New distributor

Discussion in 'Sparky's corner' started by SCamaroSS2000, May 7, 2017.

  1. SCamaroSS2000

    SCamaroSS2000 Well-Known Member

    What distributor do you recommend that will fit under the stock 1970 GS350 air cleaner? I would prefer all in one unit, adjustable vacuum cannister for rate and total and something that has the latest bells and whistles. Thanks.
     
  2. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

  3. SCamaroSS2000

    SCamaroSS2000 Well-Known Member

    Will it fit under the GS air cleaner? Where can I get the 350 gear?
     
  4. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Yes, it will fit under the air cleaner, the HEI will not. Try calling MSD for the gear. They make a Pro Billet distributor for the SBB. It should be the same gear. Not sure if a GM gear will work.
     
  5. SCamaroSS2000

    SCamaroSS2000 Well-Known Member

    Well, I called MSD. There is no way for them to put a 350 gear on the ready to run 455 distributor. I guess there is a different housing. Also, the 350 distributor does not come with vacuum advance.

    So now I am looking at this:
    A petronix ready to run, the problem with it is that is says is will not clear the 350 stock air cleaner. Is this really the case? Has any one ran it with the stock air cleaner on a 70 GS350?
    D151710 Billet dist for Buick 215-350
     
  6. tdacton

    tdacton Gold Level Contributor

  7. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    That's strange, the 350 and 455 stock distributors can be used in either engine with a gear change. I'm not sure you got the right information from MSD.

    The Pertronix distributor is a GM big cap HEI clone. That's why it won't fit under pressure the GS air cleaner.
     
  8. SCamaroSS2000

    SCamaroSS2000 Well-Known Member

    You are probably right. How he was explaining it wasn't making sense. I think it is more of a liability thing, so they won't do it, not that it couldn't work. I was on hold for 20 minutes waiting just to talk to someone, then when they answered, the guy had to talk with tech people which took 10 minutes. So I was basically was tired of waiting. And if they can't do it, they would never warranty it. I bought a petronix ready to run distributor. Looking at the dimensions, it should fit, just be very tight. Is it 5" wide and then a little less than 9" from top of the cap to the base that mates to the block. I really hope it fits. It appears to be the same size as the MSD dimensions listed in the literature. Am I wrong?
     
  9. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    The billet distributors that Pertronix sells look to be the same size as a GM points distributor. If that is the one you bought, it will fit.
     
  10. SCamaroSS2000

    SCamaroSS2000 Well-Known Member

    Yes, it is. It appears to be less wide than the MSD billet at 5" versus 5 1/8" but a little longer, about 1 inch longer. At the angle they are at it may be 0.5 inches taller. So I think it will be close and we will see this weekend. I hope it comes with a vacuum advance lockout. I couldn't get the answer through the literature I was reading and didn't feel like calling them. I assume it does.
     
  11. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    So you order a vacuum advance distributor, but you want to lock out the vacuum advance? Why?
     
  12. SCamaroSS2000

    SCamaroSS2000 Well-Known Member

    Sorry, not lock out so it can't be used, I meant to lock the total amount of degrees it adds. I guess they are called adjustable canisters, where rate and total can be adjusted? I have read your post and was in the process of setting my timing for my stock distributor and doing the vacuum canister mod with the metal piece and screws that only allows the canister pin to travel a short distance. I noticed that the distributor seems very worn out and the mechanical advance lobes didn't open freely. One kind of stuck actually and didn't seem to open completely.
     
  13. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Doesn't look like they are adjustable for rate, but you should be able to limit them the same way you limit a stock canister. I was looking at the Pertronix catalog just now. The foot notes say it will not clear the GS air cleaner. PertronixDistPage.jpg
     
  14. SCamaroSS2000

    SCamaroSS2000 Well-Known Member

    Yup, that is why I reached out. I have seen it a few places but I am thinking it will just squeeze in. I could be wrong... I will know this weekend. It is supposed to arrive today.
     
  15. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    You may be able to gain a bit of clearance if you use a socket style ignition wire like the stock points distributor used. The HEI used a taller distributor end and the towers may be taller on the cap. I don't know exactly which one you ordered.
     
  16. SCamaroSS2000

    SCamaroSS2000 Well-Known Member

    It came with the female cap, so socket style. I ordered the male version as well. My current cap is a male and that is how my wires are. I will try that first, if it does not fit, I will go the female cap route and change my plug ends.
     
  17. SCamaroSS2000

    SCamaroSS2000 Well-Known Member

    Well I received the distributor, the vacuum advance is not adjustable. Does anyone know the adjustable cannister for the pertronix? All the ones I am seeing are not for the ready to run Buick 350 distributor. They are for HEI. They are closed other wise I would call them.
     
  18. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Compare it to a stock vacuum advance canister. If they are the same, perhaps you can use the Crane unit.
     
  19. SCamaroSS2000

    SCamaroSS2000 Well-Known Member

    I received the distributer and bought a pertonix adjustable vacuum advance. It didn't come with an Allen wrench and I have tried a bunch of sizes including the 3/32 that seems to be the common size. I do not feel anything catching though when inserting into the cannister nipple. What am I doing wrong? There was no instructions and sure enough it's the weekend again and they are closed.
     
  20. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Why do you think it is adjustable? Got a link to the one you bought, or a picture?
     

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