1957 FI distributor.

[Bruce B.]

I have an early 57 FI car which was built on or around November 15, 1956.

It has a 4360 unit with a 889 distributor, PG trans.

If the distributor was replaced with a 905 per GMs recall of the 889 then the distributor would be have a date later then the original production unit.

Would this result in a judging deduction for the distributor?

I just answered my own question. With the 905 the car was not "as it left the factory". Correct?

Were there a lot of recalls in the early days of production?

Any comments?

[John D.]

Re: 1957 FI distributor.

Bruce, One thing that might be in your favor. The 889 distributor has a visable casting number on the case. The early 905's used left over 889 cases., So if you have one of those it's a simple matter of putting an 889 tag on. Otherwise you are going to get docked for having an SR part.
Service replacement.
The 905 puts an 889 to shame as it has a .25 o'ring to help keep the oil out of the points. The 889 has zero to do that. Just metal to metal-top and bottom halves of the distr.
You know of course Bruce etal not to install a high pressure/hi flow oil pump.
QT: Does your 905 have the casting number on it that can be seen when it's in the car?

[Bruce B.]

Re: 1957 FI distributor.

John,
Thanks for the info.
I pick up the 905 next week and I will check for the casting date when I get it.
I have actually driven the car about 1000 miles with the 889 distributor and no problems yet.
Bruce B

[Loren L.]

Re: 1957 FI distributor.

[quote=Bruce Bursten (27670);443670]I have an early 57 FI car which was built on or around November 15, 1956.

It has a 4360 unit with a 889 distributor, PG trans.

If the distributor was replaced with a 905 per GMs recall of the 889 then the distributor would be have a date later then the original production unit.

Would this result in a judging deduction for the distributor?

I just answered my own question. With the 905 the car was not "as it left the factory". Correct?

Were there a lot of recalls in the early days of production?


I've talked with a gentleman who supervised warranty repairs out of the
Philadelphia Zone in 1957. He ended up in 1957 with 2 employees who did ONLY FI repairs. During the course of the year, they finally ended up contacting Rochester and got three full units; from that time on, they never went on a warranty call without a complete unit and distributor in the back seat.
His favorite phone call from one of his techs: "Charlie, would you call Rochester and see if they EVER built 2 4360s the same way?".

[Mike G.]

Re: 1957 FI distributor.

i would change the tag to an 889. if it comes down to it and you want to replace the distributor with an 889 i know where a couple are. they are not cheap but they can be bought. my 57 #1903 was built the same way. 4360 and 889.