what's the diffrence between auto and manual distributors

[Guest Venture-Z]

I'm buying an 81zx non-turbo motor to put in my 78Z. The motor is from an automatic and my car is a 5 speed. Can I use the distributor, or do I need to get one from a manual car? Also, will the zx radiator fit in my Z?

[Guest Anonymous]

As far as I ever heard, a manual distributor has a manual cable control running to it from the inside of the car and is manually operated from there. But to me, this is old hot rod stuff. How did you get off on this?

[Guest Venture-Z]

I ment the tranny type of the car it came out of.

[Guest Anonymous]

Help! I done been exposed!

[SleeperZ]

I think you have to use your '78 dizzy, as they are different not because of the tranny, but because of the ignition differences between '78 and '81.

 

The ZX radiator will fit, but you will have to drill new holes in the support for it.

[Mudge]

On the turbo cars, they have a different rev limit (ECU) and the advance is less (according to my Clymer), I dont know about NA though maybe it says in there. If I find it I will post.

[SleeperZ]

On the turbo cars, they have a different rev limit (ECU) and the advance is less (according to my Clymer), I dont know about NA though maybe it says in there. If I find it I will post.

 

The turbo cars have advance programmed by the ECU - there is zero advance in the distributor, and the splines are different so they cannot be swapped (unless you change the drive gear as well). Turbo dizzys must go with turbo ECUs or standalone ignition computers.