mid year distributor

[Lee T.]

I recently purchased a 1965 Roadster with a 327 non matching block.
It has a correct aluminum intake manifold for a 1965 327/350-365HP engine.
The tag on my distributor is coded:
1111069 DELCO REMY 8 G 22

While my tech manual says that 1111069 is a standard distributor for a 327/365hp, the last numbers/alpha are confusing me. I read the manual to say this represents the date data and understand it to mean 8 for 1968, G for July, and 22 for the 22nd day of the month.
I also have a 68-69 tech manual where I checked for distributor codes and do not find 1111069 listed at all.

Can someone tell me if this distributor is in fact a 1965 327/365hp distributor, or otherwise what it is.

This car has not been restored and the engine has been in it for ~30 years +.

[Wayne M.]

Re: mid year distributor

Can someone tell me if this distributor is in fact a 1965 327/365hp distributor, or otherwise what it is.

Lee -- the '069' distributor was made available in service for many years after the 1965 model year. I bought one from the GM dealer about 1981, and it has a red band (both sides) dated 0D23, which I guess was April 1980. Maybe yours is 1978. If it has a hole in the face of the casting opposite the tach drive gear (to hold the tit of the nylon thrust button), then it's definitely post mid-1970.

I'm sure the spec's of yours are correct for 1965. What is the vacuum advance can stamping ? On mine they used the correct MS_236_16, even 15 years after regular production '069's ceased.

[Lee T.]

Re: mid year distributor

I don't find a hole opposite the tach drive gear and I don't find any numbers on my vaccum advance can. Where should the numbers on the can be located?

[Jack H.]

Re: mid year distributor

Remove the distributor cap. Look STRAIGHT DOWN, behind the vac advance can where the assy installs onto/into the distributor. You ought to see the numbers referenced...

[Stuart F.]

Re: mid year distributor

Lee;

If you're having trouble seeing the number under the plate, attach a Mityvac to the nipple on the VAC and suck it full open to move the plate to full advance. I use mine to change cans as it makes for easy access to the mounting screws (2), as well as to look at the numbers.

Stu Fox

[Lee T.]

Re: mid year distributor

Got it. MS 236 16

[Stuart F.]

Re: mid year distributor

What I wouldn't give for a correct spec #236 (B28). Want to trade for a brand new one from Paragon? Says 236 on it, trouble is it acts like a 355 (B20) under test. #236's that meet spec (all in at 8") are real hard to find. I've been beating the bushes for one for a number of months now, and ordered 4, none of which would meet spec.

Stu fox

[Timothy B.]

Re: mid year distributor

Stuart,

I purchased one from NAPA and it is well within spec and works great, all in at 8" about 15* Give them a try.

[Stuart F.]

Re: mid year distributor

Tim;

I did just that a few weeks back. NAPA consolidated their VAC's under one number; VC1765. Their VC1820 is what I wanted, but that is now grouped under VC1765. They found one in Atlanta under that number so special ordered it in for me. It turns out by test to be a #355 equiv., all in at approx. 12".

How long ago did you get yours? They use a computer stystem check too now, so if one is available anywhere it would flag it. None were.
Discount Auto parts checked their computer as well and it indicated all brands they handled (about 4) over the past number of years were consolidated down to a "Sorenson Electric" part number, and even none of those could be found. That was why I said some time back that someone is hoarding those #236's, and all the known equivalents and will probably be offering them on E-Bay soon for big bucks.

I haven't stopped trying. I've got one on order from "gmpartsdirect" and another from Volunteer Vette Products in Tenn. The Volvette people will test the item when they receive it on July 7 to be certain it meets spec, then ship to me if it does. What was recently a $10. or $11. dollar item is already up to $40. from them.

There is a rumor that some NCRS fellows are planning to offer a repro soon that meets specs. Perhaps they may be doing the hoarding now as well. Guess that's business. More power to them for recognizing a market, but that doesn't help me complete my project now.

Stu Fox

[Timothy B.]

Re: mid year distributor

Why don't you buy one of the adjustable vacuum advances from a speed shop and taylor it perfect until one comes along that is of your liking. I think they are only about 10 bucks.

[Stuart F.]

Re: mid year distributor

Tim;

Ironically, I do have one and went to pull it out recently as my last resort. I even adjusted it using my Mityvac and was already to proceed with it when I realized it was a little too big - yup, it was for an HEI distributor. I guess I dismissed the idea at that point.

It's not that critical as mine is a 340 hp 63, and I'm just trying to improve it by having it meet Dule's 2" rule. It does as long as it is idling at 13 to 14" full warm. The installed B20 usually is all in at 11.5 to 12", but out on the road it heats up a little more and can dip down to idling @ 11 to 13" which causes some stumbling and hesitation as the VAC is hunting.

Maybe I will go shopping for an adjustable for my SB distributor. Maybe I'll have to!

Thanks for reminding me.

Stu Fox