1957 908 distributor cap copper terminals

[Mike M.]

Re: 1957 908 distributor cap copper terminals

been judging for near 40 years and have never pulled a plug wire or removed a distributor caps to check for aluminum vs copper terminals. if I had a set of carbon cored plug wires, I refuse to pull a plug wire out of the cap and take the deduction as pulling on a repo carbon cored plug wire would probably destroy the plug wire. I would remove the cap so the judge could check the inner aspect of the 8 terminals. I probably wouldn't remove the cap on a 65-67 427 as the ground wire removal would be ultra time consuming. mike

[Steven B.]

Re: 1957 908 distributor cap copper terminals

Dit-Ohhhhh

[John D.]

Re: 1957 908 distributor cap copper terminals

At the PA regional (August 2017) there was a gorgeous 53 Corvette. Right behind my table as I was greeting everyone that came in the door for $$, etc. Anyhow when the show was over the poor car refused to start.
All the gurus were gathered around the car but no luck.
Bunch of guys pushed it onto a trailer. After the show I talked to the owner and asked what was the reason the car wouldn't fire up. He said the problem was the distributor cap and rotor. You know who you are.

True story. JD

[Don B.]

Re: 1957 908 distributor cap copper terminals

Joe, John didn't answer your question so I will. I believe, based on the prints, that the cap in your picture is a 1931513. It may have been in a can marked 1917247, but if it has copper contacts its a 1931513.

[John D.]

Re: 1957 908 distributor cap copper terminals

Joe, John didn't answer your question so I will. I believe, based on the prints, that the cap in your picture is a 1931513. It may have been in a can marked 1917247, but if it has copper contacts its a 1931513.

Just opened a second NOS 1931513 cap. That's two I opened for Dan Patch's post. Both caps are '513 caps.
So next I opened a 247 Nos box for the first time. Aluminum.

Don Baker said he has told us everything he knows about the caps. I believe I have also. Thanks all for your imput.
See you on the next new post. Much appreciated. John

[Joe L.]

Re: 1957 908 distributor cap copper terminals

Joe, John didn't answer your question so I will. I believe, based on the prints, that the cap in your picture is a 1931513. It may have been in a can marked 1917247, but if it has copper contacts its a 1931513.

Don------


Do you have a blueprint for the GM #1917247 cap? If so, what is the date on it (should be in the part number block usually in the lower right corner)? Are there any notations in the revision block?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1957 908 distributor cap copper terminals

Just opened a second NOS 1931513 cap. That's two I opened for Dan Patch's post. Both caps are '513 caps.
So next I opened a 247 Nos box for the first time. Aluminum.

Don Baker said he has told us everything he knows about the caps. I believe I have also. Thanks all for your imput.
See you on the next new post. Much appreciated. John

John------

I have absolutely no doubt that all GM #1931513 caps have copper contacts. You don't need to open another one; you could open a thousand and they'd all have copper contacts. I also have no doubt that at least later GM #1917247 caps had aluminum contacts. The real question is whether early 1917247 caps had copper contacts.

By the way, this is strictly an academic or curiosity exercise. I agree with Mike; the notion that caps or plug wires be removed to check for the type of terminal is the point at which restoration morphs into being a religion. I do not support that transition.

[Don B.]

Re: 1957 908 distributor cap copper terminals

Joe, the print for the 1917247 was drawn on 08-10-50. It says "Insert Material - Aluminum" and there are no Revisions to that note. When Delco designed a part if it was based on, or similar to a previous part they would list that part number in the "Reference" block. The 1917247 drawing has part number 1837974 in the reference block. There is also a "Cross Reference" block on the drawing. Part numbers 1925223 & 1931513 are listed in the cross reference block. I have no information on numbers 1837974 & 1925223.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1957 908 distributor cap copper terminals

Joe, the print for the 1917247 was drawn on 08-10-50. It says "Insert Material - Aluminum" and there are no Revisions to that note. When Delco designed a part if it was based on, or similar to a previous part they would list that part number in the "Reference" block. The 1917247 drawing has part number 1837974 in the reference block. There is also a "Cross Reference" block on the drawing. Part numbers 1925223 & 1931513 are listed in the cross reference block. I have no information on numbers 1837974 & 1925223.

Don------

That's interesting. Apparently, the 1917247 cap was originally released for other than Chevrolet applications since, of course, Chevrolet did not produce an 8 cylinder engine until 1955. So, this cap was probably originally released for Buick, Cadillac, or Oldsmobile applications and, perhaps, some non-GM applications.

The thing I can't figure out about the cap I pictured is that while it's possible the cap is not the one that originally was packed in the pictured box, it's kind of unusual that a somewhat rare part (the 1931513) would end up in a (opened) box for a much more common part (the 1917247). I suppose it could happen, though.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1957 908 distributor cap copper terminals

Don------

That's interesting. Apparently, the 1917247 cap was originally released for other than Chevrolet applications since, of course, Chevrolet did not produce an 8 cylinder engine until 1955. So, this cap was probably originally released for Buick, Cadillac, or Oldsmobile applications and, perhaps, some non-GM applications.

The thing I can't figure out about the cap I pictured is that while it's possible the cap is not the one that originally was packed in the pictured box, it's kind of unusual that a somewhat rare part (the 1931513) would end up in a (opened) box for a much more common part (the 1917247). I suppose it could happen, though.

I have opened string boxes with the same part number having either copper or aluminum contacts. No particular pattern

[John D.]

Re: 1957 908 distributor cap copper terminals

Don------

That's interesting. Apparently, the 1917247 cap was originally released for other than Chevrolet applications since, of course, Chevrolet did not produce an 8 cylinder engine until 1955. So, this cap was probably originally released for Buick, Cadillac, or Oldsmobile applications and, perhaps, some non-GM applications.

The thing I can't figure out about the cap I pictured is that while it's possible the cap is not the one that originally was packed in the pictured box, it's kind of unusual that a somewhat rare part (the 1931513) would end up in a (opened) box for a much more common part (the 1917247). I suppose it could happen, though.

Thanks very much Joe for all your help on this subject. Much appreciated. John