Date:         Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:13:25 -0400
Reply-To:     Jonathan Poole <jfpoolio@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jonathan Poole <jfpoolio@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      air cooled ignition distributor questions
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hello List,

I think that the distributor in my 83 Air cooled westy needs to be
replace/rebuilt.  I am planning to disassemble it for inspection in a little
while but wanted to get some feedback from you folks on this topic.

The primary symptoms are that small amounts of oil have been showing up
under the distributor cap and the point contact blocks have been wearing
very fast.  I use a dwell meter to set the point gap and frequently
check/adjust the gap/time on my motor.  I watch idle speed on my tach and
cylinder head temps and usually can tell when it is time to do a tune up.
I've been following this approach for years and with some air cooled motors
have been able to set the point gap to a dwell of 45 or so and then run the
motor for a long time before needing to re-gap the points when the dwell
creeps up to 48 or 49.  Right now I am needing to gap the points every 500
or so miles due to wear and have even seen jumps from 47 to 57 in a few
hundred miles.  As a result I switched to a different grease for the block
so maybe that will help until I get this sorted out?  When I look into the
distributor later I will be looking for slack/wear and damaged lobes on the
points cam.

The timing lights strobe is very consistent/steady with this distributor
when I am timing the engine and overall performance is good,, until the gap
closes and timing slacks as a result.  Mech and vacuum advance were close to
specs when I checked them a year or so ago.

So,, any suggestions for things to look at?

Also, any recommendations on rebuild kits or diy setups?  Rebuild services?
Replacement options etc.?

Top priority will be ending up with a reliable distributor new, used,
rebuilt or otherwise.  Secondary priority is keeping costs reasonable.  I
also will probably move to electronic ignition when I replace or rebuild
this distributor so input on that topic is also appreciated.

I'm not looking to replace my entire ignition system or anything,, just to
get this system back to something that is lower maintenance and more
reliable.

In case someone in the area has a good used distributor I am currently in
Asheville NC and am likely to be heading west to Memphis/north Mississippi
sometime soon.

Thanks for any suggestions,

Jonathan Poole
'83 AC Westy