4 cyl and 8 cyl distrid ? difrences

[lilbluescout63]

i am assuming a 4 cyl and 8 cyl dist are difrent in that a 4 cyl only has 4 lobed and a 8 cyl has 8 lobes is this corect any 1?

[Mechanos]

Originally posted by lilbluescout63
i am assuming a 4 cyl and 8 cyl dist are difrent in that a 4 cyl only has 4 lobed and a 8 cyl has 8 lobes is this corect any 1?

Basically, yes, that is correct. Well, other than the cap only having 4 terminals instead of 8

[lilbluescout63]

thats what i thought and yes i know u cant use a 4 cyl dis cap on a 8 cyl lol but im also assuming you can put a 8 cyl lobe in a 4 cyl housing via 154 196 to a 304 as a 152 196 is bacicly a 304 in 1/2

[mrutledge]

I'm not certain about the 152, but the 196 is the right half of a 392.

[lilbluescout63]

the 152 is the 1/2 ove a 304 down to all the specks as the 196 is the 1/2 ove the other block the 152 and 196 are verry simulas with verry few difrences in my books thanks

[George Womack]

You can make a 4-cyl distributor into a V8 dist. and vice versa by swapping out the points cam and dist. cap. This is assuming you're swapping between two distributors of the same make. The Delco and Holley distributors are very different in construction and their parts won't interchange.

[Jeff Eggemeyer]

The cam lobe in a holley points disty is a part of the the upper shaft. Only way to remove it is to grind it off. BTDT.

Jeff

[George Womack]

The cam lobe in a holley points disty is a part of the the upper shaft. Only way to remove it is to grind it off.

?????

The cam is attached to the shaft, but is easily removed from the shaft after removing a small retaining clip.

[Jeff Eggemeyer]

George,

Yes, there is a small clip under the felt that allows you to remove the upper shaft. The one that actually contacts the centrifugal weights. However, the one I have, after removing the felt and clip, the upper shaft came right off. As for removing the cam lobe for the points, there was no retaining clip and there was no "just tapping it off". I had to grind mine down till it was round again. If yours "tapped right off" you had it easy, mine didn't tap off, no way no how.

Jeff

[George Womack]

Jeff-
We are talking about the same thing. What you are calling the "upper shaft", I am calling the points cam. IH calls this part CAM, BREAKER. This is the part I am talking about swapping. You are right in that the "cam" is part of the "upper shaft" and can't be removed. But this part can be swapped with another distributor to change from a 4-cyl to an 8-cyl and vice versa.