Distributor Question

[hambone]

Halsey VW Parts down the road has what they call an "009 with a vacuum can". Is this the same as a SVDA or is this some knock off?

[Sluggo]

It's a cheap SVDA. They don't even make 009s anymore so it's probably Chinese crap like what came on my Beetle. Get a good SVDA form Aircooled.net like I did for my Bus or look for the proper used dizzy online like I did for my Beetle. Both engines appreciated it very much.

[hambone]

Thanks Sluggo. From Aircooled.net you can get it with an electronic ignition, but it's Computronix, never heard of it. The Pertronix won't fit.

[Sluggo]

From Aircooled.net you can get it with an electronic ignition, but it's Computronix, never heard of it. The Pertronix won't fit.

I have an aircooled.net SVDA on my Bus. It has had both a Pertronix and Compufire in it and both worked equally well. The compufire just seems more well made and sturdy IMHO.

[RSorak 71Westy]

It has had both a Pertronix and Compufire in it and both worked equally well. The compufire just seems more well made and sturdy IMHO.

I had both too and have the opposite opinion, I started w/ a compufire and it died. I have 3 pertronix and all have worked flawlessly.

[hambone]

Maybe they changed something? The website says Pertronix or Compufire won't work, must use Computronix.

http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewpr ... 0859806800

[dtrumbo]

I have these archaic things called points and miraculously my bus starts and runs just fine.

[chitwnvw]

I have these archaic things called points and miraculously my bus starts and runs just fine.

That's the way us stock enthusiasts roll.

[hambone]

Is this the same as the ACN one? Prob not, it's a lot cheaper:
http://www.hot-spark.com/Hot-Spark-SVDA034-2BOS4V1.htm

China, I'm guessin'.

[chitwnvw]

I got this.

http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=1348

Used to be 99 bucks :<

That one you linked to sounds like too good to be true.

[hambone]

Thanks Chi, that's the one I'll prob get. Bosch no less!
Can those things be timed statically on a type1? In all my VW years I've never used a strobe for timing, never had a real reason to...

[hambone]

So, back to timing. Can we discuss why Muir thinks static timing is OK but others say it's only OK for vacuum advance distributors only?

I've timed many different distributors static only, and the engines seemed to be happy. You can tell when your engine isn't running right - it's hot, stumbles, poor gas milage etc. But maybe I'm ignorant?
I understand the basics, as far as advance curve and how it changes from idle vs higher rpms. But I've never had to use a timing light.

I'm contemplating the SVDA but I kinda like static timing. Seems like hocus-pocus.

[JLT]

So, back to timing. Can we discuss why Muir thinks static timing is OK but others say it's only OK for vacuum advance distributors only?

I'm certainly no expert, but I think that Muir's affection for static timing is that it's cheap and easy to do, requiring no fancy-schmancy equipment (i.e., strobe lights). As you recall, John also used to think that the mechanical-advance distributor was the only one fit to put on an upright engine, and it can be argued that since this eliminates the variables of vacuum advances and retards, the static method works well for them (springs don't develop hose or diaphragm leaks). But in the later editions of the book edited by Tosh Gregg, both methods are covered. From what I've gleaned, the current theory is that the really important measurement is where the timing is at full advance, and you really need a strobe for that.

IIRC, even John recommended that you take the car to VW and have them adjust the timing with all their fancy stuff and then, when you get home, get out your timing light, crank the engine by hand and make a mark on the pulley where the light went on. This is the mark you would use for subsequent static adjustments.

[hambone]

That makes sense, thanks. "good enough" and really dialed in are very different.
Once I timed a Beetle by feel. Got it close, drove around, moved it a bit til' I found the sweet spot of cool engine and acceleration. It's really trusting your instincts, but not sure it's the best.

[Amskeptic]

Static is the *only* way to time a vacuum-only distributor. Since VW went through the late 60's with vacuum only distributors on the buses and bugs, it creeped into the VW lexicon right when John Muir was writing his book.

The centrifugal/vacuum combination distributors, we must pivot all adjustments around centrifugal total advance no hoses. That is the rule. That is where it must be dead-nuts accurate because that is when the engine is under full load at-speed. Every DVDA SVDA 009 whatever, is acting just like an 009 when the throttle is floored. There is no vacuum advance under full load for any combination distributor. So adjust to your 28*@3,000, or 21-25*@3,400 or whatever THEN see where your idle timing may lay. There is some wiggle room with the Type 4 engines. . . if you find that the idle timing (no hoses) is 4*BTDC and it calls for 7.5*BTDC, and your centrifugal is topping out at 25*, go ahead and take another 3* advance. Use common sense.

With the vacuum retard people, it has to be working before you even think about setting your idle timing. If your retard doesn't retard, and you set the timing to spec at 5 or 10* AFTER TDC, the whole timing map will be retarded, retard.
Colin