Distributor Issues

[Mk3Spitfire]

Hi.
The points on my Spitty have been iffy for a while. I think the problem is that the base plate threads have worn. I tried tapping them and tried all sorts of new screws, but I went for a spin earlier and broke down. I think it's terminal.
What's the best plan? New (old) distributor? Or replace with electronic 123(?) or similar?

[nta16]

123 without doubt

to get the best from the 123 it does help if the rest of the engine/ignition system/rest of car is fully and properly serviced and set up

no wind-up stories to add this time then, I enjoyed them last time

[Mk3Spitfire]

Always appreciate your advice nta.

I THINK the rest of the car is running ok and has been serviced to an ok standard!

Will it make a difference that my distributor is a Delco? I vaguely recall that being a bit of an issue with something before.

[exkay]

123
123
123
123
On all my cars,,,,best thing i`ve done

[Mound Dawg]

We sell the 123 in it's tuneable form for the Alfa Twincams, they're brilliant, get the car on a rolling road with a decent operator and it's like having a fully mapped ignition system.

[nta16]

Mk3Spitfire said:

Will it make a difference that my distributor is a Delco? I vaguely recall that being a bit of an issue with something before.

you remember vaguely, weren't taught to write notes down asap

good point though and you need a connection for a mechanical rev.counter too - as the 123 are based on Lucas and don't have mechanical rev counter drive I'd guess - no you can't have one

I've used Aldon ignitor head (IIRC Pertronix under a different name) and a Lumenition (Optronic) and a genuine Lucas version - all were good but they can't deal with the rest of the worn dissy

check with Rimmers if you can get a Optronic unit fitted to your dissy and ask if you still might need a new base plate with your being dethreaded

and again why are you not doing the web search for such info

[Mk3Spitfire]

I have written down a lot of notes, but I can't wrote down everything!

And I prefer the opinions on here to google based searches which appear to be far less concise.

I think I'll go down the 123 route based on the opinions above.

Messi won me £13.50 in the Argentina game last night, so I'm well on my way to affording it anyway!

[Triumph Man]

Agree with above, a 123 system transformed my old Triumph 2000.

[Yertis]

Martin Jay at

http://www.distributordoctor.com

will be able to help if all else fails, personally I'd go to him first.

[nta16]

never heard of copy and paste then(?)

let us know how you get on with getting a 123 as I thought we'd ruled it out as your dissy's not a Lucas and you need rev counter drive - I put to contact Rimmers about Optronic for your model, up to you whether you do that or not

[nta16]

Yertis said:

Martin Jay at

http://www.distributordoctor.com

will be able to help if all else fails, personally I'd go to him first.

I suggested this in a previous thread but OP has put he has a Delco so not covered by Dissy Dr as OP contacted Dissy Dr to confirm

[//j17]

I'd go direct to full MegaJolt programable ignition myself - in fact I did in my Spitty.

Yes it's more work to fit and not so bolt-on but the same price/cheaper (depending if you you just buy a kit from trigger-wheels.co.uk or hit the breakers yards to source your own parts) and you would need a rolling road session to get it fully dialed-in but you take all wear/slack out of the system and have the perfect spark for load/RPM.

Been meaning to take some pics of my install as I've tried to make it 'invisible', using only existing bolt holes, etc but been too busy driving it - Le Mans and back this last weekend for example!



In brief the only new holes I drilled were through one of the front engine plate engine mount webs to attach a bracket for the crank sensor (though some people have even avoided this by mounting on some of the timing cover bolts). The coil pack sits on a mounting plate attached via the two existing holes used by the (removed) coil. The EDIS module/MegaJolt unit and while I was at it new auxillary fuse box and relays are attached to a custom bracket in the passengers footwell, in turn bolted to a secondary bracket that's rivited to the body using longer commission plate/body number rivits.

Edited by //j17 on Tuesday 17th June 14:24

[Mk3Spitfire]

Thanks for that. Something to look into. Still not decided what to do, and I'm missing all the good weather!
Also struggling to find a decent garage round me. Finding a decent one with a rolling road though is even trickier!

[nta16]

join a club see where their recommended garages are, they may not be on your doorstep so you might have to travel a bit but not always does everything land in your lap or is handed to you on a plate

[//j17]

Mk3Spitfire said:

Also struggling to find a decent garage round me. Finding a decent one with a rolling road though is even trickier!

Where are you?

[Mk3Spitfire]

//j17 said:

Where are you?

The deep dark depth of South Wales!

[Mk3Spitfire]

I have found a company who will completely rebuild the distributor and upgrade it to electronic. They've quoted £120.
So...I will obviously then need to get an electronic rev counter correct?
How does this work then? Obviously it will be completely different and out of place compared to the rest of the dials? Has anyone any advice?

[//j17]

Mk3Spitfire said:

//j17 said:

Where are you?

The deep dark depth of South Wales!

Well there's a couple just over the board in Gloucestershire - Spam Speed and Maynard.

[Mk3Spitfire]

//j17 said:

Well there's a couple just over the board in Gloucestershire - Spam Speed and Maynard.

Thank you. I will need to trailer it that far, but if you can recommend them personally it's something I wouldn't have a problem going.

[RicksAlfas]

Mk3Spitfire said:

I have found a company who will completely rebuild the distributor and upgrade it to electronic. They've quoted £120.
So...I will obviously then need to get an electronic rev counter correct?

I wouldn't have thought so?
The electronic ignition conversion won't alter the mechanical tachometer drive if they are using your original distributor.