The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Distributor Question

The dists. interchange but there probably is differences in the advance calibratiions.

Bruce,

Where in the 1954 Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual did you find different models of distributors? I do not doubt you, because the Master Parts Book does show different part numbers for 1954 235 and 261 distributors.

As Wrenchbender Ret. posted, the 1954 Chevrolet Truck Shop Manual shows different timing settings for 235 and 261 engines.

Perhaps it should also be noted that the Truck Data Book shows no difference in the 235/261 flywheel. That begs the question "what timing mark do you use on the 1954 flywheel" for the 235's 2 degrees after TDC and the 261's 5 degrees after TDC?

In 1954 the only distributor that would interchange with a 261 would be one from a '54 PG car as the cam gear was made of cast iron/alloy, same as the 261 (this may be what your book is referring to). Any other '54 235 still used the forged steel gear. From '55 on up all the 235's used the cast iron/alloy gear.