stock distributor "upgrade"

[Nacho-RT74]

if was posible ( which I think could be ) upgrade a stock distributor with bearings to replace the brass bushings. Would you use ball bearings or needle ( caged of course ) bearings ?

I think needle bearings are easier to fit into the dist housing, and to slide the shaft into the bearings

[Bronzedodge]

If it comes apart, and there's a hole in the oil pickup...needle bearings suck.

[Nacho-RT74]

If it comes apart the distributor could already failed and won't matter anymore LOL.

The needle bearing is just an idea because is the easier to install with the small area to mount bearings there. Reading some needle bearing specs around, they are available to handle up to 20K rpms or even more ( i.e. Rear alt bearing ) and with loads ( i.e. Universal joints ).

[c00nhunterjoe]

Im curious as to why?

[Nacho-RT74]

Well I have an extra housing around to play with it, and most important... why not ?LOL Billet distributors runs over bearings. Bearings are more durable than bushings. I have already had to change them once. Small block are not a big deal because dist is vertical, but Big Block gets worn the bushing easier due the position and this makes a the gap to change.

[c00nhunterjoe]

The ball bearing will be more readily available most likely and more then heavy enough.

[Nacho-RT74]

Ok... well, would need to find some what still fit into the housing. There is not a huge amount of meat around there to fit a ball bearing.

I still don't have the measurements to search for options by the moments

[John_Kunkel]

The factory distributor shaft is 1/2" OD, you could probably find a caged needle bearing that would fit in the narrow neck of the distributor housing but such bearings need a constant flow of oil. A sealed ball bearing would work but it would be too large to fit in the housing, especially the lower part.

This is a case where the bushing excels, it is small in OD and isn't as critical of lubrication as bearings are.

[Nacho-RT74]

Well, lets see, the alternator rear bearing, which is caged needle but capped never gets lubricated more than the grease you pack it up when assembling. Sure the sealed end helps to keep the grease in place. And also being horizontal.

Yes thats what I think about the problem with sealed ball bearings. Is not a big problem on top, but really a problem on bottom.

let's see what I find. Is something I have had allways in mind with the extra housing I have. Sure won't be soon either because my car and all the parts are in Vzla and I'm in Spain right now. A friend of mine with a 73 also thought on that