Date:         Tue, 26 Mar 2002 23:42:27 -0600
Reply-To:     Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Distributor Modification
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I've noted the many performance and modification notes posted.
I seldom see the subject of distributors addressed in either Waser Boxers
or Air Cooled.
Over the years I've seen simple distributor modification bring fine
tuning to a new plateau.
I'm not speaking of racing engines.
Mallory produced distributors that gave an honest ten horsepower to stock
283 Chevy engines.
Joe Hunt built magnetos that made a measurable performance increase in
stock 283 engines.
Admittedly these super distributors and magnetos were before the days of
Capacitor Discharge and Electronic Ignitions.
Most Waser Boxers come stock with electronic ignition but us air cooled
guys are still running the 1932 version of point set ignition systems.
I've run a few of the electronic ignitions Compufire, Pertronix and the
old Allison (now Crane Cams) ignition.
I could see no performance improvements with the Compufire, Pertronix
ignitions. They seem to just be an expensive way to replace the point
sets.
The Allison Ignition was installed on a 1971 MG Midget and produced
exceptional improvements.
I accept that the MG scenario replaced a very poor quality Lucas
ignition.
My current distributor in my 2000cc Type IV seems to work OK in the
respect that it smoothly advances from idle to the full advance position
without and bumps or drop backs in the curve that I visualize while
watching the timing light, tach and dwell gauges.
Anybody got any home grown or high tech distributor modifications they
want to share?

Stan Wilder
1983 Air Cooled Westfalia

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