Brown D309 distributor cap applications

[Larry T.]

What are the different OEM applications for the brown D309 (non-R)distributor cap. Most people seem to agree that it may have been originally installed on L-88's. Anyting else, Corvette or otherwise? I did hear once that it may have come on the L-72's.

[Larry T.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

Someone has to know something??? I did get one response on the "other" board that L-88 was it. Can anyone corroborate that for me?

Thanks,

Larry

What are the different OEM applications for the brown D309 (non-R)distributor cap. Most people seem to agree that it may have been originally installed on L-88's. Anyting else, Corvette or otherwise? I did hear once that it may have come on the L-72's.

[Michael M.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

Larry I have a D-309 brown distributor cap (non-R) that was given to me from a friend that had a 1968 L-88. I am not sure about other applications but I know someone else that has a L-88 and he is bugging me for the brown cap. So I know the brown cap was used for L-88's.

[Larry T.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

I have one as well that is NOS. I did not know if I should hang on to it for my L72. It is seeming like it was not the right cap, but I am almost certain that I had heard these caps were on some L72's from the factory. What are these things worth on the open market? If this was not the right cap for an L72, what was? Maybe I can move my brown one in favor of the correct one.

Thanks,

Larry

Larry I have a D-309 brown distributor cap (non-R) that was given to me from a friend that had a 1968 L-88. I am not sure about other applications but I know someone else that has a L-88 and he is bugging me for the brown cap. So I know the brown cap was used for L-88's.

[John D.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

Larry, Can't answer your question as to me it has been a mystery cap. You see I have gotten various answers over the years. Used to be that the cap brought big bucks at Carlisle but now they attrack little interest.

Guys used to tell me that the brown cap came on the Fuel Injection TI distributors. Well that was incorrect. Then I heard L88. JD

[Clem Z.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

the brown caps have brass terminals and i think the were more compatible with the 440 packard wire the original L-88 engines used.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

the brown caps have brass terminals and i think the were more compatible with the 440 packard wire the original L-88 engines used.

some also had copper terminals if i remember. it has been a long time.

[Michael M.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

Clem your memory is still good. The brown (non-R) cap I have has cooper terminals.

[John D.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

Clem, Stop over the shop and see that old JD uses nice brown cap for pen holder. No brass terminals though. Whew!!!! Even Henry Ford used copper terminals in the Model A Ford distr cap.

[Dick W.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

Clem, Stop over the shop and see that old JD uses nice brown cap for pen holder. No brass terminals though. Whew!!!! Even Henry Ford used copper terminals in the Model A Ford distr cap.

[John D.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

Wow. I will have to gather all the brown caps floating around here and compare them. Meanwhile DW what is the correct application for this cap. Happy Thanksgiving, JD

[John D.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

This is excerpted from our own Joe Lucia's posting years ago on this subject which I saved.....


GM #1942654 or Delco D-309 (dark brown or black with copper contacts--no "R")

GM #800061 or Delco D-309R (dark brown or black with copper contacts-"R" embossed on cap)

For the L-88 distributors, the GM #1942654 or the GM #800061 were specified. Believe it or not, the GM #800061 was specifed for PRODUCTION use on the 67-68 L-88 distributors. I kind of doubt that it was actually used, though. I think that the 1942654 was actually used. But, it's very possible that the GM #800061 was used. (Imagine that----if they were used, then guys with 67-68 L-88s should have a "R" on their caps!)


Some additional points

1) While most copper contact D-309 or D-309R caps used the dark brown plastic material, some used black. A D-309/309R IS NOT distinguished from a D-308/D-308R by the color of the plastic. The copper or aluminum contacts are the distinguishing feature;

2) Am I saying that ABSOLUTELY NO PRODUCTION distributors received the copper contact D-309/D-309R caps except L-88? No, I'm not saying that. All sorts of anomolies might occur in PRODUCTION for a huge number of reasons. What I'm saying is that I believe that the TYPICAL factory production followed the above-described utilization of distributor caps;

[Ken J.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

Guys;
My 65 Fueler with TI came with the brown cap, copper contacts. It is still on it today. I bought the car new and it has never been out of my control.
Ken

[Dick W.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

While anything but an expert, I have always been of the opinion that the brown cap came on some/all '65 FI cars, and maybe the 396. The 1942654 was used on a multitude of vehicles with V-8 engines. IH used them, I believe the LeRoi V-8 engines, the V-8 Continental, and who knows what else besides the GM vehicles

[Mike Z.]

Re: Brown D309 distributor cap applications

Larry-I have been watching the answers develop for your questions, some of them getting off target. I finally had time to check my copies of original D/R blueprints. I find your question, as to the correct cap for your 66 L-72 #093 distributor (both 1st & 2nd designs): came originally with cap P/N#1932018, which was black in color and had aluminum insert material (contact pins)-FYI: no Patent Pending or "R" in the drawing. The design date for the L-88 #240 distributor was 4/6/66, which was spec'd to use P/N#1942654, which per blueprints was black in color, but had copper insert material. Now, the "brown" in color with copper insert material, you must have: known as the D-309 OTC, was line P/N #800061-original design date appears to be sometime between 8/66 & 2/67-my copy is cut off-but, I do not see this P/N used until distributor #1111294 2nd design design date of 1/5/68 (at least in the Corvette line). So, based on my data, I do not believe the "brown" cap would have been installed until January 68. The above is all info for Big Blocks, but in checking SB data, the only possible "brown" cap would have been 64-65 FI applications P/N#1943047-this is the only unique P/N, but I unfortunately, do not have a blue print for this P/N. Hope this helps answer your questions.
Mike Zamora
#12455