Distributor swap

Tiny
JAKELAWRENCE
  • MEMBER
  • 1985 CHEVROLET 1500
  • 4.3L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 150,000 MILES
I got a c10 Scottsdale given to me and dad said it kept burning out the ignition control module even after replacing everything in the distributor except the pick up. I ordered a brand new complete distributor but didn't realise the ignition module was a 5 prong on the old one and has more wires going into it, new one is 4 and the site I ordered from won't take returns. Can I use the new one anyway without the "extra" wires?
Monday, September 9th, 2019 AT 12:15 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,144 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

Honestly, it matters what is missing. I wouldn't recommend it, though. Was there anything that was said indicating it may be wrong? Was it ordered using paypal because they can often help.

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, September 9th, 2019 AT 6:54 PM
Tiny
JAKELAWRENCE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I ordered it with my credit card. Nothing was said there might be a difference. There were 2 coil in cap hei options but I couldn't really tell the difference by the pictures I just figured it was brand options. After doing some digging I found one of the wires is a ground, one is to either advance or retard the timing on start up for higher compression engines to make it easier, and the others are for (knock control?) Never heard of that on a carbureted engine though.
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 7:00 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,144 POSTS
I attached a picture of the distributor schematic. It shows the wires and where they go. Let me know if it helps.

Joe
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 5:53 PM
Tiny
JAKELAWRENCE
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  • 3 POSTS
JACOBANDNICKOLAS is that for a distributor that looks like this? Well at least roughly.
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 7:18 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,144 POSTS
Welcome back:

Honestly, they all really look similar. The schematic I provide is specific to your vehicle. I would hate to say yes to the picture and be wrong. Does it look like that? It does, but it could be different internally. I hope you understand.

If you are looking at parts online, it is going to be tough to determine if you are getting the correct one until it is delivered. You may want to consider taking the old one to a parts store so they can match it up with exactly the same thing. I would hate to hear you lost more money on a wrong part.

Joe
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Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 AT 7:40 PM

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