Horizontal vs Vertical Distributor

alfarop1999 · Mar 27, 2023

Looking online my 1996 Yukon SLT 4x4 is supposed to have the horizontal distributor with one electrical connection, but come to find out it is actually vertical cap with 2 vertical connections.
The thing that gets me is that I cant have both electrical connections plugged, so leaving one unplugged gives me a start up.
Any input is appreciated.

east302 · Mar 27, 2023

It sounds like a TBI distributor cap (1995 and under). The 96 vortec 5.7 (L31) came with the horizontal cap. Is it the original engine…or actually a 95 model? The 96 wouldn’t have come with two connectors - just one for the cam sensor.

Edit: a picture is easier…

1992-95

1996+

alfarop1999 · Mar 28, 2023

east302 said:
It sounds like a TBI distributor cap (1995 and under). The 96 vortec 5.7 (L31) came with the horizontal cap. Is it the original engine…or actually a 95 model? The 96 wouldn’t have come with two connectors - just one for the cam sensor.

I definitely have the 96+ 350, ac condensor on the driver side, alternator on the passenger side. Ill take pics of the distributor setup and wires.

Eman85 · Mar 28, 2023

Does it still have the factory intake and injection like the pics above? Never see anything but the horizontal style distributor cap on a Vortec. What is in the distributor? Is there anything besides the rotor in there?

drakon543 · Mar 29, 2023

definitely going to need to see what your working with to help you out here. 96 and up was all horizontal unless its been swapped out with a different distributor. if you have a coil ontop of the distributor someone swapped it with the older hei system for some reason. might have to follow the wires to see if there's another box hidden somewhere for the ignition system. there are performance distributors that are vertical that have 2 electrical hookups but they dont look like the old hei and will still have a separate mounted coil. those will also require extra connections to make it work.

alfarop1999 · May 18, 2023

Sorry for the late reply, here is what im working with, hope these help.

89Suburban · May 18, 2023

Man I don't miss that distributor crap.

east302 · May 19, 2023

Yeah, looks like someone swapped out the stock distributor, coil and module and spliced in the harnesses. Vortecs used a coil and module mounted together with a heat sink. It looks like you might still have the coil connector.

A run to a junkyard may be the easiest way to get the stock connectors. The cam position sensor connector may still be back there…it’s connected to the main run in the back next to the oil pressure sensor wiring.

Oh, and that vent tube on your evap purge switch shouldn’t have the bolt plugging it.

j91z28d1 · Jun 2, 2023

wow that looks like a old tpi camaro dizzy stuffed in a vortec. I'm impressed that runs.

you'd think it's missing the cam signal and stuff

89Suburban · Jun 3, 2023

j91z28d1 said:
wow that looks like a old tpi camaro dizzy stuffed in a vortec. I'm impressed that runs.

you'd think it's missing the cam signal and stuff

Years ago I took a CCC/HEI system and stabbed it into an old Mopar small block motor in one of my Ramchargers.

Horizontal vs Vertical Distributor

alfarop1999

TYF Newbie

east302

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alfarop1999

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Eman85

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drakon543

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alfarop1999

TYF Newbie

89Suburban

Bull in the china shop

east302

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j91z28d1

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89Suburban

Bull in the china shop

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