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Help me identify and source a distributor cap


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This is not something that seems like it should be difficult, but I've so far been completely unable to find a new distributor cap to fit my car. I'm seriously wondering if I don't have a stock distributor. Mine has captive screws to hold the cap on, which are threaded directly into the distributor body. The only caps I've been able to find anywhere, locally or online, are ones that clip on. Rock Auto had a picture of one with the screws, but when it arrived it was also a clip-on one.

 

Here's what mine looks like:

 

2015-06-03%2012.49.39_zpsg5yizivw.jpg

 

2015-06-03%2012.49.55_zpsdlsau2nh.jpg

 

2015-06-03%2012.50.10_zpssdoyobs8.jpg

 

It's got a Nippondenso logo on it, but I can't seem to find a replacement. Anyone know where I could get one? Or, as an alternative, I suppose a more standard distributor would also help.

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If that is an EA71, its a Denso points style with single advance. I see PACE SETTER Part # C605Z may fit, it has holes and specifically mentions the Denso distributor. All the Hitachi units are clip on, and I even think the electronic ignition Denso units are clip on as well. 

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Hmm. Pacesetter #C605Z is the one that I bought from Rock Auto, and when it arrived it had clip mounts instead of holes. There's no number actually stamped into the part that I can find, so I suppose it's possible that it was boxed incorrectly.

 

EDIT: I have filled out a return form with them today, but I don't know yet if they have the right one. Still trying to hunt down a definitive answer as to what I need.

 

2015-06-26%2015.12.58_zpsojvdgctt.jpg

Edited by jnorion
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That certainly looks like the right one. The application list on that ad doesn't match my car, though, which is I think why I've been running into problems.

 

The car is a 1978 DL. To the best of my knowledge it has the 1.6L engine, as that's what would have been in there from the factory, but I bought the car a month ago from craigslist and know none of its history so it's entirely possible that something in there is not stock.

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ok Im pretty sure this is the cap you want

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Sorensen-GP-22-5026-Ignition-Distributor-Cap-1976-87-Subaru-Car-Truck-/381148854839?hash=item58be3dfa37&vxp=mtr

 

It has the offset lugs next to the screws

 

TOONGA

 

Ah, yes, good catch. Definitely rotated correctly with the mounting screws not dead center.

 

 

Sweet, can't pass that price up! Bought it. We'll see if Rock Auto can come up with a correct replacement... if so, i'll have a spare as well, which is never a bad thing.

 

Thank you both for helping out.

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  • 2 weeks later...

OK seriously, WTF kind of distributor do I have on this car? I received both the one from ebay above and a replacement from Rock Auto, and although they both have the captive screws, neither one is correct. The screw holes are offset incorrectly. Look at the bottom mount hole:

 

2015-07-08%2020.01.07_zpsm5ktmp6m.jpg

 

Here's the side-by-side comparison of the screw holes:

 

distributor-caps_zpstvll2qtd.jpg

 

This one's close enough that I may be able to just hack it together... the rear screw goes in just fine, and the whole thing sits nicely on the inner lip of the distributor, so I can probably just clamp the front somehow. Still very frustrating though.

 

For reference, here's the inside of the distributor:

 

2015-07-08%2020.03.47_zpsnbbo3xzt.jpg

 

Looks like that could probably also use a good clean and rebuild, but I don't think that's causing any of the current problem.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I read that someone asked for the part number of the dizzy which may help - don't yet see it in text, maybe in pics ?

 

Anyone notice the direction of rotation on the top of the two caps when pictured side by side ?

 

Not that it matters a lot, but one is counter, the other clock !

 

Time to do a distributorless , multi coiled ignition !!

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I read that someone asked for the part number of the dizzy which may help - don't yet see it in text, maybe in pics ?

 

Anyone notice the direction of rotation on the top of the two caps when pictured side by side ?

 

Not that it matters a lot, but one is counter, the other clock !

 

Time to do a distributorless , multi coiled ignition !!

 

You're not missing anything in text or in pics... I haven't been able to find a part number on either the distributor or the cap. Haven't actually removed the distributor from the car, so it's likely that it's hidden in a hard-to-find spot.

 

I did notice that the rotation arrow on the cap was different, but I also didn't think that actually mattered. Does it? The contact points should be the same either way. That being said, the image on ebay didn't show that arrow, so I didn't know it was marked differently til I received it in any case.

 

How would one do a distributorless ignition on this car? 

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  • 1 month later...

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