Ralph:
Here is the response and the questions I asked Dick Patterson:
From: Dick Paterson [SMTP:dick]
Sent: Monday, May 18, 1998 8:47 PM
To: s9d3452
Subject: gmc dist.
Paul:.
The distributor that you saw at the Rally is one of the typical
high performance units that I build by Springfield Ignition. The unit
actually has less timing than the original one because the pump gas
available today is so poor by comparison to the gas of the 70's you
can't run it without being on the edge of detonation. Fuel with gasohol
rating causes the motor to run lean, and with the load and heat of the
GMC this causes the problem. The solution is to limit the distributor
advance and to alter when the advance occurs. This is done by the
distributor weights, springs and the advance within the vacuum canister.
The features of the distributors are shown on our GMC web page.
If you go to GMC international site we are listed under service under
Paterson Pontiac then you will see Springfield ignition. With our
combination of module and coil these units put out significant voltage
to the plugs, so much so that you cant run original plug wires. It eats
them up internally in the carbon core, so an upgrade to a new
performance 8 mm plug wire is necessary.
I have been getting good results with the new rapid-fire AC
plugs gapped # .045 with reports of quicker starting ...better pulling
on the hills ... and increased fuel economy. Its hard to guarantee the
same results for every case because I don't always see the condition of
the distributor I'm replacing so the results will vary. In other words
if the old distributor was in tough shape the customer would feel a big
difference in the new one.
Dick Paterson
From: Bartz, Paul
Sent: Monday, March 16, 1998 10:47 AM
To: 'gmc'
Subject: GMC Motorhome Distributor
I saw the distributor you brought to the GMCMI Rally in NH last
September. Although I talked to you about it, I don't remember what
brand it was and what you put in it to get a higher, I believe, timing
advance.
Could you tell me again the above details and why you found it
important to have a higher timing advance? What advantages does your
distributor give the Motorhome?
Paul Bartz, Kalamazoo MI
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bartz, Paul [SMTP:s9d3452]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 1998 3:34 PM
> To: 'gmcmotorhome'
> Subject: GMC: RE: HEI distributor and oil cooler??
>
> Ralph:
>
> I know of several choices you can research to upgrade to an HEI
> equivalent.
>
> One is MSD in El Paso TX. They are a well respected name in
> performance ignition products and can be found in a store that sells
> automotive performance parts. Their Web address is:
> http://www.msdignition.com. You can even electronically request their
> catalog.
>
> The other is from Dick Paterson, who owns Dick Paterson Pontiac Buick
> Cadillac (http://www.paterson-gmc.com/~gmc/motorhome.html), located in
> Orilla Canada, which is N of Toronto. He also owns a GMC coach.
>
> At the GMCMI NH Rally last September, he brought a number of
> distributors to sell and he also conducted a seminar on
> overhauling/rebuilding the GMC engines, which they specialize in. I'm
> not sure if he is using new or refurbished/remanufactured distributors
> or not. He puts in a module that provides more advance than original.
>
>
> I sent him an e-mail to get more info and the rationale for more
> advance. Suspect he is attending the Las Vegas GMCMI Rally this week?
>
> Don't know if you saw and/or saved an e-mail I sent a week or so ago
> about where (A & G Carburetor, Oak Park IL) I had my carburetor
> overhauled, but they also do distributor overhaul by contracting out.
> When I mentioned that Dick Paterson reworks the advance, they
> questioned the need, given our application. We'll see.
>
> As soon as I hear back from Dick, I'll forward his response to the
> GMCnet.
>
> Regarding the transmission oil cooler, I seem to recall e-mail about
> that subject some months back (perhaps Patrick can confirm)? As I
> recall it talked about the plumbing of one and which line to put in.
> It's my understanding that most any aftermarket cooler will work and
> that you don't need the biggest sized one. Perhaps someone else has
> ideas, also.
>
> Paul Bartz
>
> From: Ralph Edelbach [SMTP:edelbach]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 1998 2:48 PM
> Subject: GMC: HEI distributor and oil cooler??
>
> I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has replaced the old points
> & condenser distributor system on their 455 with something more
> up-to-date and would like to share their experiences. Some type of
> HEI system sounds the best to me but what units have you found to be
> good? Sources?????
>
> I'm trying to get some of the "little" things done before traveling
> this summer so I am presently replacing the carpets, installing a new
> sink and stove as well as putting in front seats from a Plymouth
> Voyager. The power driver's seat is really nice and I know it is
> comfortable since one of my family cars is a 1990 Voyager with the get
> into the ideal range. I'm also going to fabricate steel posts to hold
> the shoulder harnesses on both sides so we're not just relying on the
> lap belts. Lots of little things to do but that is fun ---- at least
> so far.
>
> Also, anyone have a good oil-cooler set-up to recommend? Seems as it
> that would be a good addition but any thoughts would be appreciated.
