Distributor options

[Colin McA]

Hi Guys,

I am looking at my options for my old distributor.

It appears to be in good condition but after stripping the engine down I am sure it would benefit from an overhaul or replacements.

The Distributor Doctor has given me a quote of £165+vat on a 3 week turnaround.
I can get a new one for £155.00 inc vat.
JRW is £125+vat on exchange but that is probably an old price.

I don't want to go for anything fancy but just a decent refurb.

Has anyone had theirs refurbed recently? or can recommend somewhere.

Thanks
Colin

[Colin McA]

I have found a post on the p6 forum regarding H&H ignition solutions of Brierley Hill.

I have emailed off for a quote but still interested in other options.

Colin

[Colin McA]

Looks like I am answering my own posts here

H&H have come back to me with a very reasonable £108.00 which includes new cap, rotor arm and condensor. vat and p&p are also included.

I will probably go with these guys but if anyone else wants to chip in a place feel free.

Colin

[Phil Nottingham]

The early V8 dizzy is best replaced with the later version - its only the baseplate that is different with the point as this keeps the dwel constant.

Worn dizzys prevent and even idle at the correct 600-650rpm and cause stalling when drive is engaged

[enigmas]

Colin, the reason for erratic idle and less than optimal firing of cyls is that the dwell varies considerably for each cyl fired in turn. Primarly due to worn distributor shaft bushes and 'perhaps' poor indexing of the cam lobe (unlikely).

Cyls can and may fire extremely erratically on a worn distributor. This can be to an extreme of 6 degrees before or after a cylinders optimal firing point (or where it should fire). On an 8 cyl engine this is messy.

If you can rock the shaft on a points distributor by holding and moving the rotor button whilst the points are open on a cam lobe (varying the gap) the distributor is inaccurate in the extreme. Yes it will run but much compromised by the erratic timing. Poor idling, fuel economy, pinging, etc will probably result.

Unless the unit has been completely ruined by ham-fisted mechanics any decent auto-electrical workshop should be able to press in a new set of bushes and ream them to size.
Also check the end play on the shaft (near the drive gear) this should be minimal (.005") as this will also cause timing variations. The gear needs to be shimmed to reduce play here.
Once again a good shop can easily do this.
(Ask questions and sound like you know what you're talking about to ensure work done is to a high standard.)

You don't have to throw out the baby with the bathwater unless so inclined.

One other area that can cause dwell variation (erratic firing from cyl to cyl) is where the points cam slides onto the shaft of the advance machanism. (Remove the rotor button and there is a screw in the slotted cavity..remove the screw...then the points plate...then pry off the advance springs 'carefully' (using a scriber). The points cam should now lift off. Check the fit between these 2 components. there should be NO rocking motion. If good, lube all parts components including the advance weights (check their shafts for free movement) with high melting point grease and reassemble.

The unit is a very simple device that only requires care and TLC when assembling. If it's a standard engine in good working order it'll run fine.

(As an aside, think of yourself as a 'watchmaker' when working on the unit to achieve the appropriate standard of work)

[Colin McA]

All good info.

I have sent my distributor off to H&H, the will do the whole works for £90 with includes vat and delivery.

There are certain jobs I don't mind sending out. The distributor seemed to work well but a professional will spot the wear and hopefully correct any problems.

I will post up some photos of the work when I get it back.

Colin

[Phil Nottingham]

The earlier type base-plate also contributed to varying dwell well before the shaft started wearing, the later type eliminated this problem

[Colin McA]

Hi Guys,

Got the Distributor back today and it looks good.

Here is a few pictures. It looks like they re-use the original parts and re-plated them.

Obviously it will be a while before I get to actually try it out in the car but I have had good feedback about H&H.

They took less than a week to do the work and return the distributor to me which is pretty good.

Colin

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

This links to a PDF of an article about the company and the refurbishment process. www.h-h-ignitionsolutions.co.uk/Classic%20and%20Sports%20Car.pdf

[Kev]

Forgive me..............but a shiny dizzy looks all very nice but if your still running with points the possible problems are still there.
Swap over to a "Ignitor" system or another type of electronic ignition and with the refurbished dizzy you have made a major upgrade.

Big Kev.

[Colin McA]

kev,

Don't worry about the points. They supply the dizzy with new points condenser and cap as part of the service.

I haven't bought anything yet but will probably go for a magnatronic or the likes.

The cosmetic refurb is nice but the main reason was to remove any wear issues.

Colin