Called my local stealer parts department today to price out a replacement distributor for a B18C1 engine in a '96 GSR. I usually call them first for amusement value, and to get a high-scale reference on price.

$385!!!!!!!

How's that for amusement value?

And that is for ONLY THE HOUSING, not for any of the distributor internals like the igniter. Those have to be swapped from the original unit.

I know that I can probably cut that quote down to two hundred without too much work, but the truth of it is, I don't even know if this car *needs* a distributor. There's a mystery noise that I'm trying to figure out using diagnosis-by-swap. But since "electrical parts are nonreturnable" both at the stealer and at the chain stores, I don't want to drop a couple of C-notes on a new unit and then find out the old distributor was just fine.

I've called the local junkyards trying to find one, but they tell me they're dry.

So what I'm looking for is someone's worn and used distributor, but in known-good condition. It doesn't have to do thousands of miles of service, just to let me see via exchange whether the original distributor has an issue or not. And if the original is at fault, it would be good to be able to drive for a week or two on the replacement while I work the quote on a new dizzy.

If someone's got something inexpensive that they're looking to let go, that would be ideal. Alternately, if there's a B-series engine owner out there with a compatible distributor gathering dust in the garage, that they don't mind loaning out for a week or two, well, I would be pleased to cover any and all shipping costs both ways, and to buy them a round if they're close by (I'll buy one remotely if not).

This distributor is an OBD-II unit, model number TD-84U. Net references suggest that the TD-81U, TD-86U and TD-87U will all work in a B18C1 engine.

Let me know if anyone has any leads -- thanks!!!