New Distributor 89 350 tbi — choices!?

Thanks y’all for this forum and the amazing help.

So, my truck (stock 89 K1500 5.7 tbi) is a rolling project … but, pretty tight mechanically.

This morning, 8 am downtown, the truck abruptly loses power, then a sort muffled backfire comes through the carburetor, and a poof of gray smoke comes from under the hood. Not a ton of smoke, just a few tendrils.

Truck is dead — like, no spark type of dead. Turns over fine, but not firing at all.

Get it rolled over to a parking lot, and swap out the new coil for an older one that I preemptively replaced.

Nothing. Still no firing. Used gas and starting fluid to make sure.

The ignition has already been entirely replaced, but when I did that … I bought a POS distributor for $45 because I needed the truck going and it was available right then.

Had planned on replacing it anyway when I got some time— looks like it is time.

I’m about 90% certain that’s what failed.

I’ve gonna throw the old one in there to be certain, but regardless I am putting a new one in there.

Looking at options and suggestions on the forums here i am f’n confused.

I’m good and following instructions and such, but y’all get technical and it goes right over my head.

The AC/Delco 19179575 is about $280, which is fine, I guess — but if I’m paying that much is there a better choice?

Again, a stock 89 K1500 5.7 tbi

I see the Delphi CZ20001 Distributor recommended, but it’s not a bunch cheaper, although it at least cones w the cap and assorted pieces.

I saw a couple other ones recommended, but just wasn’t certain if those were for my specific.

Bottom-line, i want something bullet proof. I looked at like a marine one, but I just wasn’t brave enough to pull the trigger unless I’m sure it’s the right one for my truck.

If price was not a huge object, and you were setting up a 89 Chevy K1500 5.7 tbi for your grandpa, what would you choose for a distributor?

My original distributer and ICM lasted for 31 years and it was still functioning when I replaced it. Only replaced it because I spotted rust-jacking under the star wheel causing it to be deformed and rub. I went with the GM rebuilt distributer from RockAuto hoping for similar reliability. No complaints so far. I disassembled my old distributer just for kicks and realized it could be rebuilt fairly easily. $200 in parts and some elbow grease and now I have the original as a spare just in case.

I bought a Spectra Premium distributor, within 2000 miles the ICM and my Pertronix Flame Thrower coil went out. The truck would surge cruising at ~2000 RPM. I replaced the ICM with an ACDelco D1984A ICM which got rid of the surging but the engine stumbled at idle until I replaced the coil. I put in an Accel high output coil which lasted maybe 6 months before the engine would die when going through the car wash. Now I'm running an ACDelco GM original coil 19418995 since Sept, last year.

Other guys have run the lifetime guarantee dizzy from O'Reillys with good luck, so far as I know. At least, if they have any issues, they can get it exchanged.

I've bought a couple from here, quality made:

studigggs said:

My original distributer and ICM lasted for 31 years and it was still functioning when I replaced it. Only replaced it because I spotted rust-jacking under the star wheel causing it to be deformed and rub. I went with the GM rebuilt distributer from RockAuto hoping for similar reliability. No complaints so far. I disassembled my old distributer just for kicks and realized it could be rebuilt fairly easily. $200 in parts and some elbow grease and now I have the original as a spare just in case.

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Yeah, I am kicking myself. The original got misplaced somewhere in a move, as my plan was to just rebuild that, and run the cheapo temporarily.

studigggs said:

My original distributer and ICM lasted for 31 years and it was still functioning when I replaced it. Only replaced it because I spotted rust-jacking under the star wheel causing it to be deformed and rub. I went with the GM rebuilt distributer from RockAuto hoping for similar reliability. No complaints so far. I disassembled my old distributer just for kicks and realized it could be rebuilt fairly easily. $200 in parts and some elbow grease and now I have the original as a spare just in case.

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If it’s too involved, dont worry about it …

But, what do you replace w a rebuild? Everything?

Or do you kinda play it by ear on the bearings?

I assume the ICM and coil at a minimum.

I picked up a used OEM distributor for $40, so I’m going to bandaid the truck together for the moment, and use that as the base for my new one.

Looked around but it seemed pretty ad hoc the way guys approach it.

Saw a kit for HEI, but not for mine.

Just some guidelines would be appreciated, if you have the time.

I got a $100 amazon card for christmas, so I’m going to get what I can from those ******** …

I'm not the best for providing guidelines as i've done a total of 1 distributor rebuilds in my days. I just started taking everything apart. I had already purchased an OEM rebuilt distributor, so didn't really care if i ruined it. I started the disassembly with the goal of simply recovering the drive shaft in case I ever dropped a new motor in the old girl and needed to prime the oil system.

Roll pin holding the drive gear on was the only technical part, everything else just involved tapping/pulling/prying. a right-sized punch and a bench vise were the only tools I needed. My pickup coil was completely disintegrated, exposed wires everywhere, plastic was crumbling. I'm not sure how it was still working. My "star wheel" was warped and rusted to the point where it contacted and wore down the reluctor, so needed a new one of those. Didn't see where I could just buy the star wheel to press onto the shaft, so bought the OEM shaft/star wheel combo on RockAuto. Took one of my rifle wire brushes on a drill and cleaned up the shaft bore with some WD-40. The only two wear areas I inspected were the teeth on the drive gear and the play of the shaft in the bore. Both seemed good so threw new parts at it and tucked it away in the parts bin.

Parts:
(1) Star Wheel/Shaft: GM GENUINE 10467353
(1) Pickup Coil (comes with retaining clips) GM GENUINE D1987
(1) Star Wheel Reluctor STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS LX372
(1) ICM GM GENUINE D1984A
Cap and Rotor I had laying around for future tune ups.

Hope that helps.

The new delphi unit I got for my c2500 works great

User_name said:

The new delphi unit I got for my c2500 works great

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Dont believe Delphi makes a new TBI distributor. For the 96 and up engines, perhaps, but the 88-95 trucks you have aftermarket options which are ridiculously cheap to have any quality to them (in my opinion) or the ACDelco reman which is ~$300.

Long story short: Buy the O'Reilly distributor with the lifetime guarantee.

My experience dictates to not overthink it. We're dealing with aftermarket junk from wherever they can get it manufactured at the highest profit margin. Go with whatever supplier will be in business for awhile and which offers a no hassle lifetime guarantee, while they still exist.

My truck is also an '89. It's died on me a couple of times for ignition related woes but the latest had me replace the coil and ignition control module. Used a A/C Delco ICM and Standard Motor Products blue coil. Coil tested dead in the box, think I then tried a Delphi coil, that or the Delphi coil was 1st and the SMP 2nd. Truck fired up with fluttery tach, which seems to be a precursor to ignition failure so that was no good. Debated sinking ~$400 for A/C Delco's distributor and decided to buy O'Reilly's version instead, came complete gear to cap, unlike Delco's. This was important to me as the Accel cap & rotor I tried to use with the existing distributor were so bad the rotor was smacking the cap. O'Reilly's was the ticket, truck runs great with no tach flutter.