I just swapped the shortblock on my XT, and the donor engine came with a different style distributor (the donor was an 88 unknown subaru)

 

Is it possible to use this distributor in my 86 XT? I am thinking of bringing it with me on a long trip just in case, but if there is no hope for it working...then I guess not. I wonder if it need to interface with the ECU to work, or maybe it needs a control unit or something....? Or can I just wire it up to make it work?

 

The disty in question has a squarish 4 pin connector on it and is probably a nippondenso, as my XT distributor is a hitachi (according to the FSM) and the two look different.

 

I'm running megasquirt on the XT, so the factory ECU really isn't doing anything these days, if that makes a difference...

 

I'm leaving this evening for the XT/SVX/Impreza meet at the Dragon in NC...so any answers would be appreciated soon.

 

Thanks!

The disty does tie to the ECU. I don't think they will be interchangeable due to the CAS's inside may be different, hence the different plugs. The mechanical part may work though.