Performance Distributor?

One of the winter projects I'm toying with is a new ignition system. Is there a performance distributor for our cars. I know there is a difference in diameter on the car distributor to clear the intake so I'm not sure if a generic SBC one will fit.

The distributor not only has a larger diameter base, it is shorter as well. The height and diameter of the base allows it to be removed from under the cowl without removing the intake manifold. You can put a standard distributor in the car if you put it in with the intake manifold. Since this is the only car in the entire GM line that uses the short wide base distributor, I assume it is not profitable to make a performance distributor for the car. It is actually easier, and possibly cheaper to replace the engine with an LS series junkyard engine than try to swap out the distributor. The HP per dollar is hard to beat on an LS swap.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

cheaper to replace the engine with an LS series junkyard engine than try to swap out the distributor. The HP per dollar is hard to beat on an LS swap.

Distributor... $200. LS motor. $2000+ Not sure where the cheaper part comes in.

But does it fit? That's the question...
Pete

The stock distributor is more than enough for the rpm of a stock engine,.
i doubt that spark scatter is going to be a concern at 4500 rpm,.

better to focus on hotter spark,

phantom 309 wrote:

The stock distributor is more than enough for the rpm of a stock engine,.
i doubt that spark scatter is going to be a concern at 4500 rpm,.

better to focus on hotter spark,

So coil, wires,cap etc?

good wires and cap and rotor are essential to any good ignition system,.

adding a much hotter coil is the key,. then maybe firing multiple sparks etc,.

The hotter the spark the better the rotor cap and wires need to be,

You are working with a stock engine,. so an all out ignition system might be overkill,.

sorta like a grade 8 bolt in where a grade 5 will work,. always better, but not always necessary,.

phantom 309 wrote:

good wires and cap and rotor are essential to any good ignition system,.

adding a much hotter coil is the key,. then maybe firing multiple sparks etc,.

The hotter the spark the better the rotor cap and wires need to be,

You are working with a stock engine,. so an all out ignition system might be overkill,.

Well, stock-ish, but I see your point. Besides the Summit 8.5 wires, the ignition is bone stock, delco cap/rotor/icm, Duralast coil.