Distributor Vacuum Can Number Stamping

[Everett Ogilvie]

Can anyone refresh my memory on the part number stamping on the distributor vacuum advance can? Example; 201 15. The 201 is the last three digits of the part number. The 15 is either the inches of vacuum at which the can is fully advanced, or it is the amount of total advance (in degrees) given by the can. Which is it?

[Joe L.]

Re: Distributor Vacuum Can Number Stamping

Everett----

The second set of characters is the total number of degrees of advance which the particular vacuum control produces.

[Duke W.]

Re: Distributor Vacuum Can Number Stamping

Those are crankshaft degrees, not distributor degees. For example, all '63 Corvette engines use the "201 16" can which provides 16 crankshaft degrees and 201 is the last three digits of the "long" part number.

The '65 SHP/FI can is marked "236 16".

Duke

[Dale Pearman]

Re: Distributor Vacuum Can Number Stamping

So what's a "B-31" and a "B-33"?

Dale.

[Joe L.]

Re: Distributor Vacuum Can Number Stamping

Dale-----

I think that this is some sort of aftermarket "encryption" that may be used on non-Delco vaccum controls or Delco "outsourced" vacuum controls that have been sold for the last several years under the original GM and Delco part numbers. Neither GM nor DELPHI have manufactured any parts "in-house" for any pre-75 distributor for many years. All parts which remain available through GM or Delco are, basically, aftermarket-sourced parts which, presumably, meet the GM spec for the particular vacuum control. None of the aftermarket-sourced vacuum controls are embossed with the original-type stampings. In fact, that's how one can tell the originals from the current replacements.

[Duke W.]

Re: Distributor Vacuum Can Number Stamping

The NAPA/Echlin/Borg-Warner vacuum cans are manufactured by Dana Controls, and it looks like the current Delco cans are probably sourced from them and have the aftermarket IDs instead of the last three digits of the long number and total crankshaft advance like the real Delco replacement cans from yesteryear.

Duke