Guess the distributor shouldn't look like this?

[JB740i]

The tach wire shorted out on my distributor. Is the guts of this thing supposed to look like that?

What do I need to fix it? Feel free to but be specific with suggestions if you can.

Is this an HEI distributor? Do I need a $300 replacement? It's on a 283 SBC.

JEGS Chevy HEI Distributor - JEGS

Is that what I need to replace it or can I just replace this part.




Oh the story....was driving the cruiser over to our new house we just built. Got it to the driveway and all was good. Then it wouldn't start. Put the battery charger on it for a while and it still wouldn't start.
Left to go to the backyard for jumper cables for more power and it was smoking. The tach wire shorted where it enters the firewall.

So then we pushed it to the backyard. Luckily the ground slopes down for the 250' push and not up.

Now it's in it's new home in the detached garage in the back yard. Where I promise to triple check all lug nuts before driving on the public roads in Citrus Springs. Lest other cruiser owners yell at me.

 

[radioridge]

looks hei to me but im no chevy expert. pretty sure you can still buy the coil at any autoparts store. shoudnt need a whole new distributor from what i can see.

 

[Bodean]

Yes you can just repalce the coil. Go to the parts store and they can hook you up.

Later,

 

[camcruiser13]

you can buy the whole thing now cheap.

ask me how i know



just bought one

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! That's the same setup I run. Coil is probably toast. I would just go to your favorite parts store and buy a distributor cap, rotor, and coil for a 77 Chevy Caprice with a 350. When you mount the rotor, make sure that it can move freely. The centrifical advance springs/weights under the rotor should allow it to rotate about 1/2 inch or so. Mine got rusted shut, and I had a heck of a time figuring out why it just would not run right. John

 

[Colorado Boy-74-FJ40]

Someone put mayonnaise on your ignition!

 

[JB740i]

Thanks. Not sure why this happened. Noticed the tach wasn't working much on the ride over so I guess it started shorting then.

I've started tearing into the wiring and trying to remove the wires and connectors I don't need. I'm pretty much past the point of no return but this may be one of those things that wasn't worth the trouble. Oh well