Which distributor to use?

Engine Oily Bits, Ignition, Fuelling, Cooling, Exhaust, etc.
Message
Author
Charles H
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts:1645
Joined:Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:38 pm
Location:Folkestone
Which distributor to use?

#1 Post by Charles H » Sun Oct 02, 2016 10:08 am

My 1966 Mk1 rally car has an early (132 bhp) camshaft, but is still running the original 40967 distributor. Would it be beneficial to use the 41236 distributor as fitted to the 132bhp cars?
Charles Harrison
Register member 3095
Folkestone
Cherry Red Mk1 2000 Rally Car
Mallard Blue 2.5PI
Sapphire Blue GT6 Mk3
Vermillion Red Spitfire 1500
Pimento Red TR6
Inky Blue VW Passat B5.5
Arctic Blue Jaguar XJ40
Silver Range Rover Vogue SE

Mike Stevens
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts:3593
Joined:Mon May 08, 2006 9:50 pm
Location:South Oxfordshire, UK

Re: Which distributor to use?

#2 Post by Mike Stevens » Tue Oct 04, 2016 11:43 am

Hi Charles,

Yes, I suspect it would probably run better.

However, another alternative might be to fit a modern, electronic one. They can be programmed to whatever advance curve you want by just plugging into a PC. You could start with the PI curve and then experiment which would be a good thing as the original curves would have been set when we had old-fashioned 4-star, not like this modern stuff. A friend has one on his Series 1 XJ6 (and I had to set it up for him!). It seems to run OK.

I think I've seen them at about £100 and up, so not a huge amount these days!

Cheers,
Mike.
(South Oxfordshire)
Register Member No 0355
1971 2.5PI Saloon Sapphire blue
1973 2.5PI Saloon rust some Honeysuckle
1973 Stag French blue
(1949 LandRover was blue should be light green!)

Charles H
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts:1645
Joined:Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:38 pm
Location:Folkestone

Re: Which distributor to use?

#3 Post by Charles H » Wed Oct 05, 2016 3:30 pm

Thanks Mike
I however can't go the electronic route, because it is not allowed in the regulations for historic rallying! I will keep a lookout for a 41236!
Charles Harrison
Register member 3095
Folkestone
Cherry Red Mk1 2000 Rally Car
Mallard Blue 2.5PI
Sapphire Blue GT6 Mk3
Vermillion Red Spitfire 1500
Pimento Red TR6
Inky Blue VW Passat B5.5
Arctic Blue Jaguar XJ40
Silver Range Rover Vogue SE

Mike Stevens
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts:3593
Joined:Mon May 08, 2006 9:50 pm
Location:South Oxfordshire, UK

Re: Which distributor to use?

#4 Post by Mike Stevens » Thu Oct 06, 2016 11:43 am

Hi Charles,

Of course - I'd forgotten that.

I *think* I have a spare (or even 2). I will check. If I have 2 you're welcome to one of them. I may be able to look tomorrow but if not it won't be for a week or so.

Cheers,
Mike.
(South Oxfordshire)
Register Member No 0355
1971 2.5PI Saloon Sapphire blue
1973 2.5PI Saloon rust some Honeysuckle
1973 Stag French blue
(1949 LandRover was blue should be light green!)

Charles H
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts:1645
Joined:Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:38 pm
Location:Folkestone

Re: Which distributor to use?

#5 Post by Charles H » Thu Oct 06, 2016 1:40 pm

That is very kind Mike. Thank you.
Charles Harrison
Register member 3095
Folkestone
Cherry Red Mk1 2000 Rally Car
Mallard Blue 2.5PI
Sapphire Blue GT6 Mk3
Vermillion Red Spitfire 1500
Pimento Red TR6
Inky Blue VW Passat B5.5
Arctic Blue Jaguar XJ40
Silver Range Rover Vogue SE

Mike Stevens
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts:3593
Joined:Mon May 08, 2006 9:50 pm
Location:South Oxfordshire, UK

Re: Which distributor to use?

#6 Post by Mike Stevens » Sun Oct 16, 2016 4:31 pm

Hi Charles,

I have had a look and although I have found a spare 41236, I've only found one so far. I must have some other distributors and I have found a later one (as used on the 'S' etc) but no more of the earlier ones yet. They must be hiding somewhere.

Cheers,
Mike.
(South Oxfordshire)
Register Member No 0355
1971 2.5PI Saloon Sapphire blue
1973 2.5PI Saloon rust some Honeysuckle
1973 Stag French blue
(1949 LandRover was blue should be light green!)

User avatar
Steve G
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts:167
Joined:Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:46 pm
Location:Andover, Hampshire

Re: Which distributor to use?

#7 Post by Steve G » Mon Oct 17, 2016 10:23 am

Not sure if it helps much but I experimented with a couple of different distributors on my car and noticed a difference. Mine has an S enigne with a slightly better cam. The S distributor gave better acceleration but caused a lot of popping and banging on overrun. I fitted a PI distributor in the end as it made the car more pleasant to drive.

First thing I do if I ever get it back on the road is fit the S distributor again and find a big hill !

With the advent of the programmable distributors can you use the workshop manual advance curves to programme them or is is just a case of driving the car and setting it up ?

tony
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts:799
Joined:Sun Jun 14, 2009 5:35 am
Location:New Zealand

Re: Which distributor to use?

#8 Post by tony » Tue Oct 18, 2016 3:52 am

I wonder, with modern high octane fuels, if the original advance specs are no longer valid. :roll:
Tony.
1976 2500 TC. converted to S specs.

Lots of bits

1999 BMW Z3.
2006 BMW 325ti.
Hopefully not needing too many bits.




.

Charles H
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts:1645
Joined:Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:38 pm
Location:Folkestone

Re: Which distributor to use?

#9 Post by Charles H » Tue Oct 18, 2016 8:12 am

Thank you for looking Mike. If your other one ever pops up......
Steve and Tony, thanks for your input. As you say it really is a trial and error thing, but since I have the PI cam, it probably is a better distributor to try. Unfortunately, I cannot go down the electronic distributor route because I compete in historic rallies with the car, and they were not fitted in period and therefore not allowed in the regulations!
Charles Harrison
Register member 3095
Folkestone
Cherry Red Mk1 2000 Rally Car
Mallard Blue 2.5PI
Sapphire Blue GT6 Mk3
Vermillion Red Spitfire 1500
Pimento Red TR6
Inky Blue VW Passat B5.5
Arctic Blue Jaguar XJ40
Silver Range Rover Vogue SE

User avatar
Steve G
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts:167
Joined:Fri Sep 11, 2009 7:46 pm
Location:Andover, Hampshire

Re: Which distributor to use?

#10 Post by Steve G » Tue Oct 18, 2016 9:25 am

Can you build something up from spares to give you the right spec if you can't find the right one ? I've had engines set up on a rolling road so they give the best power. Once you know the maximum advance needed it's just a case of setting the distributor up so you have a suitable idle setting. Sound easy writing it but remember having a bench full of weights and springs trying to work it all out. Vacuum adavance is another thing altogether not all PI's had advance units on them did they ?
Are there people around who can build them to a spec now ? Aldon used to make all the Mini so they might be able to help.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests