What's the deal with the crank sensor variations?

[INEEDAGN]

Ok its been mentioned on here before that there's 2 different styles of crank sensor and the brackets to match them are different as well. The one on my early build 86 engine is original and is different than the one on my 87. So was my 87 swapped at some point in time or was this a running change? Is the original design less reliable? Asking mostly out of curiosity but if the originals are less reliable I would rather get rid of it now especially since it appears I've accumulated 3 new GM crank sensor/bracket assemblies. I'm a sensor hoarder.

 

[TurboBuRick]

I believe the change was made down the road. The early design had the sensor sandwiched in its own bracket where the later design is not. IMO one is'nt better than the other. If its not broke, don't fix.

Rick

 

[GNVenom]

Here's some info. Note the image of the 87 style assembly has the sensor upside-down (the red herring) and finally one person spotted it...took a few years!
http://www.installationinstructions.com/FYI/cranksensortech.pdf

 

[2QUIK6]

Thanks for that info John! I seem to have both types on the self and didnt notice there was a difference.

 

[INEEDAGN]

thanks John (and others)

 

[INEEDAGN]

The one on "skidmark" is the original early 86 sensor. If it's even remotely more failure prone i might as well swap it sometime when it's on the hoist. I have 3 new sensors here that I don't plan to sell.