Horizontal vs Vertical Distributor

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alfarop1999

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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

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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
9869D000-95DB-4CAE-95CD-3C3B0DA84D00.jpeg

1996+
4DD4DFB8-94B4-4237-B445-B0A71D63A350.jpeg
 
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alfarop1999

alfarop1999

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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

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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

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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.
 
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alfarop1999

alfarop1999

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Sorry for the late reply, here is what im working with, hope these help.
348355210_562850002422648_1123662018340618561_n.jpg348356490_1287733138504147_5541908866003339816_n.jpg346100840_6711038355590470_1262616246681945193_n.jpg342028066_251203393965496_5012773407576673887_n.jpg348360796_246134181343141_7699301953709537678_n.jpg
 

east302

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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.

IMG_5290.jpeg

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.

IMG_5288.jpeg
IMG_5289.jpeg

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

IMG_5293.jpeg
 
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j91z28d1

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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

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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.
 

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