1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

[Steve M.]

I am restoring a 1969 350/350 distributor. The aluminum tag has some orange overspray on a portion of it and the distributor. In the drawings in Corvette's By The Numbers it mentions a 'paint dot' as does the latest Judging Guide. I did not see a paint dot when I removed it. Question: Should the aluminum band be clean with no paint? And is there supposed to be overspray on the distributor body?
Thanks for the help. Steve

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

Yes and no

[Steve M.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

Thanks for the information.
Steve

[Peter S.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

Hi Steve,

The aluminum tag should be clean and there should be no overspray on the body. The orange "dot" is on the body of the distributor next to the vacuum advance. Here is a picture where you can faintly see the orange splotch, you'd most likely cast it off as maybe surface rust.



Here is a picture of one on ebay as well.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

What is the significance of the 2 wires from the base (as opposed to a single primary wire)?? We're the 69's all TI or are the from aftermarket conversions??

Stu Fox

[Peter S.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

Hi Stu,

This diagram should help explain it: http://www.tispecialty.com/articles/66-71diagram.htm

TI was an option in '69. It was not available with the base model 350ci/300HP, and was a requirement for the L71, L89 and L88 motors, and optional for the L46, L36 and L68.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

While there "shouldn't" be orange overspray on the base of the distributor I have seen it on original cars. I have never been deducted for it on my cars, nor have I deducted it on others I've seen.

So, if you have it and believe it to be original you would not necessarily need to remove it.

Patrick

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

Thanks Peter for the info. That's about what I figured. I specially appreciate the diagram as I expect to get involved with my son's 69 L-89 in the near future. I did his tri-power before, but it still has problems starting well with a typical "too advanced" buck, and we have yet to uncover the ignition.

Stu Fox

[John H.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

...there should be no overspray on the body.

I'll disagree with that. The distributor was in place when the engine was painted, with a coffee can inverted over the distributor as a paint mask, and it was quite common to have engine orange overspray on the lower portion of the distributor housing and/or on the hold-down clamp and bolt.

[Peter S.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

That's an interesting fact John, thanks. Just to clarify, if someone is restoring their distributor would you apply overspray to the body? I know I'm playing semantics, but when we say "typical factory production" that could be synonymous with "quite common." I truly am asking because I am a month from engine painting.

[John H.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

That's an interesting fact John, thanks. Just to clarify, if someone is restoring their distributor would you apply overspray to the body? I know I'm playing semantics, but when we say "typical factory production" that could be synonymous with "quite common." I truly am asking because I am a month from engine painting.

Peter -

I don't do mine that way, as some folks just get carried away with overspray; from a judging perspective, it shouldn't matter either way - with or without was "typical".

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

I'll disagree with that. The distributor was in place when the engine was painted, with a coffee can inverted over the distributor as a paint mask, and it was quite common to have engine orange overspray on the lower portion of the distributor housing and/or on the hold-down clamp and bolt.

John,
That was true in some of the mid-years (maybe even all of them) but not for 1968 and newer. for 1968 and newer both engine plants painted the engine before the distributor was installed.

[John H.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

John,
That was true in some of the mid-years (maybe even all of them) but not for 1968 and newer. for 1968 and newer both engine plants painted the engine before the distributor was installed.

Terry -

Yup -

I missed the "1969" in the thread title, and I'm mired in 1967....

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 Distributor Aluminum Band Question

Terry -

Yup -

I missed the "1969" in the thread title, and I'm mired in 1967....

Every once in a while I get lured into C2 land, usually with negative results.