Will 4.3 Distributor work with 3.0?

[Alumarine]

I can get a 1993, 4.3 distributor for a good price.
Can I use it in my 1980, 3.0?
If so, would this be a worthwhile upgrade?

thanks

 

[Rick Stephens]

Nope. Distributors have same number of lobes as cylinders.

 

[Alumarine]

Nope. Distributors have same number of lobes as cylinders.

Ok thanks, that makes sense.
And thanks for the quick reply.

There was one on cl for $20. I got all excited.
I thought maybe I could just swap a few components.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Some of them you can swap the cam out of. Mostly not, they are # of cylinder specific.

Rick

 

[bruceb58]

If you aren't having problems with your current points distributor, no need to change. Hook up a dwell meter and see if the dwell changes much over RPM. If it doesn't, no need to change. If it is worn, just get a Delco Voyager distributor.
http://www.michiganmotorz.com/delco-voyager-marine-electronic-distributor-p-120.html

 

[Bt Doctur]

and in most cases the dist is repairable

 

[bruceb58]

and in most cases the dist is repairable

I would never bother. Would need to find the exact springs and bushings to repair that 36 year old distributor.

 

[Alumarine]

Actually my distributor seems fine and I have a spare.
I thought the 4.3 one might be similar to a Delco Voyager distributor and I could use it somehow.
I'll use what I have.

 

[achris]

Apart from the 'lobes' (TB-IV have cutouts in a disc that flags through a sensor), there is also the matter of the timing curve and maximum advance. Both are set according to engine speed, derived from the frequency of the rotor disc passing through the sensor. So even if you were able to fabricate a new disc with only 4 slots, the derived engine speed would always be 2/3 of the actually engine speed (module seeing only 2 pulses per revolution instead of 3). Also, maximum advance on the module for a V6 is 14 degrees, your 140 wants 27 degrees.

Chris..........