Ebay #280059016190 is for the correct date dist for my 03E Z. When something seems to good to be true its usally not, so what do you guys think of this stamp? Looks like the 480 is larger then the 1111. Any input before I bid would be great!

First off - please include a link in these type questions to make looking at the part you're asking about easier for others ...
Here's the link - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2F28005901619 0_W0QQfromZR41_W0QQfviZ1&item=280059016190

As for the stamping - the picture is pretty 'fuzzy', maybe even enough to make me question why ...
But, the stamp looks okay from what I can see from it.
I would contact the seller and ask him to send a better picture of the code and date stamps if possible.
I would also ask for the numbers stamped on the Advance Cam Plate - it should read "CCW 532" on this unit. This is located under the base of the plate so a mirror may be necessary to read it.

Hope this helps;
John

i have noticed that these distributors have been stamped 1111 at one location then the rest of the numbers elsewhere

i have half a dozen of these dists 481, 489, etc and they are all the same in that regard, AND diff fonts for the numbers in one case

here are a few that you can SEE the diff on:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/JimRohn/june/11111506c31.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/JimRohn/june/11114818k4.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/JimRohn/june/4818k23.jpg

The zero in the ebay one is not as tall as the rest of the numerals.

:wacko: All I can say about the ebay auction is : NICE PICTURE :rolleyes:


What a horrible picture. I cant tell from that pic.

From the A'C delco service manual...
It lists 1000s of Dizzy/vac advance combos as the part number.
Then going thru the specs one finds many of these with the same cent curve, and a diff vac adv part number to make up the differant 111*** overall part number
It then lists the vac advance canisters under a diff part number (several 100)and the specs for each of these....the trouble is the vac canisters numbers do not match and are not similar to the part numbers in the service manaul,
So one has to establish the correct over all dizzy part number, check out the vac advance number, cross reference with the vac adv specs, and then physically find a vac adv with those specs...
The vac adv does have a number stamped on it that indicates what (inches) it opporates at, so that helps when sorting thru a box of them.

It is also my understanding the date stamp on the dizzy realy doesnt corrosponed well to car production dates to get the correct dizzy...
These where assembled by A/C delco as large batches, then the correct one was supplied from the assmby plant stores as required for that particular model, engine, cam, carb, diff, trans, weight combo for that particular car.

GM devalopers put a lot of time into dizzy selection/performance etc knowing the importance of getting the spark in the right place at the right time.
Personally I think the general veiw of treating 'correct dizzy' (say like a alternator) for a general particular model is incorrect and misconception.

These where assembled by A/C delco as large batches, then the correct one was supplied from the assmby plant stores as required for that particular model, engine, cam, carb, diff, trans, weight combo for that particular car.

Personally I think the general veiw of treating 'correct dizzy' (say like a alternator) for a general particular model is incorrect and misconception.
Huh? A given engine code required a certain distributor part #. No other distributor would be installed by the engine assembly plant.

Distributors did not vary by model, trans, axle, etc; the engine code did.

Huh? A given engine code required a certain distributor part #. No other distributor would be installed by the engine assembly plant.

Distributors did not vary by model, trans, axle, etc; the engine code did.

That's correct - the engine suffix determined the distributor it got. Also, original Delco vacuum advance units had two numbers stamped on the bracket - the last three digits of the Delco part number for that unit, and the number of degrees of advance they provided when fully deployed. Aftermarket replacements just have an alphanumeric code (like "B28", etc.) you have to match up against their specs chart to find out at what level of vacuum they start and how much advance they provide fully deployed. :thumbsup:

here are some more pics of original distributors:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/JimRohn/oct06/4438b22.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/JimRohn/oct06/4438e28.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/JimRohn/oct06/4838k5.jpg

I also bought a 480 dist. for my Z28 on ebay that seemed too good to be true with the date I needed. When I recieved it I measured the O.D. of the housing and compared it to other distributors I had and it measured the same. Wouldn't the housing have to be machined down to restamp? I figure mine is original.
Jim

Posted by hawk5375-
"Wouldn't the housing have to be machined down to restamp? "

Not really, i have seen restamps where the vendor tig welded over the numbers and machined them down to the original housing size, then restamped the correct numbers. A good way to tell is to lightly glass bead and wash the dist housing with brake clean and examine it at a angle, as it is drying, there are shiny spots in the housing if such is the case.

If the numbers look too "good" it probably is a restamp. JMO.