83 L84 Distributor cap

[John D.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

Michael, You will see a ton of different numbes inside the cap. I think Bill Clupper told us that was a mold number but I forget. Anyhow every cap I have has a different number. As far as gusset goes my D310R and my D310 caps all look alike.

I have seen some pretty convincing massaged D310 caps where there are no visible scratches unless you use a magnifying glass.

If you want to clean up a filthy distributor cap the first step is to put it in the dishwasher. Lightly glassbead the contacts and then send out the windows for zincad and you have a decent looking cap.

[Michael H.]

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.
JD

JD, it's obvious now that Delco did make short tower caps with the R at some point, maybe years after the original run in the early 60's. I've had a lot of these new/NOS in the box decades ago but never had one with the R.

[Michael G.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

John, thanks for the input. I'm not suggesting that the cap I have was made in 1962-3. I found it in some of my junk and am wondering what the heck it is. From what you guys say, it seems obvious that it is a Delco-made service replacement cap from the late 60's. I'm OK with that explanation.

Regarding your other question, the service cap and the original seem to be identical (except for the "R"). The "gusset" is not present on recent reproduction caps, but is found on both Delco service parts and original D310's.

Thanks,

[John D.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

Thanks Michael. Now I know what you are talking about. I never saw a repro Thanks, John

[William C.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

LR indicated Low resistance. We made wire for Chrysler also in the same plant, and Chrysler used a higher resistance spec than GM so all the GM stuff was printed with the TVRS LR logo before it was wound on the takeup reel.

[William C.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

I believe the "R" was to indicate registered Patent. Lots of strange government stuff with patent infringement in the late 60's-early 70's (and beyond)

[Michael H.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

LR indicated Low resistance. We made wire for Chrysler also in the same plant, and Chrysler used a higher resistance spec than GM so all the GM stuff was printed with the TVRS LR logo before it was wound on the takeup reel.

Thanks Bill.

[Larry M.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

Help a neophyte. I bought a D310 repro non R but it may not be. In another post William Clupper stated that the towers were about 3/8 shorter than a D308/309. The pic Wayne posted certainly shows short towers. Can someone measure the towers and tell me what they get. It will be different if you measure on the OD of the cap or to the inside. I think the simplest is to just set a scale on the side of a plug wire tower closest to the coil wire tower. This single measure would help me know what I have (and maybe help some other folks too). The one I have measures about 3/4 on the outside of the plug wire tower and less than 5/8 on the high side next to the coil wire tower.

[Michael G.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

Larry, the #1 tower on a D-310 distributor cap measures .68" from its base, when measured at the forward-most point of the tower in the installed position on the car.

[Larry M.]

Re: 83 L84 Distributor cap

Thanks Mike. I think mine is a 310. The aftermarket I took off is about 3/16 taller and a guy who has an NOS Delco no R unidentified by part number for sale on ebay for $75 measured his towers for me and they are about the same as my aftermarket - not a D310. So in that old post William Clupper meant 3/16 when he wrote 3/8 or there is more variation out there.