1110946 distributor oiler tube production change question

[Dan B.]

According to the NCRS 58-60 JG the distributor should have an oiling tube. I have done some research on my own and concluded from inspecting MANY 1110946 base model 58-60 distributors and tags that it appears that sometime in 1959 the oiler tube was eliminated as well as the casting itself changing to accommodate just a flat oil flap while the part number remained the same. Does anyone have any information about this and in judging, would a deduct occur?? The earliest production tag I saw without the oiler tube was 9G 29 (July 29, 1959). I also find it interesting that nowhere in any of the books is this documented, yet the different parts do exist. Dan

[Dan B.]

Re: 1110946 distributor oiler tube production change question


Here is a photo tag is 9G29 any thoughts on when production changed?? Notice flush mounted oil cap (no tube). I have it narrowed down to somewhere between Feb and July now.

Anyone with a 59 produced near the end of the model run (July or august) that could supply some info on the date of the tag and what type of distributor would be helpful in narrowing the time line. thanks

[Dan B.]

Re: 1110946 distributor oiler tube production change question

Anyone with a 59 produced AFTER Jan 59 that can help??

[Richard M.]

Re: 1110946 distributor oiler tube production change question

Dan, Not sure if any of this will help but attached is a distributor identification article.

I glanced at it and only mentions the Standpipe Oiler for all 0946's. No mention of change to side only oiler.

Rich

[Dan B.]

Re: 1110946 distributor oiler tube production change question

Thanks Rich, that is pretty much what Corvette by the Numbers says as well and what the judging guide says, BUT the changed parts do exist and I have yet to see an original 946 distributor produced after August 1959 (or a 60 for that matter) that still has the pipe. They all look like the picture above. I only stumbled on to this because my car is a very late 59 produced in Aug 1959 and the actual parts I see in that date range don't jive with the explanations in the books. I am thinking there is a mistake in the JG. Dan

[Brad K.]

Re: 1110946 distributor oiler tube production change question

My '59 270hp car is a late serial #8519 (produced 6/23/59) with a dual point 1110891 centrifugal advance distributor and is equipped with an oiling tube about 4-5 inches long with two 90 degree bends that is threaded into the side of the distributor with a GITS type flip top oil fill hole on the other end....hope this helps

My distributor is similar in outward appearance as the 1110847 distributor in Rich Mozzetta's attached file

[Richard M.]

Re: 1110946 distributor oiler tube production change question

Dan, Here's one on Ebay that has the side oiler, no pipe, date 9J14

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1110946-CHEVY-DISTRIBUTOR-DATE-CODED-9J14-CORVETTE-283-SBC-GM-CAP-ROTOR-IGNITION-/322035168248?hash=item4afacab3f8:m:mQTKRf3-SzlE99pE_-S8s7w&vxp=mtr

s-l400.jpg s-l400.jpg

Here's another but no date....It has the pipe.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1110946-DISTRIBUTOR-CORVETTE-RESTORED-ORIGINAL-WITH-AC-DELCO-CAP-/141910136208?hash=item210a80d590:g:4vQAAOSwKtlWsTHX&vxp=mtr

s-l400.jpg

Another, 8L3, with pipe.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-1960-1961-Chevy-Corvette-distributor-1110946-for-230-HP-engines-/201539159439?hash=item2eecab858f:g:K9gAAOSw0e9UrxL0&vxp=mtr

s-l400.jpg

[Dan B.]

Re: 1110946 distributor oiler tube production change question

My '59 270hp car is a late serial #8519 (produced 6/23/59) with a dual point 1110891 centrifugal advance distributor and is equipped with an oiling tube about 4-5 inches long with two 90 degree bends that is threaded into the side of the distributor with a GITS type flip top oil fill hole on the other end....hope this helps

My distributor is similar in outward appearance as the 1110847 distributor in Rich Mozzetta's attached file

Dan, Here's one on Ebay that has the side oiler, no pipe, date 9J14

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1110946-CHEVY-DISTRIBUTOR-DATE-CODED-9J14-CORVETTE-283-SBC-GM-CAP-ROTOR-IGNITION-/322035168248?hash=item4afacab3f8:m:mQTKRf3-SzlE99pE_-S8s7w&vxp=mtr

[ATTACH=CONFIG]69257[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]69258[/ATTACH]

Here's another but no date....It has the pipe.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1110946-DISTRIBUTOR-CORVETTE-RESTORED-ORIGINAL-WITH-AC-DELCO-CAP-/141910136208?hash=item210a80d590:g:4vQAAOSwKtlWsTHX&vxp=mtr

[ATTACH=CONFIG]69259[/ATTACH]

Another, 8L3, with pipe.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-1960-1961-Chevy-Corvette-distributor-1110946-for-230-HP-engines-/201539159439?hash=item2eecab858f:g:K9gAAOSw0e9UrxL0&vxp=mtr

[ATTACH=CONFIG]69260[/ATTACH]

I have NOT tried to research the dual point distributors, but it is evident that the SINGLE point distributors changed. Rich, I appreciate your input, in fairness to the research, I am only considering distributors such as the ones you present that have their ORIGINAL tags still on them. I am hoping some people who have late 59's (and I know there are a few out here with late vin numbers close to mine) will see this and give input. IIRC there was a previous discussion on the hood latches and the change over point in 59 and the inconsistencies that discussion produced and many with late cars chimed in. I think it is just one of those weird things that kind of went under everyone's radar and we assumed the JG was correct.

[Troy P.]

Re: 1110946 distributor oiler tube production change question

There are several errors in the article relative to the 55 Corvette distributor. So those of you that may be looking for 55 info be careful of what you read there.

For example, the 55 Corvette distributor did not have a oil tube. It had a grease cup that screwed into the side of the distributor that you turned every now and then to force more grease into the distributor. This can be seen below and to the left of the vacuum advance in this photo.Phinney 55 183.jpg

[Mike E.]

Re: 1110946 distributor oiler tube production change question

Wasn't the 946 also used on tens of thousands of passenger cars in that era?

[Dan B.]

Re: 1110946 distributor oiler tube production change question

Yes Mike it was along with the 1110947 which was essentially the exact same distributor parts wise (as far as I can tell) except for the way it was set up. Both had the oil tubes in the beginning of the model year in 59 and they both changed at some mid year point in 1959.