[merch120]

Is there anyone who makes a kit to completely rebuild your stock distributor yourself? I can't see paying someone 175 bucks to "restore" my distributor..I have my own blast cabinet with plastic media, and enough tools to open a repair shop. I wouldn't think this would be too difficult.

[Jimmybyrd]

I shopped for a rebuild kit last year, and wound up buying a reman unit at Autozone for about $30.00.

Works much better than the old one.

[JohnZ]

Properly rebuilding a distributor involves (among many other things) removing and replacing both the upper and lower bushings in the housing, then reaming the new bushings to the proper size for the shaft - not likely you can do this at home. There's a reason why proper distributor rebuilding isn't cheap. Just cleaning the parts and reassembling it isn't re-building it.

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JohnZ
CRG
'69 Z28 Fathom Green

[merch120]

Hmm..thats interesting. I talked to the tech guy at MSD Ignition, and he told me that if there was no "play" in the distributor shaft, that putting in bushings would be pointless. He did recommend putting a new drive gear on it, which he said could be done easily with a few shop tools.

[JohnZ]

Absolutely right - if there's no perceptible play, no need to replace the bushings. However, most folks don't know that the upper bushing doesn't get engine oil, and is only lubricated from the sealed grease well under the felt pad and plastic seal under the breaker plate. Nobody ever pays any attention to this lube, and after 30 years it's dry and caked, and usually scores both the shaft and the bushing. I've seen distributors where the shaft and upper bushing have seized solid due to lack of lubrication. If there is no play in the upper bushing on an old distributor, you're lucky; even with no play, the lube well for the upper bushing needs to be cleaned and re-lubed, with a new seal installed. Distributors are really "orphans" when it comes to maintenance; they're critical to performance, but usually get no attention at all.

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JohnZ
CRG
'69 Z28 Fathom Green

[merch120]

Thanks John- I'll take that into consideration. It may be better to go ahead and shell out the money for a thorough rebuild. As you know, any decent Camaro distributor is getting more hard to find..so I was just weighing my options.
BTW..did you happen to see my question on the Harrison radiator elsewhere in the forum?
I think I have one from a 67-68 Z/28.

[shelbyz28]

how about those of us who work in a machine shop? Is there a kit out there for us that includes bushings, a shaft, etc. I have a #'s matching housing that has seen too much moisture...

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Joel
1969 Z28
LeMans Blue-White Stripes
#'s matching, P-O-P