points dist.

Monte Lauer

Monte Lauer

Active member
I have a points style dist. On my 345. When I took the cap off I found a plastic cover under the cap protecting the points and condenser. I have never seen this before. Is this plastic cover something I can buy for my other scouts?
 
You found a dist with the original "dust cover" (not sure of the correct term).

Distributors (60's / 70's) came with these originally, but I think that most got tossed by mechanics doing tune-ups who did not want to "deal with them".

Check with superscoutspecialists or maybe Jeff has some "laying around". I do not know if they are still available via lightline.
 
I've been looking for those dust covers for years! They are a Holley part that was only used on the IH-version of that distributor that I've even seen. I only have two of 'em right now, one onna distributor I loaned ss2 Monday, and another one I have for a distributor currently gutted for parts. Ya can't run 'em with a pertronix or crane electronic conversion. And the Holley cast iron distributors with the governor didn't use 'em that I've ever seen.

That is one thing I've never asked the boyz up at philbin electric in portland about. If anyone knows anything about 'em, it would be them dudes since they go way back in time!

Some are black, the most common seem to be a kinda opaque, ivory color.
 
Mike, mine is black and it looks to be new along with all the gear under the cover. This dist. Is in the engine that I pulled out of the pink Scout. I was cleaning it up last night to prepare for heart lung transplant on the green Scout when I found it.:winky:
 
Monte,

not to rain on your parade, but my hunch is that your black dust cover is original. I have black dust covers / shields on GM delco dists and there is no color change over time. I think the po just cleaned it up when he put the points / condenser in.

My t/a has / had the opaque "white" version. My t/a has a pertronix now (via mechanic). I will have to check the dist to see if the cover is still there --- I replaced the rotor / cap some months ago and I thought that I would remember if it was gone (memory, what is that?).

Michael,

I did some research (looked at some pictures) in my t/a (2303) IH manual and the section on IH 1510 distributers showed pictures of a governed dist as an example and it shows a dust cover in the pictures and exploded diagrams.

But, we both know that what is in the pictures does not always make it to the vehicle......
 
For a Holley non-governor distributor (aluminum body) the dust cover can be retained if a portion is cut away. But I won't do that as it results in an irreplaceable part that is ruined. If feel that the primary reason for the cover is to reduce moisture condensation and keep it away from the breaker points, with an electronic trigger conversion that's just not needed.

All distributors must be vented in some manner, some have a small hole drilled in the cap under a bail which acts as a water baffle. Others have a hole in the bottom of the body. Stuff gets inside no matter what, thus a distributor needs to be periodically maintained , no matter which trigger is present. Otherwise the advance system sticks/seizes and becomes inop. I do distributors every week now that don't need to be rebuilt, they just need to be disassembled completely and cleaned/lubed. Makes an amazing difference in engine performance when the advance systems operates as designed!

I see the dust cap for the 1510 distributors in the service references, I've just never seen any in actual service. The one 1510 w/governor, no tach) I saw about three months ago that was a virgin under the hood (in a loadstar) was still onna points diet but had no dust cover.

The reman Holley distributors from a-1 cardone (available from any parts house, rockauto, and napa) will have a vacuum advance can, but no dust cap.
 
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