What part is in this box?

[Larry T.]

I have read the archives and looked at pictures and I understand there are two versions of the D310 / D-310 distributor cap, one with and one without an "R". And that the application in a Corvette is 1963-65 Fuelies. Would anybody like to hazard a guess as to what is in this box? Better yet, can anyone unequivocally tell me what part is in this box from the packaging itself? I would like to think it is as easy as saying there is no "R" on the box, so it must not have an "R" on the cap, but I believe Joe Lucia has indicated that this part was never marketed as a D-310R. I know I could solve the mystery by opening it, but I have no use for the part and it may be worth more to someone else if it is unopened.

Thanks for the help.

[Jack H.]

Re: What part is in this box?

I'd give a vote of reasonably high confidence that the cap inside is a 'non-R' part. But, I've been 'burned' before on old inventory ESPECIALLY if the pull string was used to open the box...

[William C.]

Re: What part is in this box?

I'm with Jack, BTW there were many uses other than the FI Corvettes, Several years of Oldsmobiles come to mind.

[Michael M.]

Re: What part is in this box?

Larry the colors of the container tells me that the cap is of the non-"R" type. If the pull-string container was red, white, and blue than I would say it would be a cap with a "R" on it. The colors of the pull-string containers tells you what era the parts are from. I know you do not want to pull the string but it would be nice to know what you are selling.

[Ricky M.]

Re: What part is in this box?

Anyone seen the no-R cap on Ebay with the orig.box with a "Buy it Now" for $1100.00+. Are N.O.S caps worth that kind of $$ or is it a fishing expedition?

[Larry T.]

Re: What part is in this box?

Anyone seen the no-R cap on Ebay with the orig.box with a "Buy it Now" for $1100.00+. Are N.O.S caps worth that kind of $$ or is it a fishing expedition?

That one is an D308 that has been up for a very long time. Worth what someone will pay, but evidently not that much. I grabbed a very good, barely used one like that, missing the window cover, for $20 a year or so ago. But the owner did not have it listed as a D308.

I have been trying to get a guage on the market value of this D310 cap, assuming it is not an "R" cap, but have not found any history of sales. I have heard they are rather pricey though.

[Joe L.]

Re: What part is in this box?

I have read the archives and looked at pictures and I understand there are two versions of the D310 / D-310 distributor cap, one with and one without an "R". And that the application in a Corvette is 1963-65 Fuelies. Would anybody like to hazard a guess as to what is in this box? Better yet, can anyone unequivocally tell me what part is in this box from the packaging itself? I would like to think it is as easy as saying there is no "R" on the box, so it must not have an "R" on the cap, but I believe Joe Lucia has indicated that this part was never marketed as a D-310R. I know I could solve the mystery by opening it, but I have no use for the part and it may be worth more to someone else if it is unopened.

Thanks for the help.

Larry------

Actually, I don't think there ever was a D-310R. The resistor-compatible -R caps were first used for the 1969 model year. So, at that time the D-308 cap was replaced by the D-308R for pre-1969 SERVICE as well as 1969+ PRODUCTION and SERVICE there was a good reason to update the part. Also, when the cap changed from D-308 to D-308R the GM "long number" also changed (from 1932018 to 1971244). The D-310 remained GM #1943047 right up until the time it was discontinued without supercession in 1980.

Beyond the above, there would have been no reason to convert the D-310 to a resistor-compatible design. The last PRODUCTION use of the D-310 was for 1965. So, there were no resistor applications ever required of the D-310 and, therefore, no reason to "update" the part.

It's still remotely possible that the D-310 was updated to "-R" without a change in the GM long number, without a "-R" added to the Delco part number on the box, and without the requirement for any PRODUCTION application. However, even if that happened, I don't think the box you have contains a cap with an "R" embossed on the cap.

By the way, if anyone has a D-310 with an "R" embossed on the top I'd love to see a photo of it.