Swapping distributor

[robert97dodge]

I am about to be swapping my distributor on my carbed '87 350 to a distributor from a '88 TBI set up. I believe the new distributor is called HEI or something like that. IT has the coil mounted seperatly from the cap. Anyways I was wandering what is the best way to go about swapping them and makeing sure that the one I am putting in is the same direction or whatever as the one coming out? If the rotor is pointing to the number one cylinder does that mean is is TDC like on a magnum 360? Any tips would be good. Also anyone have the firing order and spark plug pattern on the cap for a '88 K5 blazer with the TBI 350?

 

[ryan22re]

I don't think that will work.

Your old distributor is the HEI. The new dist. needs the TBI ecu to control the timing. Unless you are swapping the whole TBI, it shouldn't work.

Plus, I thought that all 87's were injected. At least the 87 I had was.

Whats wrong with the dizzy from the 87?

 

[robert97dodge]

I don't think that will work.

Your old distributor is the HEI. The new dist. needs the TBI ecu to control the timing. Unless you are swapping the whole TBI, it shouldn't work.

Plus, I thought that all 87's were injected. At least the 87 I had was.

Whats wrong with the dizzy from the 87?

I am converting the motor from carb to TBI. I am just wanting some tips on swapping distributors and not mess up my timing to far. My motor is from a '88 suburban. It was still carb. I think it was just K5 blazers that were TBI in 87.

 

[dremu]

I am converting the motor from carb to TBI. I am just wanting some tips on swapping distributors and not mess up my timing to far. My motor is from a '88 suburban. It was still carb. I think it was just K5 blazers that were TBI in 87.

Somebody been lying to you, son.

All the Chebby trucks were TBI from '87 on, including Burbs and pickemups and Blazers.

If your motor is carb'd, it's either been changed, or it's '86-and-older.

Anyway, I donno 'cuz I lost mine in the divorce, but can't you just switch intake manifolds, carb-to-TBI, regardless of year, and be done with it?

-- A

 

[ryan22re]

At any rate, to answer your question, put the engine up on TDC, cylinder #1. Pull the #1 spark plug, and rotate over until it blows you finger off of the hole. Check to see that the old dizzy is pointing to #1, and the timing mark lines up on the balancer. Install the dizzy so that the rotor points to #1 on the cap. You will probably have to rotate the oil pump drive (with a straight slot screwdriver) to get the dizzy to fall back in the same spot. Or just put it in and pull it out a couple of times until it does.

Firing order (in case you didn't know) 18436572

 

[4X4HIGH]

1987 and later GM engines were all TBI. If the heads are center bolt valve cover and never been off the engine is definately 1987-1995. Does the current distributor have the coil in the cap? Every distributor from 1975 on is a HEI 1975-1986 had the coil in cap and 1987 on had coil external mounted of the cap.