426 Hemi Engine Distributors: Type and Part Numbers
The 426 Hemi street engine had a dual point distributor produced by Prestolite. The distributor was made of cast iron and operated with vacuum advance. It rotates counterclockwise and is located in the front of the engine on the passenger side of the block.
The distributor had a metal tag secured to its housing with the part numbers and date code stamped into it.
This article will examine each year of the street Hemi distributor, 1966-1971, identifying the Chrysler and Prestolite part numbers and date codes.
426 Hemi Engine Chrysler and Prestolite Part Numbers
The following table identifies the part numbers for each year. The numbers include the Cleaner Air Package, Cleaner Air System, automatic and manual transmissions. They are for the street Hemi engines only.
| Year | Application | Chrysler | Prestolite |
| 1966 | Auto or Manual | 2642482 | IBS-4006P |
| 1967 1967 | Auto or Manual Auto or Manual (W/CAP) | 2642482 2642832 | IBS-4006P IBS-4006W |
| 1968 | Auto or Manual (W/CAP) | 2875140 | IBS-4014A |
| 1969 | Auto or Manual (W/CAP) | 2875140 | IBS-4014A |
| 1970 1970 | Auto (W/CAS) Manual (W/CAS) | 2875989 2875987 | IBS-4014F IBS-4014E |
| 1971 1971 | Auto (W/CAS) Manual (W/CAS) | 3438579 2875987 | IBS-4017E IBS-4017B |
The part numbers are located on the metal tag or plate. The tag is attached with a screw on the upper part of the distributor housing under one of the cap clamps.
The 426 Race Hemi engines have different part numbers and tach drives. In addition, replacement distributors have different part numbers.
The distributor part numbers in the table above are from the Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge service manuals.
If you’re interested in the timing specifications and settings of the distributors, check out my article, 426 Hemi Timing Specs.
426 Hemi Distributor Date Codes
The date code is found on the metal tag after the Prestolite part number. There will be three numbers with a space between the second and third numbers.
The first two numbers indicate the week of the year and the third number indicates the last number of the year.
Therefore, a date code of 45 8 indicates the 45th week of 1968. A production date this late in the year typically indicates it was built for the following model year. In this example, this distributor would most likely be found in a 1969 Hemi car.
If you have any questions about the 426 Hemi Engine distributor, send us an email found specifically on our contact page.
For the past 40 years, I’ve been studying and researching Mopar engines including the 426 Hemi. I installed my first Mopar distributor 38 years ago while building my first Mopar engine.
More Mopar Engine Articles
Why the 426 Hemi Distributor Hold Down is Different
426 Hemi Firing Order and Distributor Location
Article Resources
- Chrysler Reference Book: An Introduction To The CAP System
- Chrysler Reference Book: Evolution Of The Cleaner Air System
- Chrysler Service Manuals: 1966-1971
