83 L84 Distributor cap

[Michael G.]

Years, ago, I inherited a box of old parts with one of my cars and they looked like junk, so I never inspected them closely. Today, I was looking for something and decided to go through them. Imagine my surprise when I found that one part was an original short-tower distributor cap for an L84. It even has the proper gusset.

I'm gonna put it on the car to see if its still good, but, if its still good, can any one tell me if there is a method of polishing scratches out of the plastic of this old thing?

Thanks,

[William C.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

Unfortunately the cap is Phenolic, not a typical "plastic" Good luck with the polish attempt, let us know if you have success.

[Perry M.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

People have been sanding of the ''R" for years then try to polish to remove the scratches. It never works.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

People have been sanding off the ''R" for years then try to polish to remove the scratches. It never works.

Good one, Perry. I just leave the mud/dust on mine (off a '64 Olds hearse). Original wires 4_Q_63.






c

[Michael H.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

Good one, Perry. I just leave the mud/dust on mine (off a '64 Olds hearse). Original wires 4_Q_63.






c

Wayne,

Is the printing on your wire... PACKARD RADIO TVRS LR 4-Q-63 ?

[Wayne M.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

Wayne,

Is the printing on your wire... PACKARD RADIO TVRS LR 4-Q-63 ?

Yes, exactly as you show. Remember these are the wires off the '64 Olds. A couple of the 8 wires are dated 3_Q_63.

[Michael G.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

I'm not clear on what caps have the "R" on the top surface of the cap. I've always thought that no repros have that "R". If that is true, what cap has short towers, an "R" and also the gusset? I'm asking 'cause that's what the one I found is. See the Pic below:

IMG_0002.jpg

[Michael H.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

Thanks Wayne. That's what I thought. I have an NOS plug wire from a 63 FI set dated 2-Q-63 that read the same. I still don't know what the LR is for though. I think the LR was deleted years later?

[Blake W.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

would someone describe the "gusset" on these caps. I'd like to check mine. Thanks Blake

[Michael H.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

I'm not clear on what caps have the "R" on the top surface of the cap. I've always thought that no repros have that "R". If that is true, what cap has short towers, an "R" and also the gusset? I'm asking 'cause that's what the one I found is. See the Pic below:

Michael,

As far as I know, there was never such a thing as a short tower FI cap that had an R on the top.

There was no such thing as an R cap for any car until the 1969 model year. For 69, the conventional caps with R (non FI) were used on all new 69 models and became service for all past models.

The short tower cap for 63-65 FI cars (and Oldsmobile) was a unique mold and that mold was never modified to include the R.

[Michael G.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

This is very odd. The cap in my pic definitely has an "R", although the "R" is sideways.

IMG_0004.jpg

It also has short towers (I measured) and a gusset, and is otherwise identical to the one in your pics. Except for the sideways "R", it is also identical, even down to the printing, aluminum contacts, and manufacturing flash, to the original D-810 I have on my blue car. This part is not remotely new, so it certainly is not a repop.

[Michael H.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

This is very odd. The cap in my pic definitely has an "R", although the "R" is sideways.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]46723[/ATTACH]

It also has short towers (I measured) and a gusset, and is otherwise identical to the one in your pics. Except for the sideways "R", it is also identical, even down to the printing, aluminum contacts, and manufacturing flash, to the original D-810 I have on my blue car. This part is not remotely new, so it certainly is not a repop.

I guess the pic proves that there WAS such a thing as a short tower cap with an R. This has to be a service replacement cap made after 1969. I didn't know the mold for these short tower caps was modified.

[Michael G.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

Michael, it is labeled "29-A" and "Delco Remy MADE IN USA" on the inside of the cap. I haven't taken the original off of my car yet to see if it is also labeled that way.

[Michael H.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

Michael, it is labeled "29-A" and "Delco Remy MADE IN USA" on the inside of the cap. I haven't taken the original off of my car yet to see if it is also labeled that way.

I think I may still have an original FI cap here to check for that number.

I may also have info on the change to the new R for 1969. As I remember, that was the year that the cap and rotor were changed. The rotor had the new E gap tongue. Also the first year for R (resistor) spark plugs. It was all new for 69. I don't think an R cap existed before 69.

[John D.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

Mike, Early in the AM and having trouble understanding your post. D310 caps with the R are quite common. Service replacement low tower caps with the R.
Have a few of them on my desk right now.
No there was no such thing as an original 63 to 65 FI car with an R on the top of the cap.
Gusset???? In checking out a NOS D310 with no R and a NOS D310 with an R I don't see any difference in them. What is the difference guys? Thanks, JD