I'm currently building a parts inventory to convert my Cutlass to TBI. I've got most everything covered except the distributor. Since Olds never had a divorced coil, what distributor can I use? I have a couple of Chevrolet distributors off of junkyard TBI pulls, but an Olds distributor rotation is opposite of a Chevrolet and too short. It seems one could simply put the drive gear off of an Oldsmobile HEI onto a different distributor, and go with it, but Olds used that stumpy distributor design. I used to hate computers on cars, but that was because of CCC and vacuum hoses. TBI is so simple, and it will greatly clean up my engine bay. I found a company online selling kits, but they have a photo of a Chevrolet distributor in the photo??? Any ideas?
Oldsmobile V8 TBI question
- Thread starter CutlassGT
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I believe you have to use a 307 ccc distributor, but not positive. I am sure Olds307and403 will chime in, as he has swapped an Olds 350 in his truck and is using the tbi system.
Yes, use the CCC distributor. The only difference between the small cap, divorce coil distributor is one extra ground wire. The wire colours were even the same. The Mega Squirt web site made it very clear. Also don't run 0 degrees(for sbc) base timing, ran terrible at 2 and below. I am running 18 base and 50 at idle with advance. I need new exhaust and O2 sensor badly, dumping fuel especially when cold. The truck runs too rich right now. Start at 10 base and go from there. A custom chip is best considering the sbc likes much less initial and less advance. I am getting new exhaust and O2 this week, will report back on the results.
If I use the original dist. then that is one less part to hunt down. I also have an unopened '72 Olds 350 with the points dist. (I guess technically that would be a divorced coil setup...) If I can find a way to get a tach signal to the computer from that, life would be good. I'm just hoping someone else has ventured in that direction, and can steer me clear of their mistakes. I had originally looked into Megasquirt, and haven't ruled it out, but I obtained an entire TBI setup for dirt cheap, so I'll go that route first.
403 in an'88? Sweet. I just carried one to the machine shop, but it was too far gone. I wouldn't let them bore more than 30 over, so now it is going to be a shop table when I finish painting it. There are other 403's lurking in backyards waiting for me.
No, I'm using the computer, TBI and sensors from a 1990 305 Caprice. I have two complete systems, and I'm currently preparing to convert my truck to TBI since it is much less complicated. When I get that going well, the Cutlass is next.
403 in an'88? Sweet. I just carried one to the machine shop, but it was too far gone. I wouldn't let them bore more than 30 over, so now it is going to be a shop table when I finish painting it. There are other 403's lurking in backyards waiting for me.
No, I'm using the computer, TBI and sensors from a 1990 305 Caprice. I have two complete systems, and I'm currently preparing to convert my truck to TBI since it is much less complicated. When I get that going well, the Cutlass is next.
CutlassGT said:
I'm currently collecting the same parts. I figure that a 305 TBI PROM should run a stock 307 without reprogramming (though be aware that I think the Caprice PROM has VATS enabled). As noted, you need the stock 307 CCC distributor. The seven pin module in that HEI has exactly the same functions as the one in the Chevy divorced coil distributor. You just need to change the connector in the harness. If you are planning to run the ESC module, get the knock sensor and ESC module from a 1989-1990 307. I'm not convinced that there is much of a difference, but they have different part numbers from those for the 305. Are you using an in-tank pump or the Carter P5001 external pump?
Of course, what you really want is one of these :wink: :
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