strange 480 distributor, service / warranty replacement?

al8apexer · Oct 27, 2009

I picked this up Sunday at a local swap meet. It is a very clean distributor, I was drawn to it because of the XXXXX out of the lower number and the late 1971 dated 1111480 stamp above it.

It was obviously done at the "factory" as the impression of the gang holder is clear on the 480 stamp. It does have the 532 shaft as well.

Any ideas / speculation on how this came to be?

The lower, X'd out number, 1112149, is a model number that supposedly never existed (although others have them) and shows a late 73 date (probably for a 74 model year car).

My guess is it was a service warranty distributor but the lower number and date doesn't add up.

Why would a late 1973 date code, 3 K 12, be back dated to a late 1971 date, 1 M 8, for an original 1969 - DZ 302 1969 Z28 - use?

Pics:

dyno jonn · Oct 27, 2009

Jim, I used to buy 1111480's from Chevrolet and Delco when I could still get them. The last one I bought looked like that when it came out of a still sealed factory box. I knew I couldn't use it that way and finally parted it out. Seems like when they ran out of originals, they redid some other numbers they had on hand to supply the orders for the 1111480's. Since both mine and yours had/have the 532 cam, they probably figured the advance curve would be o.k. and shipped what they could. They weren't worried about us restorer guys anyway.

al8apexer · Oct 27, 2009

well, now that makes perfect sense ...

but why would they put such a weird (IMHO) date on the 480 stamp?

did the ones you have have the same "odd" dates

dyno jonn · Oct 27, 2009

That's been too many years ago to remember. I do know who I sold the distributor body to. I'll see if he still has it and get back to you on the dates.

Kurt S · Oct 27, 2009

Jim,
You are assuming that's a 71 date, but it could be an 81 date.

69SS 350 5 Speed · Oct 27, 2009

I would have doubts about it being an 81 since HEI was in full swing and there would have been no reason to continue making them 10 years after they went out of production line use. Most replacement parts are only produced by the manufacturer for a few years after they have been replaced by upgraded technology. No profit in it.

Kurt S · Oct 27, 2009

But.... I have the production records for 1111480 and they were still making them for service in 81.

al8apexer · Oct 27, 2009

Kurt S said:
Jim,
You are assuming that's a 71 date, but it could be an 81 date.

true dat ...

I guess it COULD be a 91 date too, IF they were still "serviced" by GM that late ...

that would explain the XXXXX out number

interesting find anyway, now who needs parts?

69SS 350 5 Speed · Oct 28, 2009

Well I'll be dipped. Thanks Kurt!! GM usually does not continue to produce service parts for that long especially when a replacement part with newer technology exists. Maybe there were some mechanical parts that they felt would fail at a high enough rate that they should continue beyond the norm which is about 4 to 5 years after the change.

dyno jonn · Oct 28, 2009

Jim, I called the guy I sold the X'd out 480 dist housing to and he still had it. I'm holding it right now in my formerly nicotine stained fingers. It looks a lot like yours. It seems that the distributor was originally stamped as 1111480 with the 480 added sometime after the 1111 as all the numbers were definitely not in the same stamping device. The date on this one is 1M8 also. The 4 and the 8 don't have the same distinctive font as original 69 distributors have. The X'd out number is the same as yours 1112149, but my X'd out date is 4A15. I also had little luck running down the number 1112149, but i did find it in my Delco breakdown book and many of the parts in it are special, that is, not the same as the parts listed for the 1111480. I guess it will remain a mystery for a while, but I have seen other Delco distributors that were sold by Chevrolet but manufactured mostly by companys outside of Delco. Kurt may be right about the 1981 date too. I bought this distributor new directly from Delco Remy as I was working for a Delco parts outlet through 1981. I was working elsewhere in 1982, so I couldn't have bought the dist. any later than 81. Carry on guys.....

William · Oct 29, 2009

I was involved with a Camaro business until 1997. We were acquiring 480 distributors directly from Delco [make to order] into the '90s. Looked exactly as original equipment.

One of our customers had a JL-8 Z/28 and bought several in 1989 to get the "right" date.

67 Plum · Oct 29, 2009

69SS 350 5 Speed said:
Well I'll be dipped. Thanks Kurt!! GM usually does not continue to produce service parts for that long especially when a replacement part with newer technology exists.

I don't think an HEI will clear the 302 intake.On some cars it hits the firewall also.

strange 480 distributor, service / warranty replacement?

al8apexer

dyno jonn

al8apexer

dyno jonn

Kurt S

69SS 350 5 Speed

Kurt S

al8apexer

69SS 350 5 Speed

dyno jonn

William

67 Plum

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