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#1274275 07/29/2018 11:33 PM
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 35
A
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
A Offline
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 35
I am working on a '48 1-ton truck and having trouble getting my hands on the correct distributor cap and rotor. Three different suppliers have all listed the same cap and rotor and it simply does not fit, the cap hits the rotor before it touches the case. Without the rotor installed, the cap fits perfectly (but doesn't do much good that way other than keeping dust out lol).

Started to dig a bit further and made an interesting discovery: the distributor has a Delco Remy part number 1112403 which looks to be a 55-62 235 distributor. The motor itself appears to be original, casting number is for a '48 216. I assume the 216 and 235 parts like that are interchangeable but wanted to confirm if the different years are interchangeable. I would guess so since it is installed but the truck has been parked since the 80s or 90s so I personally have no idea yet if it runs with this distributor or not. If they are interchangeable, I assume I can just pick up a '55 truck cap and rotor and I'll be good to go.


Aaron V.
1948 Chevrolet 3800 216/4-spd
1979 Chevrolet C30 Ramp Truck 454/TH-400
1995 Jeep Cherokee 4.0/5-spd
1970 Ford F100 390/4-spd
1973 Ford Maverick 302/C4
2004 Honda Shadow 1100

"While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it᠁thanks Mario Kart."
Aaron #1274279 07/29/2018 11:41 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,440
Bolter
Bolter
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,440
I seem to recall there is a tall and a short rotor.🛠


Martin
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Aaron #1274289 07/30/2018 12:49 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,771
H
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
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Posts: 29,771
The distributor cap and rotor are different (taller) on the engines that ran 12 volt ignition systems (late 55 to 62) The low height caps had a tendency for the higher voltage spark available with 12 volts to flash over from the tip of the shorter rotor to the distributor housing, particularly if a plug wire came off and allowed the coil to develop its maximum open circuit voltage. Either use a short rotor with the cap you have, or buy a 55-62 distributor cap to match your tall rotor.
Jerry


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Aaron #1274291 07/30/2018 12:54 AM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,096
D
'Bolter
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,096
As usual , there is probably more to it than meets the eye .

The early 216 have a forged cam and the later 235 have a cast cam . Some one else will have to say what years apply .

Point is , the steel used in the distributor drive gear is specific to the cam type .

It will be best to have the correct distributor in the particular engine .

Looking at my '40 216 , and the '54 235 . the rotor differences are height/length. The early rotor is the small one .
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Last edited by Dusty; 07/30/2018 1:08 AM.
Aaron #1274311 07/30/2018 2:33 AM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,652
D
'Bolter
'Bolter
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,652
48 is a weird year for distributors as there is a early and late distributor. The early 48 is Delco 1110090. That distributor takes a d110 point set, d203 condenser, d301 cap and d400 rotor. The late 48 distributor is 1112353 and uses a d110p point set, and the same condenser, cap and rotor as the early unit.

In the March 1973 Delco popular parts catelog, Delco lists the later 1112403 distributor as a replacement for the 090 and 353 distributor. So d105p for points, d230 condenser, d306 cap, d405 rotor.


Mike

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