Constant Distributor Issues...

[WakkoWarner]

My mom's Astro has been having distributor issues way too often. The original was replaced at about 60,000 miles due to a bad bearing/bushing causing intermittent misfires. The remanufactured unit was replaced due to a similar issue. I finally got fed up with the remanufactured composite units and they 'upgraded' me to a brand new steel body Duralast Gold unit. The first one lasted about 8 - 10 months before another misfire developed.

I had to replace that unit about three months ago, because the pin in the center of the cap that contacts the rotor was cracked in half, causing misfires. My mom called me the other day to say that it started misfiring again after she turned a corner. She nursed it home and it died in the driveway. I am out of town, so I had my cousin go look at it. He didn't bother to listen to me and proceeded to do a compression test (all cylinders were just fine, as I knew they would be). He then checked the distributor cap two or three times and swore it was good (another issue has been the aftermarket caps developing hot spots and causing misfires).

So, I had him pull the distributor (Autozone won't just exchange the cap - the entire assembly has to be returned for warranty exchanges). He put the new one in and it fired right up and ran perfect.

I am at my wits end with this vehicle and the Autozone Duralast Gold distributor. I have been doing some searching and found an aluminum distributor built by United Motor Products. Has anyone here used that particular unit?? I know that some people swear by their caps and rotors. I would like to get this problem resolved once and for all. If anyone has any experience with this unit, your input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Big_kid]

Never heard of them. I did however just replace the distributor in my 95 with what I believe to be the last one Skip White had in stock. It seemed to work rather well for the <50 miles I put on it before I blew my engine (it was me, not the ignition system).

What year is your mom's van?

[dchan51360]

I know a lot of people swear by the skipwhite but I understand they no longer make that one. I am running the Accel billet aluminum distributor with Accel cap and rotor. About 110k on it now (2 different engines) and have been extremely happy with it.

[WakkoWarner]

Her van is a 2000 model.

[WinnieVan]

FWIW -- there isn't really anything called a "skip white" distributor. They distributed distributors (that's a funny sentence).

As per AstroWill's links the following links are are "skip white" distributors:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006C ... UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/Assault-Racing-P ... istributor

I'm willing to be proven wrong -- but that's what I've gleaned from the forum so far.

[Big_kid]

I haven't clicked your links, but I bet you're right. I dodbelieve that Skip White distributes distributors. They've distributed 2 to me this year.

[WinnieVan]

I haven't clicked your links, but I bet you're right. I dodbelieve that Skip White distributes distributors. They've distributed 2 to me this year.

Hrm.. gen I or gen II? I couldn't find the Gen II on their site, but I didn't call them either.


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[Big_kid]

My van is a 95. OBD1, I've always thought of it as a gen 1 in gen 2 skin. I guess you could call it vansgendered. Transvandered? Either way, I get 2 digit trouble codes with a paper clip (the one time I had any). FWIW, I think I got the last one they had in stock.

The 2nd one I ordered is for the 350 I'm rebuilding for the van.

[TurnNburn]

Buy nice or buy twice.... ooooor 5 times


The search button can set you free!
viewtopic.php?f=43&t=113082&p=1200970&hilit=skip+white#p1200970

It might be because of a distribution agreement. You need to remember that Skip White/KMJ are just resellers. Just like Summit/Jeggs they do not make the distributor. KMJ is mow claiming to be the exclusive provider for Assault Racing products.

The important info is the part #.

Assault Racing
ARC 1326202

Skip White/KMJ
85-95: Top post terminal, Red cap, JM6651-R
96-05: Flat top, Side post terminal, JM6671-BK

There are also other alloy distributors available under part #
85-95 DST107, DST2635, KA-HUC6_RED
96-05 DST1639, EDCA-110, D2134

Shop around to find your best price!

Assault Racing: http://www.assaultracing.com/
KMJ Performance: http://kmjperformance.com/
Skip White Performance: https://www.skipwhiteperformance.com/