Expert: Brad Sears - 11/15/2009

Question
Hi, I recently purchased a 65 impala. In the basement was a box of parts for the car including a delco Remy transistor distributor part # 1111098  made in January 11 1965. I can not find anywhere information about this distributor. I would like to use it in the engine, but only if it is original. I have searched for days on the internet looking for information with no luck. I also have contacted other knowledgable people, they also can not pin point it. They say probably full size vehile Any help is appreciated. Thanks Steve

Answer
This answer is based on the fact that I was an auto tech in that era plus research in my reference material. In 1965 Pontiac offered an electronic ignition system in the Grand Prix line. The distributor was a transistorized unit and operated an amplifier box on the fire wall to trigger the ignition coil. It was a precursor of the HEI system that was to come later. To my knowledge it was not used on any Chevrolet model cars in 1965 and I cannot find any reference to it for Chevrolet in 1965. In 1966 we had a customer in the shop who had one of these cars and when it failed we converted the car back to point ignition.
Brad