1958 Dual Point Distributor

[Gerald C.]

I have one of these without the cap and it's in pretty good condtion. Dataplate in tact, etc.
Can anyone tell me what this is worth as I'm looking to sell it and have no idea what it's worth.

I have a 1963 and have no need for this part.

Thanks,

Jerry

[John D.]

Re: 1958 Dual Point Distributor

I have one of these without the cap and it's in pretty good condtion. Dataplate in tact, etc.
Can anyone tell me what this is worth as I'm looking to sell it and have no idea what it's worth.

I have a 1963 and have no need for this part.

Thanks,

Jerry

Jerry,My friend bought one at the BG show last week for 75 buks. Typically they are in the $100 range though. FI's though a few buks more JD

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1958 Dual Point Distributor

Gerry;

Your 63, like mine, is one C-2 that could benefit by using a 58 dual point (NO VAC) distributor. 63 was Chevy's first SHP with a vacuum advance VAC and they stuck the can from the standard 250/300 hp engines on the 340 and 360 hp engines (W/Duntov cam). It's full advance comes in at a vacuum point higher than these engines idle at! They corrected the problem in later years, but that is why you see us 63 owners scurrying around trying to get a VAC can from a later year SHP to correct our driveability problems. Who knows, it may even account for some of your overheat problem. I'm not saying you should hang onto that 58 distributor for that reason, but I would if I had it. I used to love the old dual points. With a little recurve, you could really make them work. And you never had to worry about tipping or sticking plates, etc.

Stu Fox

[John D.]

Re: 1958 Dual Point Distributor

Gerry;

Your 63, like mine, is one C-2 that could benefit by using a 58 dual point (NO VAC) distributor. 63 was Chevy's first SHP with a vacuum advance VAC and they stuck the can from the standard 250/300 hp engines on the 340 and 360 hp engines (W/Duntov cam). It's full advance comes in at a vacuum point higher than these engines idle at! They corrected the problem in later years, but that is why you see us 63 owners scurrying around trying to get a VAC can from a later year SHP to correct our driveability problems. Who knows, it may even account for some of your overheat problem. I'm not saying you should hang onto that 58 distributor for that reason, but I would if I had it. I used to love the old dual points. With a little recurve, you could really make them work. And you never had to worry about tipping or sticking plates, etc.

Stu Fox

Stu, I always enjoy your posts friend but somethings I have to think twice what you told me about u buying ur 63 brand new. I really don't think a 58 distributor would make ur 63 run that much better though. Now I am thinking of the 891 distributor. I don't think it has a provision for the tach cable does it? Maybe I have the wrong model number. JD

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1958 Dual Point Distributor

John;

I was wondering if someone would catch that - I often find myself drifting back to my pre-Corvette days when I raced a 57 Bel Air Post in the midwest. The dual point was my favorite distributor. I had tried a W&H Dual coil (not in B/S) and always came back to old reliable. As for the tach, I still have an old two piece Sun Electric unit with both an 8 cyl. and a 4 cyl. sending unit (the latter being for the W&H). I keep a fully assembled non-tach drive distributor on hand just in case (or should I say when) my 63 tach drive distributor fails. When I say fully assembled, I use Petronix II electronics and have a pickup already in the back up, and a new cap & rotor. It has, however, a B20 VAC, but I could live with that for a while. I also have a fully rebuilt back up AFB, but it is a 3720SA.

Guess I just got a little emotional when I saw the thread about the 58 dual point - lots of good memories.

Stu Fox

[Gerald C.]

Re: 1958 Dual Point Distributor

Thanks everyone. I'll advertise the dual point for about $100. Has anyone put electronic ignition in their 63? I saw it advertised as the most relaibel repalcement for the points.

Jerry

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1958 Dual Point Distributor

Jerry;

I've been using electronic ignition in my 63 since the mid 80's. I started with a Montgomery Wards unit made by Prestolite. It used the Hall Effect and an external box encapsulated in Epoxy, along with a Mallory Magspark Transformer (coil). It's main problem came down to small pin connectors that were made of rolled brass. They would break internally and you'd be dead in the water for no apparent reason. The other problem was with the wires to the pickup in the distributor. Their insulation would become hard and brittle over exposure to the heat and cold conditions. That would cause the VAC (plate) to hang up. I beat the problems with silicon jacketed wires to the pickup and faston connectors, but I never liked all that aftermarket junk in my engine compartment.

I retired that system in favor of a Petronix unit with magnetic triggering and a stock coil. It worked good for a few years, but I was thinking my engine needed some work as I would get break up at higher RPM's. I thought perhaps my valve springs had relaxed after so many years. Then I picked up a Petronix II unit from a vendor at the winter meet and replaced the original unit with it, as well as their high voltage coil. Their coil requires a 12 volt input instead of the step down 8 volts for stock. I bypassed my resistor with a jumper wire (black) around the back so it isn't so apparent. With that set up my engine has come back to life and will pull redline at will. So, now I have all the best attributes of electronic ignition; precision timing and dwell so that my plugs last and don't foul each time I get bogged down in traffic, plus the ignition power necessary to allow the engine to realize it's maximum potential at high RPM's.

The Petronix unit is simple, uses a two wire hook up, all of which is under the shield. The April 2006 Corvette Fever Magazine has a good article about rehabing a Vette distributor along with installation of a Petronix II system.

There are a number of other good systems out there that may work equally as well, including one that uses a single primary wire into the distributor, in case that's important to you (looks like you still have points).

Stu Fox