Correct Distributor For 83 TType?

[KJ Anderson]

I'm helping my son with an 83 T Type Regal project. It's a pretty solid car, but there has been some rigging on it, and is missing a few things here and there. We're at the point of getting it fired up, and I'm wondering if it has the correct distributor on it. It is a standard HEI with a vac advance on it, with no connection for ecm control. The part stores show two types for this year turbo car: one vac advance that's stand alone, and another without vac advance, with what looks like an extra place for a 3 pin connector (ecm?). Help is appreciated!

 

[charlief1]

GM stopped using vacuum advance pots on the distributors in either 80 or 81 for the TB's. You need to get a new parts store if they're telling you they still used them. They may have been used on some export models but not if the car was sold in the US.

 

[KJ Anderson]

GM stopped using vacuum advance pots on the distributors in either 80 or 81 for the TB's. You need to get a new parts store if they're telling you they still used them. They may have been used on some export models but not if the car was sold in the US.

Exactly what I thought. Now I have the non-vac advance type. It has the harness that plugs into the cap, and appears to have a 3 pin spot for a connector inside the distributor. Should there be a harness with a connector going to something that controls the timing, like a esc?

 

[KJ Anderson]

Here's the new one with the 3 pins on the left.

 

[charlief1]

You're missing part of the harness but that's the right distributor. The part you're missing is still available but you'll need to go through the books to find a part number.

 

[b4black]

The turbo and non-turbo 3.8 use the same distributor in 1983. (Might help when looking for the missing harness.)

 

[usetaboost]

I have a distributor if you need one.