with the factory tach wire. Use the proper vacuum port from the carb to the HEI vacuum can.
