Form: S-8

Initial registration statement for securities to be offered to employees pursuant to employee benefit plans

May 20, 1998

EXHIBIT 5

Published on May 20, 1998





Exhibit 5

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Counselors at Law
2000 One Logan Square
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6993
Telephone: (215) 963-5000
Fax: (215) 963-5299

May 20, 1998

SunSource Inc.
3000 One Logan Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Re: SunSource Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-8 Relating to the SunSource Inc.
1998 Equity Compensation Plan
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Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to SunSource Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the preparation of a registration statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
relating to 2,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per
share (the "Common Shares"), issuable under the SunSource Inc. 1998 Equity
Compensation Plan (the "Plan"). We have examined such certificates, records,
statutes and other documents as we have deemed relevant in rendering this
opinion. As to matters of fact, we have relied on representations of officers of
the Company. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of documents
submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the original of all
documents submitted to us as copies thereof.

Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Common Shares issuable under
the Plan will be, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan, validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock.

The opinion set forth above is limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law.

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration
Statement. In giving such opinion, we do not thereby admit that we are acting
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Act or the rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP