hz900

1990 auto

Need to buy a distributor, the whole thing (mine got toasted). How good is the stocker cause I was thinking aftermarket.

I'm probably going to try and find one on ebay because I was looking today and they are about half the price of new for slightly used setups.

What I need to know is:

-What Brand
-Specs I need or compatible model numbers
-what kind of drive gear
-what kind of electrical components

I am hoping to get a few different suggestions so it won't limit my search so much to just one model number.

Thanks

65Z01

MAM sells complete DUI 9-pin distributors with 50kV output and screw-down caps for '87-'91 Vettes for $290, which means they can be had for around $200 or so elsewhere.

MrRenoman

My stock distributor has gone over 175K miles and keeps on ticking. I just recentely replaced the pickup coil and ignition module. Also over time Ive replace a few caps, rotors, and the coil once. Pretty dependable if you ask me.

Art

hz900

I'll agree that the stocker is dependable, my last corvette went over 200k with the stocker. But I'm pulling the motor this winter for other reasons but while I've got it out I am contemplating beefing it up a bit and would like a distributor to perform along with what ever setup I go with. I am hoping to learn from this thread if there is any significant gain in performance/horsepower from the aftermarket distributors and ignition systems.

pablocruise

The aftermarket ones are nice and all, but really they have the same things inside and accomplish the same job. The stock ones are totally fine for what they do. The 48K volt coil is overkill, the module with "extra long dwell" isn't that big of a diff, the CNC machined bodies are real nice looking, but don't improve anything.

You could very easily rebuild a dist. As long as the body and rotor shaft are straight.
A new pick up coil is $15.00 bux from GM, a new gear is around that from GM, the coil is readily found most places, as is the module, rotor and cap. That special heat sink grease for under the module is needed but alittle harder to find.
The autozone type places sell distributors in that exact way. Used bodies and shafts with new components. However they re-use the wiring that was in there, and sometimes it is old and brittle.

cv67

I noticed 0 difference with aftermarket module, coil, etc except a lighter wallet. Took it all back and put it back to stock. Don't know if this helps or not

USAsOnlyWay

I hear the difference does it come into play till you really dip into the upper rpm. Since you are running an L98, I can't see it being an issue unless you go Miniram and start reving way up. I am sure with all the Bigmouth/SR setups the stock still winds up far enough fine.

65Z01

If you stay with the stock L98 power band stay with the stock dist; if you plan on mods to extend the power band to say 6k RPM just install a HyperTech coil/cap/rotor for 54kV output that will fire reliably into that range.

conv90

and what about the advantage to spread a bit more the spark plugs gap?
If this is real, this can be a good advantage to burn better the mixture... even at lower rpm.
-Beppe-

RacerX70CC

The stock HEI is a near bulletproof unit... My advice is unless your housing is totaly unusable, simply rebuild it with quality parts. Cap and rotors are considered consumables, so they don't really count toward replacement cost. All you need is a pickup coil and a module to rebuild (assuming the housing's good). Look at the wiring harness inside it and make sure it's not worn through (not usually an issue), and the best mod you can do to ANY HEI distributor is to shim the end play down to around .007 to .015 (stock it's near a quarter inch on some!). This is done by placing shims under the drive gear which is removed to replace the pickup coil. Put it all back together and drop it back in.

Hope this helps!

onedef92

You can get a tube of the dielectric grease for your ignition module at NAPA for under $2. Sometimes, new modules come with a packet in the box.

Strike3

Hay hz900,

I just went through the same thing a month or two ago with my 87. It seems there are tons of great distributors for cars with vacuum advance, but those for computer controlled cars are rare. I researched for weeks, making many phone calls.
The best solution I found was when I finally called D.U.I. in Memphis, TN, at (901) 396-5782.

They will custom tune a brand new distributor to your car, if you have mods like gear change, cam, etc., and get it to you for less than you can overhaul yours for. Give them a call.

1MoorTym

Both the body and shaft are available through the dealer. When I rebuilt mine, I bought new everything from the dealer.

Worked out cheaper than an aftermarket distributor - and as others have said, the stock distributor is probably as good as any aftermarket one for the rpm range it going to see.

CFI-EFI

How do you "custom tune" an ECM controlled distributor??? It sounds like you just swallowed a big dose of snake oil.

RACE ON!!!

HeeHaw89

Yeah, sounds like

Strike3

My mistake. I actually bought 2 distributors. One was for my 1980 L-82... That's the one that required all my specs. The one for my 87 came with the hp module, all new wiring of course, 50K volt coil, hp cap and rotor and for less than the parts cost from GM.

grapidssteve

Beware of a rebuilt distributor. I went that route on my '85 and after a year, the pick-up coil went on it and that was a bear to find. I suffered for 5-6 weeks during the summer with intermitant starting issues and trying to track this problem down sucked. Once figured out, it was only $16 to fix, but the loss of the car and the unreliability was a pain. The knowledge gained was valuable, however.

mash557

I'm rebuilding mine with GM parts from dealer. Also replaced all wiring and that was only an addition 20-30 bucks. (connector bodies had broken latches). Will have to look into that shimming thing.