New distributor

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by badgerbay, May 7, 2021.

  1. I've just bought a new Pertronix SVDA distributor and need someone to fit it. Can I take this to a regular garage or does it need specialist VW knowledge? It's a type 4 engine. Thanks
     
  2. Do it yourself in about 20 minutes!
     
    dubsurftones and Dubs like this.
  3. Don’t I need a strobe?
     
  4. Yes, ideally you need a strobe, but straightforward enough to do yourself.

    If you’re taking it to be done, find somewhere with experience of aircooled engines or they’ll cock it up.
     
    Soggz, Dubs and badgerbay like this.
  5. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    Its one of these occasions where buying a timing light costs less than the garage time costs to set the timing.
    And you need a 10mm spanner to loosen the clamp.

    Because its a modern Pertronix you can not easily or accurately set the timing without the engine cranking or running so you need a friend to turn the ignition key( or make a remote start .. a bit of wire from the starter motor to the engine bay.)
     
    badgerbay likes this.
  6. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Another vote for buy a timing light and DIY.
    A timing light and knowledge to set timing is a must for a bay owner. People have been stranded in France/holidays ruined because they couldn't do this simple 5 minute thing.
     
    Jack Tatty, Soggz, scrooge95 and 6 others like this.
  7. Does anyone know any guides to replacing the distributor and setting the timing. I’ve been searching all morning and the best one I found for the timing is this one:



    But this is for a Porsche 912/914 type 4 so not sure if what he dials into the strobe at the beginning is correct. Also how do I know which is cyclinder number 1? As you can see I’m a complete novice.
     
    theBusmonkey likes this.
  8. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Buy a Haynes manual for you vehicle.
    Or John Muir's book.
    They are basic and the Muir book is quite a fun read anyway.
    You don't need to be a master mechanic to understand them.
    As @zedders says, getting to grips with the basics is an essential, and very rewarding as you get to know your vehicle better.
     
  9. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    And I haven't watched it, but is this what you're looking for @badgerbay ?
     
  10. Thanks yes. He did kind of gloss over the timing bit though. I think I’ll invest in one of those books.
     
    Zoedanbus and theBusmonkey like this.
  11. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Haynes 226 is the one for Type 4.:thumbsup:
    Edit, @badgerbay there is an earlier edition that only covers 1700 and 1800. The later edition also covers the 2l.
    20 quid or so off Amazon.
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2021
    badgerbay likes this.
  12. Norris

    Norris Supporter

    Better still, buy a second hand hard-back copy - the photos are better quality than the current soft-back prints are
     
    F_Pantos, badgerbay and theBusmonkey like this.
  13. I need to find top dead centre before fitting the new distributor. Am I right in thinking that if I line the white mark, that a previous owner must have added, against 0 on the black plastic scale then that will be top dead centre?
     

    Attached Files:

  14. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    nicktuft likes this.
  15. Yes but you need to know if it’s on the firing stroke of cylinder 1 Or 3 .
    Take the dizzy cap off and look where the rotor arm is pointing, follow the lead to the front right plug.
    Don’t take the leads off the cap until you’re sure and then swap them onto new cap in the same order.
     
    nicktuft, snotty and Lasty like this.
  16. Milky

    Milky Sponsor

    If i remember correctly is there not a thrust washer on the type 4 engine that you have to be aware of thats just below the distributor drive .
     
  17. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    There is but all he is doing is replacing the distributor, he shouldn’t need to remove the drive.
     
    Lasty likes this.
  18. Milky

    Milky Sponsor

    Ah correct .Yes my mistake .
     
  19. For timing, some fanhouses have a handy hole on the top if you unscrew the big black cap you'll see a notch and the fan has a mark on the back edge.. I've highlighted green ...
    [​IMG]

    I also added a 7.5 deg before as my timing scal3 was blank but the 0 mark was already there and quite close to spot on..

    Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk
     
    nicktuft and theBusmonkey like this.
  20. OK I found the notch it was roughly where the white mark was but good to check. Now I line that up with zero. I took the dizzy cap off and saw where the rotor arm was pointing to. It was at about 10 o’ clock. Will this always be number one cylinder? i.e. if I follow the lead that the rotor arm is pointing to will that be number one cyclinder? Then with the new dizzy I just have to make sure the rotor arm in that is pointing to the lead which goes to number one and then start tuning?
     

Share This Page