I own a 1983 Jaguar XJ6 with a Chevy 383 TPI motor. The car was hit and the frame bent. I how have a 1987 XJ6 into which I want to swap the 383. Two issues: (1) California smog rules require that the engine be the same year or newer than the car. I'm not sure what year the motor is which may be complicated by the possibility that it was built with a number of components. It is obviously the long runner TPI and it has an aluminum head. I think the long runner TPI started in the 85 Vettes and the 87 Camaro got them, but I'm not sure of that. The distributor is stamped 1103603. It is coil in cap but the coil is missing. The distributor does not have vacuum advance. According to Ebay this unit is out of 70's and early 80's 5.7 Vettes and Camaros. I'm not sure whether that accurately dates the entire engine or not. (2) What mods would be required to use a later coil-in-cap distributor?
If this unit does not use vacuum to advance, then I assume either the PO did not bother with it or there is an ECM somewhere controlling that the advance. Are vacuum advance distributors only used with carbed or throttle body motors? [Tried to add .jpg pictures but they get to 50% and then refuse to download further]