Distributor

Distributors from 1964 through 1966 were generally cast iron while 1967 and later were aluminum. 1964 through 1966 units have a codes embossed on an aluminum band while the 1967 and later units have the codes stamped into the housing.

The date code on a distributor is simple to decode. It includes the year, month and day such as 7K25. This decodes to 1967, October, 25th. Month codes are A through M for January through December (omitting 'I').

One astute reader has measured the outside diameter of several original distributors. The main body where numbers and dates are stamped is about 3.810-inches.  For about 0.200-inches down from the distributor cap mount the diameter is about 3.795-inches.  If the main body has been turned to allow for new numbers to be stamped, it should be easy to tell if this area has a smaller diameter than 3.810-inches.

A - January B - February C - March D - April
E - May F - June G - July H - August
J - September K - October L - November M - December

Color Code Designations (shown in parentheses where available)

1 - No paint 2 - White 3 - Yellow 4 - Orange
5 - Pink 6 - Red 7 - Light Blue 8 - Blue
9 - Light Green 10 - Green 11 - Gray 12 - Brown
13 - Black 14 - Purple    

1964 ~ ENGINE NUMBER
283 195hp 1111015
283 220hp 1111051
327 all 1111016
1965 ~ ENGINE NUMBER
283 195hp/220hp (1) 1111015
327 350hp (5) 1111071
327 350hp w/transistor ignition (5) 1111072
396 375hp w/transistor ignition 1111074
327 250hp/300hp 1111075
396 375hp (3 until 5/66, 1 after) 1111094
1966 ~ ENGINE NUMBER
396 375hp w/transistor ignition (2) 1111074
396 375hp (2) 1111100
396 325hp (1) 1111109
327 275hp w/PG 1111112
327 275hp w/A.I.R. (5-10) 1111116
396 325hp w/transistor ignition (lead wire 4) (2-10) 1111137
396 360hp (5) 1111138
396 360hp w/transistor ignition  (lead wire 2-10) (5) 1111139
283 195hp/220hp (12) 1111150 - 6A20
1111150 - 6F21
327 275hp 1st design w/o A.I.R. (10) 1111152
327 350hp 1st design (3) 1111154
327 275hp 2nd design 1111193
327 350hp 2nd design 1111195
1967 ~ ENGINE NUMBER
283 195hp 1111150
396 325hp All, 396 350hp w/A.I.R. 1111169 - 7F12
396 350hp All exc. A.I.R, 396 375 1111170
327 325hp (3) 1111195
327 275hp (10) 1111249
283 195hp w/A.I.R. (6-12) 1111256
396 325hp w/transistor ignition (unverified) (2-10) 1111277
1968 ~ ENGINE NUMBER
327 250hp (12) 1111150
396 325hp All, 396 350hp automatic 1111169 - 8D17
396 375hp 1111170
307 200hp automatic, 307 200hp manual (2nd design)  (7) 1111257
327 275hp automatic (10) 1111297
327 275hp manual (9) 1111298 - 8A15
307 200hp manual (1st design) 1111439
327 325hp (1st design) 1111444 - 7J16
396 350hp manual (6) 1111445 - 7G24
327 325hp (2nd design) (4) 1111448
1969 ~ ENGINE NUMBER
307 200hp (7-12) 1111481
350 250hp manual (6-12) 1111486
350 250hp automatic (12) 1111487
350 300hp manual (6-8) 1111488
350 300hp automatic (8) 1111489 - 9J9
396 325hp 111497 - 8H8
1111497 - 9C26
396 350hp manual (6) 1111498
396 350hp automatic, 375 hp all (14) 1111499 - restored
350 255hp automatic (4) 1111955 - 8J23
1111955 - 8K9
1111955 - 9B5
1111955 - 9B18
350 255hp manual (4-6) 1111956
1970 ~ ENGINE NUMBER
454 450hp 1111437 - 9L11
1111437 - 9M10
454 360hp 1111963
307 200hp manual 1111985
350 300hp manual 1111996
350 300hp automatic 1111997
402 330hp all 1111998
402 350hp manual 1111999 - 0B24
402 350hp automatic/375hp all 1112000 - 9G15
350 250hp manual 1112001 - 0E25
350 250hp automatic 1112002
307 200hp automatic 1112005
1971 ~ ENGINE NUMBER
307 200hp manual 1112005 - 0J11
350 245hp automatic 1112005 - 0J11
307 200hp automatic 1112039
350 245hp manual 1112042
350 275hp manual 1112044
350 275hp automatic 1112045
454 365hp 1112052
454 425hp automatic 1112054
402 300hp 1112057
454 425hp manual 1112075
Specifications per GM  
1972 ~ ENGINE NUMBER
307 130hp manual (1st design)
350 165hp all (1st design)
1112005
307 130hp automatic (1st design)
350 175hp manual (1st design)
1112039
350 175hp automatic (1st design) 1112045
402 240hp all 1112057
454 270hp all 1112052 - 1H19
307 130hp manual (2nd design)
350 165hp all (2nd design)
1112314
307 130hp automatic (2nd design) 1112147
350 175hp manual (2nd design) 1112152
350 175hp automatic (2nd design) 1112154

Photos

Courtesy Byron Miller
1966 283, 1967 283, and 1968 327 - June 21, 1966


1968 327/325hp - September 16, 1967 (note yellow paint daub)



1968 327/275hp - January 15, 1968 (note light green paint daub)

Courtesy Byron Miller
1969 350/255hp - September 23, 1968 (note orange paint daub)

Before restoration
1969 L78 - January 15, 1969

Before and after restoration...

After restoration


1969 L78 - December 28, 1968

Anyone with photos of distributor numbers not shown or listed is invited to share.