Plastic Piece for Distributor

[MercMontMars]

Hi there, I took my Pontiac out for a cruise yesterday and all was well until I completely lost spark and broke down. I checked my distributor and saw that the positive connection to the coil and distributor was loose, and when I went to tighten it the plastic bushing broke. Is there any replacement for this part or am I going to have to rig something up? I tightened it best I could but I don’t like how loose it is without that piece. 
 

Thanks for any help!

[TerryB]

There are some decent super glues and epoxy products out there today.  You might be able to use those products to repair it.  DAP Rapid Fuse is one I like and the Loctite products.  

[Bloo]

At least one version of that is reproduced, and I think it is even the right one for 37 and later Pontiac. I haven't tried it though so I can't say for sure it is the right one. Look around on brillman.com .

[Gary_Ash]

call Tom Van Meeteren in Nebraska.  He is usually on this forum. 

[Old buicks 2]

Mercmontmars,  send me a photo of the complete unit.   I will just send you one if I have that style in stock.

 

Tom

[MercMontMars]

@Old buicks 2 

Hi Tom, that would be very helpful! Here are some pictures from a while ago when I was rebuilding it, let me know if they are sufficient. If not, I’ll be taking it out soon. The data plate was in rough shape, I’ll try to get a better look at it once it’s out. It’s for a Pontiac straight-8.

 

 

 

[wayne sheldon]

You are asking about the electrical pass-through insulator? A proper fitting replacement is of course best!

However, the fit is not critical. I once used two small sink faucet washers. They were flat on one side, slightly cone shaped on the other side. I put one in from the inside, the other in from the outside with the cones pointed to each other through the hole. The cones "self centered" the washers in the hole. A small steel flat washer on both the inside and outside, then the wire connections, and tight, but not too tight. What is wrong with the idea is that the faucet washers are tough, but not solid enough to tighten really hard. That said, they were plenty tight and worked flawlessly for years. I eventually sold the vehicle.

 

There are a lot of good reasons for "doing things right!" Not the least of which is just not having a bunch of half-baked flaky repairs on a car. However, sometimes an "available at any hardware store" fix can come in handy. I at the time, and still, have a sink washer assortment in a drawer in my home shop.

[Bloo]

For my 1936 I could not get one in the beginning. The closest California Pontiac Restoration could come up with was a used 1937 part. It was close but not right. I was grateful to have it, but I had to use a stepped nylon insulating washer from the hardware store on the inside instead of the inside half of the 1937 part. It got me on the road. Later, I got a whole 1936 distributor with the right parts, but at the moment that stepped washer inner and 1937 outer is still on the car.

 

If Old buicks 2 doesn't have the right thing, one of the following is probably close enough. The first looks more like yours but does not list a hole diameter. The second lists a hole diameter, but looks different as it has only a phenolic washer on the outside of the distributor (no black piece). Note that the parts in the second link are stacked wrong. No metal can contact the distributor housing.

 

 

https://brillman.com/product/delco-distributor-insulator/

https://brillman.com/product/delco-distributor-terminal-insulator-round-shoulder/

 

 

Edited August 9, 2023 by Bloo (see edit history)

[MercMontMars]

@Old buicks 2

 

I’ve removed the distributor and the number on it reads “1110831 - 1L9”. It is a Delco Remy unit.

 

Hope this helps track it down, let me know. Thanks!

Edited August 10, 2023 by MercMontMars (see edit history)

[Gary_Ash]

I was missing the feedthrough block in my Delco Remy 662M distributor. I 3D printed a new one from ABS plastic and used a modified brass screw to make the connections. 

 

[MercMontMars]

@Gary_Ash That’s pretty nifty! I gotta ask, what is your distributor out of? I don’t often see dual ignition points. 

[Gary_Ash]

My distributor is from a 1937 Studebaker President 250 cu in straight 8 that I used on my 1932 Studebaker Indy car replica. 

 

[Mark Shaw]

I fixed a 1921 Buick distributor cap with this adhesive:  

Amazon.com: Bondic UV Glue Kit with Light, Super Glue, Plastic Welding Kit, Curing Light Liquid Plastic Repair, Jewelry Making, Necklace Craft, Glue Adhesive Epoxy Ultraviolet Mold for Glass Epoxy Resin Supplies : Home & Kitchen

 

[Old buicks 2]

Picture of the distributor insulated lead ins that I have

[The 55er]

Hi, if you aren't having any success finding this part, I have the correct pass-thru insulator for your Pontiac eight. I pulled this from an identical used 1110831 Delco Remy distributor I had lying around my shop so I'm sure it will work. Please PM me if you're interested and if you're in the lower 48, I'll ship it to you free of charge. 

[MercMontMars]

@Old buicks 2 Thank you for looking, unfortunately I can’t say for sure if that’ll fit mine. Mine is only 2 pieces, that one appears to be three. It’d probably work, but the 55’er came up with an exact fit.

 

Thanks again!