Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

[Mark E.]

Eight years ago, Joe Lucia recommended the Accel 8124 cap/rotor set.

Today, any opinions about choices for top-shelf cap/rotor sets? I'm not worried about judging, but prefer a stock looking black cap. My short list:

Accel 8124
MSD 5500
ACDelco C349 Professional (cap only; I couldn't find a cap/rotor set. Cap looks nice, but their rotors look marginal, IMO)

Others?

I prefer cap/rotor sets, thinking the rotor tip length is matched to the cap.

[Frank P.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

Mark:
I have used the Accel products on my 65, 58 and 77 for many years without any problems. I keep a stock of points and condensers in the garage and have carried spare caps and rotors on all trips but never had to use them. My cars are drivers to Canada, South Carolina, Boston and more.
Frank

[Gary R.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

I used to stock up on Standard Ignition parts. They had a basic stock black cap but I like the blue caps with brass contacts. I haven't had to buy them in a long time so don't know if they have changed or not.

[Larry M.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

Reproduction Delco 308 caps and reproduction Delco 409 rotors with the extended tip are available. Available from many of the Corvette/GM aftermarket suppliers. They will look like originals and should also perform well. A Standard Products cap and rotor from NAPA should also be a good, but lower cost choice.

Larry

[Joe C.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

Look in your last issue of the Driveline since they advertise there. I can't remember the name, but believe it's a pair of letters, like D & M or such. The rotor is very thick, rigid and high quality, however; the best feature of their rotor is the fact that the rotor tip is extended the way they were in pre HEI days to give the proper rotor-to-cap air gap.

[Edward J.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

Mark, look in the Driveline, there is a company that marks a very high quality cap and rotor and ignition wire sets, K&B Corvette I believe is the name. they are the one's that make the extended tip rotor which you'll want, just for your info. most of the name brand ignition parts today are made in China and really don't like any of them. I did a complete tune- up a friends 68 327/350 engine and everything is a quality part, wires were exact lengths, heavy duty style dist. cap and the rotor closes the gap on like the original factory, if you have time order the parts I PROMISE YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!

[Douglas L.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

I don't know if they make them anymore but MSD used to ship their Pro-billet distributors with the red cap and rotor set(before they went to the HEI style towers) that were extremely high quality and direct fit on the GM points type distributor.

[Mark E.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

Mark, look in the Driveline, there is a company that marks a very high quality cap and rotor and ignition wire sets, K&B Corvette I believe is the name. they are the one's that make the extended tip rotor which you'll want, just for your info. most of the name brand ignition parts today are made in China and really don't like any of them. I did a complete tune- up a friends 68 327/350 engine and everything is a quality part, wires were exact lengths, heavy duty style dist. cap and the rotor closes the gap on like the original factory, if you have time order the parts I PROMISE YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!

Thanks Joe and Edward. I looked (really squinted) through the PDF version of Driveline and saw a couple of display ads by K&B. I remember one was about a TI upgrade, but neither mentioned offering cap/rotor/points for OEM distributors. Maybe it's a text ad?

[Mark E.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

I don't know if they make them anymore but MSD used to ship their Pro-billet distributors with the red cap and rotor set(before they went to the HEI style towers) that were extremely high quality and direct fit on the GM points type distributor.

Thanks Douglas. I don't know about the specific product you mention, but I purchased the MSD 5500 cap/rotor kit a few years ago. The materials and construction look robust, featuring brass terminals and a high quality rotor. They're black so look stock from 2 feet away.

[Dan A.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

Mark,

I've used their products and have been very satisfied. I think this is their website: http://www.kandbcorvetteproducts.com/

[Larry M.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

Mark,

I've used their products and have been very satisfied. I think this is their website: http://www.kandbcorvetteproducts.com/

They are the source of the products I mentioned in my Post #5. Not certain that they sell directly to individuals, but they mainly wholesale to the various Corvette and GM Parts houses. You can call and inquire, or simply buy from one of their distributors.

Larry

[Donald O.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

What is an extended tip rotor?
If the tip of the rotor is extended, won't it come into contact with the cap and its 8 contacts and crack the cap to pieces? Is this extension measured from the center of the rotating rotor axis or some how else?

Don

[Gene M.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

I think you will find the copper or brass contact distributor cap and a long rotor that gives about .020" gap will work best. But I also feel the plug wires is the most overlooked part of the ignition. Packard 440 solid strand wires is my choice with good brass contacts and quality boots. You will need to make them up yourself. This assumes the coil, plugs, points, & condenser are good quality USA pieces.

[Mark E.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

What is an extended tip rotor?
If the tip of the rotor is extended, won't it come into contact with the cap and its 8 contacts and crack the cap to pieces? Is this extension measured from the center of the rotating rotor axis or some how else? Don

Don, I've also wondered about the distinction about extended tip rotors. Furthermore, I'm not sure how the rotor tip-to-cap terminal gap can be measured. Maybe using Plastigage or putting putty between the rotor and cap?

I suspect the rotor to cap clearance varies, especially if brands are mixed. That's why I like to buy them as a set from the same brand and product line. The idea is they would be designed together to achieve the proper gap. But I don't know how much design attention is actually given to this.

I remember as a kid in the 1970s when I installed an Accel cap and rotor. When I started the engine, I heard tic-tic-tic-tic... from the distributor. It turned out the rotor tip was tapping against the cap's terminals. Poor quality control I guess. So I understand your concern about this.

[Edward J.]

Re: Best replacement distributor cap and rotor?

What is an extended tip rotor?
If the tip of the rotor is extended, won't it come into contact with the cap and its 8 contacts and crack the cap to pieces? Is this extension measured from the center of the rotating rotor axis or some how else?

Don

Don, the extended tip is just a figure of speech, all the current replacements have a larger gap between the rotor tip and the posts on the cap. As Gene states they gap is near correct , there is no contact like you might think.