BB L71 Distributor for a '67

[Robert K.]

I have read through the archieves and found some good information on this subject but just wanted to confirm what I thought I read........

Am I correct in understanding that on a BB L71 distributor for a '67 that either style will work as it relates to the full grove or the "partial" groove on the shaft? I think that I've read enough to get as least a understanding of the differences and various thoughts as to why the partial groove was there.....
Does the distributor that is listed for a '67 L71 BB (# 1111258) only come one way? That is, did it have the partial groove or full?

[Joe L.]

Re: BB L71 Distributor for a '67

I have read through the archieves and found some good information on this subject but just wanted to confirm what I thought I read........

Am I correct in understanding that on a BB L71 distributor for a '67 that either style will work as it relates to the full grove or the "partial" groove on the shaft? I think that I've read enough to get as least a understanding of the differences and various thoughts as to why the partial groove was there.....
Does the distributor that is listed for a '67 L71 BB (# 1111258) only come one way? That is, did it have the partial groove or full?

Robert-----


As far as I know, all GM #1111258 had a housing with the "full circumferential groove".

[Robert K.]

Re: BB L71 Distributor for a '67

Joe,

As always, thank you......

Bob

[Joel F.]

Re: BB L71 Distributor for a '67

Does the distributor that is listed for a '67 L71 BB (# 1111258) only come one way? That is, did it have the partial groove or full?

Bob,

Is this question in regards to the distributor on ebay?

Just curious . . .

Joel

[Clem Z.]

Re: BB L71 Distributor for a '67

early BBC has a lot of internal oil leaks like the type of rear cam bearing design so the half groove distributor housing was used the help cut down on the internal leaks. that is what i was told by some people at GM when i inquired about the distributor half groove deal back in the day.

[Joe L.]

Re: BB L71 Distributor for a '67

early BBC has a lot of internal oil leaks like the type of rear cam bearing design so the half groove distributor housing was used the help cut down on the internal leaks. that is what i was told by some people at GM when i inquired about the distributor half groove deal back in the day.

clem-----


Yes, I've always thought that these "half-round" distributor housings were used for 1965-66 big block applications, although I'm not even sure of that. I don't think the use carried over to 1967, but I would not completely rule it out. I do know that the 1967-69 L-88 distributors used the "full round" housing.

Curiously, the GM #1111263 "ball bearing", reverse rotation, SERVICE-only distributor did use the "half-round" housing. However, this distributor used a housing which was completely unique to it and not used for any other distributor part number, PRODUCTION or SERVICE.

In any event, the "full round" distributor housing replaced the "half-round" for SERVICE of ALL 1962+ Corvette tach drive-type distributor housings in mid-1971. So, the "full round" type is fully "rearward compatible" and fully approved by GM for all 62-74 big block or small block Corvette distributor applications. The question remains, of course, is the "half-round" type fully "forward compatible" with engines not originally so-equipped? I don't know the answer to that but I THINK it is.

[Clem Z.]

Re: BB L71 Distributor for a '67

clem-----


Yes, I've always thought that these "half-round" distributor housings were used for 1965-66 big block applications, although I'm not even sure of that. I don't think the use carried over to 1967, but I would not completely rule it out. I do know that the 1967-69 L-88 distributors used the "full round" housing.

Curiously, the GM #1111263 "ball bearing", reverse rotation, SERVICE-only distributor did use the "half-round" housing. However, this distributor used a housing which was completely unique to it and not used for any other distributor part number, PRODUCTION or SERVICE.

In any event, the "full round" distributor housing replaced the "half-round" for SERVICE of ALL 1962+ Corvette tach drive-type distributor housings in mid-1971. So, the "full round" type is fully "rearward compatible" and fully approved by GM for all 62-74 big block or small block Corvette distributor applications. The question remains, of course, is the "half-round" type fully "forward compatible" with engines not originally so-equipped? I don't know the answer to that but I THINK it is.

i used the TI ball bearing distributors with both gear drive and chain drive cams,changed the gear, in a lot of late model blocks with no problems.

[Joe L.]

Re: BB L71 Distributor for a '67

i used the TI ball bearing distributors with both gear drive and chain drive cams,changed the gear, in a lot of late model blocks with no problems.

clem---


Did you use them with both small blocks and big blocks?

[Michael H.]

Re: BB L71 Distributor for a '67

Curiously, the GM #1111263 "ball bearing", reverse rotation, SERVICE-only distributor did use the "half-round" housing.

Joe, I agree on the 263 half filled groove distributor. If I remember correctly, the 263 was originally designed/released in service only for the never to be released 1966 L88 engine option that used the grooved rear cam.
When the L88 did finally appear for the 67 model, the groove was no longer required but the 263 distributor remained available in service for decades for use with the over the counter gear drive cam.

The distributor originally scheduled for the production 66 L88 was the same as a 66 L72 425 HP, the 093.

For 67, the production L71/435 HP distributor did not have the required advance curve for the L88 so a unique to L88 distributor was designed. It too had the exact same specs as a 1966 L72/425 HP.

By the way, if I remember correctly, the original design L88 cam, part number 3879xxx, had the grooved rear journal to go along with the half filled groove of the 263 distributor.

[Clem Z.]

Re: BB L71 Distributor for a '67

clem---


Did you use them with both small blocks and big blocks?

yes.remember i was not running stamped rocker arms in these engines so if you were worried it would cut down on the oil flow i can not answer that. if the black box was only as reliable as the distributor things would have been better. they never quit while running but failed to start was the problem. always had 2 mounted in the car. .

[Joe L.]

Re: BB L71 Distributor for a '67

yes.remember i was not running stamped rocker arms in these engines so if you were worried it would cut down on the oil flow i can not answer that. if the black box was only as reliable as the distributor things would have been better. they never quit while running but failed to start was the problem. always had 2 mounted in the car. .

clem-----

No, I was not concerned about a rocker oiling problem using the "half-round" with small blocks. I've always thought the "half-round" could be used without problems with small blocks regardless of what rocker arms were also used. I was just curious if you had ever actually used them with small blocks as confirmation of my thoughts.

[Clem Z.]

Re: BB L71 Distributor for a '67

clem-----

No, I was not concerned about a rocker oiling problem using the "half-round" with small blocks. I've always thought the "half-round" could be used without problems with small blocks regardless of what rocker arms were also used. I was just curious if you had ever actually used them with small blocks as confirmation of my thoughts.

if it worked in a BBC because BBC needed more oil to the rockers,that is why they used piddle valve lifters instead of edge orifice, i would think that any oil flow reduction if any was not a problem

[Robert K.]

Re: BB L71 Distributor for a '67

Joel,

No, I had not seen the distributor on E-Bay. I'm in the process of rebuilding my L71 BB and was wondering which was the "correct" style.

Bob