Here is the response and the questions I asked Dick Patterson:
From: Dick Paterson [SMTP:dick]
Sent: Monday, May 18, 1998 8:47 PM
To: s9d3452
Subject: gmc dist.
Paul:.
The distributor that you saw at the Rally is one of the typical
high performance units that I build by Springfield Ignition. The unit
actually has less timing than the original one because the pump gas
available today is so poor by comparison to the gas of the 70's you
can't run it without being on the edge of detonation. Fuel with gasohol
rating causes the motor to run lean, and with the load and heat of the
GMC this causes the problem. The solution is to limit the distributor
advance and to alter when the advance occurs. This is done by the
distributor weights, springs and the advance within the vacuum canister.
The features of the distributors are shown on our GMC web page.
If you go to GMC international site we are listed under service under
Paterson Pontiac then you will see Springfield ignition. With our
combination of module and coil these units put out significant voltage
to the plugs, so much so that you cant run original plug wires. It eats
them up internally in the carbon core, so an upgrade to a new
performance 8 mm plug wire is necessary.
I have been getting good results with the new rapid-fire AC
plugs gapped # .045 with reports of quicker starting ...better pulling
on the hills ... and increased fuel economy. Its hard to guarantee the
same results for every case because I don't always see the condition of
the distributor I'm replacing so the results will vary. In other words
if the old distributor was in tough shape the customer would feel a big
difference in the new one.
Dick Paterson
From: Bartz, Paul
Sent: Monday, March 16, 1998 10:47 AM
To: 'gmc'
Subject: GMC Motorhome Distributor
I saw the distributor you brought to the GMCMI Rally in NH last
September. Although I talked to you about it, I don't remember what
brand it was and what you put in it to get a higher, I believe, timing
advance.
Could you tell me again the above details and why you found it
important to have a higher timing advance? What advantages does your
distributor give the Motorhome?
Paul Bartz, Kalamazoo MI
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bartz, Paul [SMTP:s9d3452]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 1998 3:34 PM
> To: 'gmcmotorhome'
> Subject: GMC: RE: HEI distributor and oil cooler??
>
> Ralph:
>
> I know of several choices you can research to upgrade to an HEI
> equivalent.
>
> One is MSD in El Paso TX. They are a well respected name in
> performance ignition products and can be found in a store that sells
> automotive performance parts. Their Web address is:
> http://www.msdignition.com. You can even electronically request their
> catalog.
>
> The other is from Dick Paterson, who owns Dick Paterson Pontiac Buick
> Cadillac (http://www.paterson-gmc.com/~gmc/motorhome.html), located in
> Orilla Canada, which is N of Toronto. He also owns a GMC coach.
>
> At the GMCMI NH Rally last September, he brought a number of
> distributors to sell and he also conducted a seminar on
> overhauling/rebuilding the GMC engines, which they specialize in. I'm
> not sure if he is using new or refurbished/remanufactured distributors
> or not. He puts in a module that provides more advance than original.
>
>
> I sent him an e-mail to get more info and the rationale for more
> advance. Suspect he is attending the Las Vegas GMCMI Rally this week?
>
> Don't know if you saw and/or saved an e-mail I sent a week or so ago
> about where (A & G Carburetor, Oak Park IL) I had my carburetor
> overhauled, but they also do distributor overhaul by contracting out.
> When I mentioned that Dick Paterson reworks the advance, they
> questioned the need, given our application. We'll see.
>
> As soon as I hear back from Dick, I'll forward his response to the
> GMCnet.
>
> Regarding the transmission oil cooler, I seem to recall e-mail about
> that subject some months back (perhaps Patrick can confirm)? As I
> recall it talked about the plumbing of one and which line to put in.
> It's my understanding that most any aftermarket cooler will work and
> that you don't need the biggest sized one. Perhaps someone else has
> ideas, also.
>
> Paul Bartz
>
> From: Ralph Edelbach [SMTP:edelbach]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 1998 2:48 PM
> Subject: GMC: HEI distributor and oil cooler??
>
> I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has replaced the old points
> & condenser distributor system on their 455 with something more
> up-to-date and would like to share their experiences. Some type of
> HEI system sounds the best to me but what units have you found to be
> good? Sources?????
>
> I'm trying to get some of the "little" things done before traveling
> this summer so I am presently replacing the carpets, installing a new
> sink and stove as well as putting in front seats from a Plymouth
> Voyager. The power driver's seat is really nice and I know it is
> comfortable since one of my family cars is a 1990 Voyager with the get
> into the ideal range. I'm also going to fabricate steel posts to hold
> the shoulder harnesses on both sides so we're not just relying on the
> lap belts. Lots of little things to do but that is fun ---- at least
> so far.
>
> Also, anyone have a good oil-cooler set-up to recommend? Seems as it
> that would be a good addition but any thoughts would be appreciated.
