What distributor for the 350?

[lordy611]

OK, so the crate 350 had it's disty lifted by the engine's foster family. I thought he said it was an HEI. Can someone shed some light on what may have come from the factory on a 79 or 80 crate motor from Buick? I will need one eventually, but with cold weather and Christmas upon us, my guess is that I will have plenty of time to look for one. The project the engine will be going in has some rust issues that I need to deal with...:CRAP:

[gsjohnny]

any small block, ponits type or electronic, will work. i use a mallory dual point in the race car. you can also use a 400-455, but need to change the gear.

[lordy611]

any small block, ponits type or electronic, will work. i use a mallory dual point in the race car. you can also use a 400-455, but need to change the gear.
Does it need to be Buick, or would GM (chevy) work?

[71stage1conv]

Buick engines only...

[lordy611]

Buick engines only...Sorry for flogging the crap out of this, but what makes a Buick disty different from a Chevy? Is it the gear at the bottom? Could a Chevy disty be retrofitted with the proper 350 Buick gear and work? Is it something in the electrics? Height? :confused4:

[BrunoD]

I guess you have a hard time understanding.In the early years all 4 division of GM had different distributors,none will fit the other.By the time you will be able to fit a Chevy distributor into a Buick,you will probably spend more then buying 2 new MSD's.BrunoD.

[lordy611]

I guess you have a hard time understanding.In the early years all 4 division of GM had different distributors,none will fit the other.By the time you will be able to fit a Chevy distributor into a Buick,you will probably spend more then buying 2 new MSD's.BrunoD. Actually, no one 'splained it, other than to say "it needs to be Buick". That could mean the shaft is different OD, the gear is different, the electronics are not compatible, etc.
I found this online elsewhere and it helps a little. At least I know not to try to interchange. Here, for others who didnt understand the diffs, have at it. **Disclaimer: This happens to have been copied from Wikipedia, which I mostly trust as far as I can throw a big block WITH trans attached.**
The type of HEI is vitally important based on the engine with which it will be used. Each GM division had its own engine design. Thus a Chevrolet distributor will not fit on an Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, or Cadillac engine. Also, the module type is important as well. For non-computer controlled carbureted engines, the four pin unit is used as it uses mechanical timing controls (vacuum and mechanical advance). The seven pin module cannot be used on non-computerized engines as it does not contain mechanical timing controls.

[gsjohnny]

buick only. small block, big block, doesnt matter. only difference is the dist gear # on teeth.

[LARRY70GS]

Actually, no one 'splained it, other than to say "it needs to be Buick". That could mean the shaft is different OD, the gear is different, the electronics are not compatible, etc.
I found this online elsewhere and it helps a little. At least I know not to try to interchange. Here, for others who didnt understand the diffs, have at it. **Disclaimer: This happens to have been copied from Wikipedia, which I mostly trust as far as I can throw a big block WITH trans attached.**
The type of HEI is vitally important based on the engine with which it will be used. Each GM division had its own engine design. Thus a Chevrolet distributor will not fit on an Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, or Cadillac engine. Also, the module type is important as well. For non-computer controlled carbureted engines, the four pin unit is used as it uses mechanical timing controls (vacuum and mechanical advance). The seven pin module cannot be used on non-computerized engines as it does not contain mechanical timing controls.

The dimensions are completely different. The shaft length mainly. The distributor heads are all the same, but everything else is different. Chevy distributors are at the back. The distance from the flange to the oil pump drive is different than a Buick. I've had to explain the differences to lots of guys at cruise nights over the years. Some guys think just because 2 engines share the same displacement, they must be the same. Chevy, Olds, Pontiac, and Buick 350's are all dimensionally different. Different Bores and Strokes, but they all displace 350 cubic inches.

[lordy611]

Thanks Larry. I did realize the 4 GM motors were different, although from a corporate perspective, I cant believe they carried that on for as long as they did. But from a components-standpoint, I didnt know if perhaps GM got smart and sourced some of the components to one design (like the disty, or alt. or PS pump, etc.). I guess since the basic architecture was different, it didnt make sense to reinvent the wheel for each one, unless they went "crazy" and put one version of the 350 into all marques. That would have made too much sense. However, from the uniqueness point of view, I'm glad that one of them ended up with a reputation for big torque.:TU:

[71stage1conv]

Instead of redesigning all their engines (a huge expense), GM began putting certain corp engines in Pontiacs (like the V6 Buick), etc.