poodlefire

The mechanical advance pivot pins and weights in my distributor are seriously worn, and I've been unable to find a rebuilt distributor. I'm reluctant to ship my dist out for rebuild in case it gets lost along the way. I thought about replacing it with a HEI dist, but would appreciate some advice/ options.

VC455

Removing the roll pin from the distributor gear will let you swap internals with any similar Olds distributor.

You could buy a distributor in good condition and swap internals with your body so you don't lose the date codes and part number on that body.

Check for bearing wear and, if serious, have a machine shop press new bearings in before you put in the new guts.

joe_padavano

Which won't help because the 215 is a Buick-designed motor and uses the same front-mounted distributor as all small block Buick motors.

young olds

Other than the aluminum body itself they are all the same anyways. I’d imagine every part other then the shaft, gear and possibly bearing/bushings you should be able to use parts from any “standard” gm points dizzy.

Ancient Iron

Olds and Buick DISTRIBUTORS spin in opposite directions. I have no idea what a dizzy is.

jensenracing77

I will not be home till Thursday but I may have a distributor. I have a 4 speed Jetfire engine I am parting out and if the distributor is good I would sell it.

joe_padavano

Yeah, other than the length of the shaft, oil pump drive configuration, and the direction of rotation, and the resulting configuration of the point plate, vacuum advance can mounting, and direction that the mechanical advance weights rotate...

poodlefire

Thanks for all the responses, folks. The reason for my question was that I was aware the dist on the '63 F85 was somewhat unique, and that left me with the dilemma of how to fix the mechanical advance. Surprisingly, the shaft bearings are OK. So, anyone have any ideas on a fix? Is there another dist that will work, including an HEI if that would be the only way to get over the mechanical advance issue? Maybe I'll have to bite the bullet and send mine out for rebuilding.

joe_padavano

Did you not read Post #3?

poodlefire

Joe, I saw the post but have no idea what counts as a small block Buick motor. Can you suggest one or two so I know where to look on line?

joe_padavano

Go to Google

Type in small block buick distributor

Press RETURN

Anything that fits a Buick 300-340-350 motor also fits a 215.

Be careful at sites like Summit, where even if you specify a Buick motor, it still gives you Chevy distributors, since apparently every "GM" is a Chevy.

poodlefire

Thanks for the additional info, Joe. So, after looking at dozens of sites, I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to have to send my distributor to Cardone to get it rebuilt. There aren't any refirb units out there, and I haven't found an HEI unit that fits.

joe_padavano

Wow.

I give up.

Here are TEN electronic distributors that fit your engine at Summit Racing:

https://www.summitracing.com/search/...rder=Ascending

Here's another source:

http://www.topstreetperformance.com/...stributor.html

And another:

http://www.taperformance.com/products.asp?cat=321

And two more at Amazon:

joe_padavano

In the interest of helping you improve your search skills, let's try this again.

Go to Google.

Type in: small block buick distributor

Here's what you'll see:



Click on any one of those links that says "Buick 300" or "Buick 340".

Select one of those distributors.

oldcutlass

For a points type you can just go to Napa
PN NRD 481612
NRD 481814
Rockauto
http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/b...stributor,7108

A pertronix unit can be installed in any of these.

63 f-85 215

I am new to this form but,
I think you gave me a clue today already? If I bought a Buick 215 electronic distributor and swapped the drive gear from my stock distributor do you think the new electronic distributor will work?

joe_padavano

The Oldsmobile 215 is a Buick designed motor. A distributor for a small block Buick bolts in. There is no need to change drive gear.

63 f-85 215

Or is it that cutlass f-85 1961-63 215 go clockwise and the other Oldsmobile 330 to 455 go counter-clockwise? So my fix is still the same, swap the gear on the end of the shaft

joe_padavano

The rotation direction of the 1964-1990 Olds distributors is irrelevant. They are completely different motors with completely different distributors.

One more time, the 215 is a BUICK designed motor and uses a Buick distributor. There is no difference between the distributors used on 215s installed in Buick Skylarks and those used on 215s installed in Olds F-85s. Get a Buick distributor and install it with no modifications.

63 f-85 215