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Cardone Distributors.

Mr Gorsky

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I recently discovered that the vacuum advance diaphragm on my circa 1971 OEM distributor at some point in the past became a "perforated advance" unit. In the interest of going new to avoid problems down the track, I decided to take the plunge and buy a whole distributor.

I purchased this new (not refurbished) gem from Rock Auto for the princely sum of $48.25:


dizzy4.jpg



There's a tiny sticker on the box that says "Made in China", however the distributor seems to be pretty well made. Cardone say its "the only NEW distributor in the aftermarket that is 100% computer tested for guaranteed, long-lasting performance"....and they back the unit up with a "limited lifetime warranty".

Here's the old and the new side by side. Only us trainspotters would pick it as as a non-OEM unit. The finish is slightly different to the OEM one, but put a tan cap on it and you wouldn't look twice:


dizzy2.jpg



^^^^As you can see, you can even undo the screw on the side and put the OEM part number tag on it.


dizzy3.jpg



^^^^^I did have to set the pickup gap, I could've driven a Kenworth through there. The good news it you can adjust the vacuum advance with a 3/32" allen key, just like you can on the original. There is no stamp on the vac advance rod, so I dunno what number it is.

I've yet to install it and see how it goes, hope to do that in the next week or so :).

Regards,

Mr G.
 
I put a Cordone reman on my 73 a few years back. It didn't come with a cap so I purchased a new tan one.
Been working fine.
 
Is it me or does the magnet on the pickup look cracked on the new one?
 
It's not cracked, it's got a scratch across it.
 
You've got my attention. Did not see that model number (and that PRICE!) when I was on RockAuto.
Waiting with baited breath to see how it works for you.
*cough*guinea pig*cough*
:eusa_dance:

Woah, screeeech. Small block. No wonder I didn't see it...
 
It would be interesting to put this new distributor on an old distributor machine and see exactly what the timing advance curve is and how it compares with the factory advance curve for your particular application. The distributors for a particular engine (say a 440) might all look alike on the outside and fit the engine but that doesn't mean that they all came from the factory with the same advance curve. I know that a lot of part store rebuilt distributors are kind of a compromise as far as the timing curve is concerned so that the part will work in as many applications as possible. I'm guessing that this new distributor is the same compromise. Will it work in your car? Probably. Will it have the optimal advance timing for your car? Maybe. The only way to be sure short of a distributor machine, is to install it on the engine and see if the timing advance is within spec. Hope this helps.
 
I put one of these in the 440 of our 77 Winniebago this spring. Vacuum advance was crapped out among other problems and like every one is saying, couldn't beat the price. She runs good now.
 
...Woah, screeeech. Small block. No wonder I didn't see it...

Yep, small block.

It would be interesting to put this new distributor on an old distributor machine and see exactly what the timing advance curve is and how it compares with the factory advance curve for your particular application. The distributors for a particular engine (say a 440) might all look alike on the outside and fit the engine but that doesn't mean that they all came from the factory with the same advance curve. I know that a lot of part store rebuilt distributors are kind of a compromise as far as the timing curve is concerned so that the part will work in as many applications as possible. I'm guessing that this new distributor is the same compromise. Will it work in your car? Probably. Will it have the optimal advance timing for your car? Maybe. The only way to be sure short of a distributor machine, is to install it on the engine and see if the timing advance is within spec. Hope this helps.

I actually have access to a brand new Sun distributor tester, my brother has one in his workshop. It'll be closer to Christmas before I get back there, might have a play with it then.
 
Installed the new distributor today, works fine.

I did check the vacuum advance with my new Mityvac (granted, probably not super accurate) and found that the plate started advancing at 6" Hg with full advance at 14" Hg.
 
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