Distributor upgrades - talk to me!

[Slammed]

I'd like to upgrade my 009 to something better, trouble is I can't really find much wrong with it! Just like to hear what performance distributors you guys run, on what engine, and how they perform - tickover, power, torque, reliability, fuel economy etc.

Cheers!

 

[dubdubz]

I hear that the mallory unilite is very good, John at AC.net rates them , also heard good things about 123's.

I don't think an engine in a bus needs the larger dizzy caps - as spark scatter shouldn't happen at the revs we use, but some people will rate those...

the 123 dizzys are so dead on the timing - it's like it was crank triggered!

 

[Slammed]

I've just been reading up on 123s, not heard anything about them til today. They look very impressive. Any idea what is a good coil to use with them?

I was gonna go Magnaspark but I'm not so sure now.

 

[dubdubz]

That's one of the selling points, as it delivers rock solid spark you can use anything almost, almost your choice if get me? So if you wanted a bigger spark you can upgrade your coil, but you can do it at your pace. Ie try std coil, then upgrade if you want...not you have to buy a new coil at the same time...

Unilites are good but sure they don't have vacuum, its a good idea in a bus I think to have timing that relates to load (well kind of)

 

[Slammed]

But I already run a 009 with my twin 40s so I wasn't planning to run a vacuum dissy anyway.

I'll look at Unilite too then.

 

[Trikky2]

Back to basics here but, for a normal street engine - - - Its worth remembering that a bigger spark will only help in starting the engine when you have a low battery on there is something else wrong with the engine.

A bigger spark does not give you more power or better performance. The explosion of the fuel mix in the cylinder either happens or it doesent happen. Having a more powerful coil will not give a bigger explosion.

It will only "help" in a case of other engine faults in which case you are treating the symptom rather than the cause of the problem.

 

[Slammed]

Cheers Trikky, I'm not so bothered about upgrading the coil as I don't think its needed, more interested in smoother running that a better distributor could benefit me.

 

[Slammed]

So does anyone in the UK sell Mallory units?

 

[A5H]

I run a 123 with vac advance (although there is a non-vac model) and think its great, wouldn't want to change it. Running it on a stock 1600 with Dell 36's, difficult to say in terms of power because I installed at the same time as the Dells, but it runs nice and smoothly at tickover and pulls really well. Running a stock Bosch coil too.

 

[Slammed]

Where did you get your 123 from A5H, and how much was it?

 

[A5H]

Bought from Southern Carbs http://www.sciperformance.co.uk/onlineshopproducts_53353/cat_19796-123ignition-Systems.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; The vac version cost me about £200 but this was about 3 years ago so prices have gone up a bit.

 

[Slammed]

Yeah they've gone up loads! They look like a good price til you get to the checkout and shipping and VAT is added! :lol:

 

[ed.]

I have a 123, seems to run fine.

Got mine from sc car parts, cant remember how much.

http://www.scparts.co.uk/index/lang...64/functiontpl-virtueller_katalog.tpl,x-a.htm

 

[matt-me]

I run a 123 with vac advance (although there is a non-vac model) and think its great, wouldn't want to change it. Running it on a stock 1600 with Dell 36's, difficult to say in terms of power because I installed at the same time as the Dells, but it runs nice and smoothly at tickover and pulls really well. Running a stock Bosch coil too.

I've got the same on a 1914 with 40 webbers. Had no problems with it at all. Was one of the only bits of my old set up the engine builder wanted to use, with a standard blue coil. Got mine from SC Performance too but they were local to me so picked it up.

 

[Dirty Harry]

Real oldshool for me :msn4:
Bosch 010 (with points) and a Judson See Dee ignition unit.

 

[Slammed]

Real oldshool for me :msn4:
Bosch 010 (with points) and a Judson See Dee ignition unit.

Is that an upgrade? How does it perform?

 

[jakethepeg]

I was offered an upgrade to a re-worked Golf dizzy, which has a hall sensor, for 80 pounds by our local VW specialist. Any feedback on this, is it going to make a difference? WDYT?

 

[Dirty Harry]

Real oldshool for me :msn4:
Bosch 010 (with points) and a Judson See Dee ignition unit.

Is that an upgrade? How does it perform?

The advance of the 010 kicks in much more earlier and smoother then a 009, i'm using OG vw points in it and the quality of these points is superb!!
25.000 miles i did on a set of these points in my previous beetle.
The See Dee units prevents the points from pitting, only a small current flows trough the points now and the See Dee unit delivers the main current.
And a 010 distributor is indestructible where a 009 wears out after 30.000 miles!

 

[jonboylaw]

I am going 3D electronic, with a megajolt system. It will allow vac advance and rock solid performance, no points to wear, no dizzy drive etc... I have most of the parts collected, just need to get a decent base map now

Anyone need advice on this, drop me a line.
Estimated cost is about £400 all in and should give much more reliable starting and better pick-up and mileage. It might seem a bit pricy but you fit and forget.

 

[Slammed]

I was offered an upgrade to a re-worked Golf dizzy, which has a hall sensor, for 80 pounds by our local VW specialist. Any feedback on this, is it going to make a difference? WDYT?

I fitted something similar to my bus ages ago and I didn't really notice any difference.