Correct distributor for 1989
 

1989 stock with auto trans

I just received a new distributor, however, it has the spring loaded j clamps to hold down the cap. My old one has screw down cap. I’m thinking this distributor is for an earlier year. Will it make any difference if I use the new distributor?

I have an 85 I was carefull to get the screw down cap as I have been seeing the clamp style. I don't really know or have ever seen the clamp style on the l98. I don't think you can use it.
Good luck

Not sure, but it looks like it will work. All connections are the same. The only difference I can see is how the cap is held down, but I don’t know. Hope someone on this site will know for sure because I have had it so so, I can’t return it

IIRC you will have small froves for the clamps to sit in. I had cars with that. I can see the cap being prone to problems if you just try to hook it on.
Good luck

I just put this one in my car
https://www.pepboys.com/product/deta...205.7L%2520OHV

You should be returning it and getting the correct screw down cap type. When you return it, make sure to tell them it looks like its been installed anyway, and you want a new one that's correct.

I think I m not being clear. I have a complete new HEI distributor for my 89. When I compare it to my current stock distributor, everything looks the same except for the way the cap connects. Even the pig tails connect the same When I did some searches for distributors, I found Early HEIs had j clamps and later distributors had screw down caps. This is an after market distributor, so I don’t know if they just made it that way. What I need to know is what year hei distributors will work in my 89 Incase I was send earlier year then 89 by mistake. I really don’t care how cap is secured, as long as distributor it’s self works. Sorry I wasn’t more clear

What is the 'brand' and 'part #' of what you bought? I understand your question but it might be interesting to actually see what was purchased!

I believe '84 L83 used a conventional twist/spring retention cap.

All L98 I'm quite sure used the threaded screw retained cap and the LB9 (TPI F-body)

If it functions fine use it. The snap on cap is much easier to find.

..... Back in the day when MSD was still awesome I used to buy their J-hook caps (they didn't have them with screws) and cut the hooks off replacing them with the screws from an old cap ... As long as your new distributor has a 7-pin module , a 4 wire connector , and no advance mechanisms (vacuum or mechanical) it will work .....

It’s a Cardone, 84-1869 part number

I'd be maybe concerned with the 4 wire connector on it maybe. Some of the 'stock' images provided by Cardone maybe look to be incorrect.

How about a snapshot of the connector? Never mind I found more than enough to likely substantiate that the connector is correct. It is something to confirm though before getting real far into the replacement.

Last year I bought a cap with J-hooks (1986) and it would not line up correctly with the distributor. You could hook it on if you rotated the cap but otherwise would not work. The timing was way off with it rotated so I returned it and got the screw type. The hooks were sketchy to say the least.

Yes, that is correct. If you decide to keep the distributor, you'll need to remember to purchase an '84 cap at tune-up time.

:cool:

:iagree: You never go wrong with the correct part. Swap it for the right one.

The cap retainer difference raises the question: Do you have an '84 distributor? The '84 L83 distributor seems to be the same as the L98 except for the cap and the drive gear. Corvette America and Corvette Central show this difference. Eckler's just lists a different p/n for the L83, but doesn't explain why. If you really do have an L83 distrib, there may be an alloy incompatibility between the drive gear and your camshaft gear.

:cool:

Cardone part list it for 85 thru 91 corvette. When I take my old one out, I will compare gears. As far as I can tell the only difference is the L clamps vs screw down. If it was made for 84 I don’t think the connectors would match up to my 89

Do you have the FSM for your '89? Compare your distributor connections to my '84 shown here. My sources tell me the connectors and wiring will be the same. It's not possible to see the alloy differences of the gears. Be careful!

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...b8b5488afa.jpg

Why does your distrib cap have spring hooks if it's for the L98? Can you ask your source what the part number would be for an L83 ('84) distributor? Is the p/n different than yours?

I may be wrong, but this would make me worry!

:cool:

[QUOTE=mlm0;1596392616]

My 84 uses the L hooks. For a few years, I was using an ACCEL high performance replacement for the l98 with the screw down cap. They both work and are interchangeable. They with use iron gears and have the same connectors.

:iagree: sorta - I believe you'd prefer the 'Melonized' gear. I'd think this late in the game the Cardone would have a comparable gear used in their offering.

OP - this is all correct and actually after sorting through some old GM SPO information, if HRR wanted a new GM he would have been offered the same 'complete' unit as any L98 out there.

HRR - while sorting that I found something I didn't realize is that for '84 there were 2 distributors, 1103538 & 1103603. The module was the only component that seemed different. It wouldn't have been visibly different with different pin-outs but different. Did they attempt to tweak Dwell?

The HEI cap with screws looks to have first been used by Cadillac.