Pulling a L98 Distributor.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 202
Removing the Dist is easy.
Sounds. Like a first time for you.
Installing is a method.
If i were you watch vids. Have service manual picture reference.
To complete this task properly you should have a timing light. You would also need to pull the Adv lead should be a brown wire with a single connector. Number your wires. Know your FO 1,8,4,3,6,5,7,2
Dist cap should have a line mark for number 1 would not hurt to number your Dist cap knowing cable order. Also notate rotor pointing direction.
And set the timing back to 6 deg BTDC..
The dist gear actually rotates about 2 teeth removing and or installing.
A service manual purposely set the oil pump shaft slot pointing to cyl 5
You need to purposely drop the Dist 2 teeth counter clockwise. to allow the dist gear & tang line up with the oil pump shaft slot.
I would ask an experienced friend to guide you the first time.
many modern master GM service techs are clueless. They cannot complete this old art.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
ok, I'm going to mark the housing, and rotor position. .... and label the cap. Hopefully this weekend. I plan on dropping it back in as it came out. Not finding TDC before hand.
I've done plenty of work, just never needed to change a pickup coil before.
I've done plenty of work, just never needed to change a pickup coil before.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
Pulled the dizzy last night. The top of the shaft has the stator, or 8 point thing. It's rusted so badly, 1/2 of it is missing. So I can't even rebuild it. It's too far gone.
Have to buy a whole new distributor.
Have to buy a whole new distributor.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
I believe I have a correct distributor missing the electronics, harnesses, cap rotor etc. Housing, shaft and gear is good. I'll try to put my hands on it. If this interests you PM me.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 435
Likes: 4
From: Guilford NY
HTH.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
No need to replace the whole dist. It's just the pickup coil that is bad. I just went thru this whole mess. Put in a new pickup coil and module. My pickup coil was OC, so no spark. Looks like it also overheated, and leaked out lots of goo, down into the dist. Cleaned it all up, but you must pull the dist to change the pickup coil. It wasnt that bad of a job. Just follow what was said above, and take lots of pictures. A new dist might be over $300, but it will be plug and play. The pickup coil was like $53 from Napa.
HTH.
HTH.
Rock auto entire new distributor for $60 !!! With cap & rotor. Now I need to return the pickup coil, cap & rotor, and other various parts I brought to rebuild the OEM distributor.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
The top of the distributor shaft with the 8 points on the stator. It's rusted, and half of it is missing. It's completely worn out & done in 80,000 miles.
Rock auto entire new distributor for $60 !!! With cap & rotor. Now I need to return the pickup coil, cap & rotor, and other various parts I brought to rebuild the OEM distributor.
Rock auto entire new distributor for $60 !!! With cap & rotor. Now I need to return the pickup coil, cap & rotor, and other various parts I brought to rebuild the OEM distributor.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
ULTRA-POWER 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
Stupid comment? Hardly!
That's NOT a replacement for your car. I believe I've seen you mention an '89 and your distributor (you can confirm on your old) I'd think would be an 1103680
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 435
Likes: 4
From: Guilford NY
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
*It's highly unlikely that the distributor is worn out at 80k. That would be unheard of.
*The one that you found is the wrong distributor.
You can buy it...but there is a smarter way to repair your car.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
Cardone makes a fully loaded distributor for $104 on rockauto, new, specific to an 89 Corvette, with the built in coil.
My application is a small cap HEI with an external coil. $65 on rock auto.
yes, my distributor is completely worn out at 80,000 miles. I always had rust piles under the rotor, and finally figured out why.
My application is a small cap HEI with an external coil. $65 on rock auto.
yes, my distributor is completely worn out at 80,000 miles. I always had rust piles under the rotor, and finally figured out why.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
Cardone makes a fully loaded distributor for $104 on rockauto, new, specific to an 89 Corvette, with the built in coil.
My application is a small cap HEI with an external coil. $65 on rock auto.
yes, my distributor is completely worn out at 80,000 miles. I always had rust piles under the rotor, and finally figured out why.
My application is a small cap HEI with an external coil. $65 on rock auto.
yes, my distributor is completely worn out at 80,000 miles. I always had rust piles under the rotor, and finally figured out why.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
If yours is actually a GM and you bought correct internals originally then a buy of a mainshaft could still be a wise move! A 65$ distributor?
Last edited by WVZR-1; Sep 6, 2022 at 09:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
Why would I spend $240 on a main shaft for my OEM / GM distributor, when I can buy an entire new unit for $65, or your fat cap entire distributor for $100.
I see people spend crazy money on the MSD name, & other fancy names, and they have more problems than the cheaper standard replacements.
Go surf around rockauto for a while. I found nothing more reasonable.
I see people spend crazy money on the MSD name, & other fancy names, and they have more problems than the cheaper standard replacements.
Go surf around rockauto for a while. I found nothing more reasonable.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 138
From: cyberspace NY
New Chinese Rock auto distributor is in. $65, car runs great. No more stalling, no more hunting idle. Still need to time it. I just dropped in the distributor where it was..