Rebuilt Distributors?
Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: Technical Topics Forum
Forum Name: Technical Questions and Discussions
Forum Description: Got a technical question about your fiero? ask it here.
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2292
Printed Date: 25 April 2025 at 12:29am
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Topic: Rebuilt Distributors?
Posted By: beken
Subject: Rebuilt Distributors?
Date Posted: 24 January 2011 at 4:37pm
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The topic of carrying a spare distributor was brought up at the last meeting so I thought I should chime in and ask some questions here from those who know better.
I'm getting old and my eyesight isn't what it used to be so rebuilding a distributor has me a bit wrench-shy at getting with it. My car is still running with its original distributor and nothing has ever gone wrong with it. I'm pretty sure the pick-up coil was replaced the last time I had the good Dr do a overall check and tune to it (not too long ago). But the topic of carrying a spare keeps coming up, so you guys are making me nervous. So...question....how much time does it take to rebuild a distributor anyways? How much are the parts? I have found a place locally that sells a fully rebuilt Fiero V6 distributor for $202. + core charge. Fierostore has a fully rebuilt distributor for $170USD + core + shipping so I suspect the $202 is a fair price. For that price, they come with warranties. Would finding a used distributor and rebuilding it be worth my effort or worth me paying a better sighted club member to do it for me? Thanks for your advice. -------------  Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Replies:
Posted By: Dawg
Date Posted: 24 January 2011 at 11:09pm
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Well....for $250 I'll turn your distributor into one of my "jacked up" ones. None of them have failed yet. Not only that, none of them have blown their ignition units either. This is because of the enhancements I've put into them. Get one of mine and you don't need to carry an extra one. Read about them here: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=165 7&KW=jacked Just a thought. In fact I have one on the shelf I could just swap for your old core. The Dawg ------------- You dream it up....I'll make it |
Posted By: Capt Fiero
Date Posted: 25 January 2011 at 7:05am
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Ken rebuilding is fairly easy, one roll pin at the bottom, then the gear slides off, and you need to clean everything with either a wire brush or sand paper or a wire wheel. Then a quick degrease. A new pickup coil is around 20 bucks and a new ignition module is around $100. Also new cap and rotor make sure the cap and rotor are the MSD ones as they seem to last the longest. Very important tip, buy the Delco Module and Pickup Coil. They don't seem to fail ever, where as any other brand is a serious gamble, might last 6 months, might last 2 years. When you are looking at rebuilt dist shaft prices, always check and see if they are "loaded" or not. The loaded ones usually cost a bit more but include a new pickup coil and module and cap and rotor. Dawgs enhancements are a new magnetic pickup right and aluminum heat sink which No One else does, and is frankly a huge step up from the stock dist shaft, however I don't believe he includes the ignition module/pickup coil or Rotor and cap. The Fiero Store I believe does include all new parts, but they are using the cheaper module, cheaper pickup coil and crappy cap and rotor. IIRC you can buy the cheap ignition module in the states for about 25 bucks, and the Delco module for about 69 vs the $120 at Lordco. ------------- Capt Fiero 88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 25 January 2011 at 10:21am
Thanks for the offer, Dawg, but I'm trying to keep my car as stock as possible. At my age, I'm not really interested in too much in upgraded performance. Given my original distributor has lasted 26 years, I'm pretty confident a plain stock rebuilt one on a plain stock engine should last at least 10 years. If I die first, my wife will likely try to get rid the Fiero as soon as possible to cover some tuition for my kid and we'll likely not recover the cost of the upgraded parts. I'm just thinking at 26 years, the current distributor is nearing its "end-of-life" scenario. Some of you will remember that my ignition coil was replaced last year and I'm thankful that David had a spare to lend me at the club meeting. It got me home from the club meeting and I bought a new one from Lordco. Even then, I had to keep the mount brackets off the old coil and file down some rivets on the new coil to get it to fit. I don't want to get stranded in the hills in the US when I attend Fierofest NW. ------------- Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Dawg wrote: