Real 25hp distributor ?

[olivierfr]

Is that a real distributor for 25hp ?

I'm not expert but the arm seems different from real one no ?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4639097790

Olivier,

[Glenn]

It looks like a real 383 to me.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

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[johnshenry]

Nope.

Real 25 hp doesn't have the the oil ring groove. Ask for the date code off the bottom...
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John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

[Glenn]

I stand corrected... but it IS a real 383. Maybe mid 50's Porsche.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[johnshenry]

Yes, and given the seller id "a356guy" it probably is a P-dist. He says it "fits 1949-1953", true, but it was never used on a 25 hp VW engine.

I asked him for the date code via the eBay auction, but no reply.....yet.
_________________
John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

[splitjunkie]

[olivierfr]

[johnshenry]

[johnshenry]

[Glenn]

I ran into this with a 383 that I restored. John pointed out that mine had an o-ring and the 25hp ones did not. He also told me about the date code which is stamped on the base of the body. It's a 2 digit, number and letter which denote the manufacture date. Mine was a April 1956 distributor. After some additional research I found that Porsche continued to use the 383 on the 356 long after VW stopped.

So it will work and is a 383 distributor. But if you want to be really correct, it's not the right one for a VW.

Thanks John for teaching an old dog a new trick.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[olivierfr]

Thanks for you both, this will help me in my 383's quest .

Olivier

[Glenn]

That one sold for only $160. It looked in really nice shape and has a new German cap. It was worth more than that.

Someone got lucky.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[splitjunkie]

what is the syntax for the date code? I can make out a 50 but not the letter.

Chris

[Glenn]

[splitjunkie]

thanks Glenn,

I think it is 5J so May 53. You learn something new every day.
The car was serviced by Snider Motors in Knoxville from at least 58 to 61 and probably earlier. They were a VW and Porsche dealership so it would make sense that they would have acess to Porsche parts although according to progressive refinements the rubber seal was added in Nov. 52 chassis #1-0412 822.
The 30hp was not introduced until Dec. 53 chassis # 1-0575 415. So the rubber seal was used on the 25 hp but not until Nov. 52.

Chris

[Matthew Tolbert]

you guys got me wondering whether my distributor is correct or not so i went to look for this date code and could not find it. i have a may 53 car with the original engine and the dist. has the oil groove. where exactly is the date code? pics maybe?

thanks

matthew tolbert

[splitjunkie]

the rubber seal was added in Nov. 52 chassis #1-0412 822 so yours should have the seal.

It is on the small part of the base before it goes into the engine. It is quite small and hard to find because that part of the distributor has the rough as cast finish and is painted.
You will most likely need to remove it and clean the base to be able to find it.
Just remove the nut that holds the distributor clamp to the case and remove the wire and cap and pull the whole thing out that way you will preserve your timing setting. Like Glenn said the date will most likely be several months earlier than your car.



http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=276221

Chris

[Matthew Tolbert]

i probably wouldnt have ever found that. thanks for the pic now i am going out to look for it.

matthew tolbert

[johnshenry]

Actaully, they can be in a number of places. Here is the one on my earliest dist:

Most I have found are on the lower sides, not the bottom as I erroneously stated previously.

Also, I was told that they only started doing this coding in '50 or '51, so it is likely that some earlies (no oil seal ring) have no code.
_________________
John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

[Glenn]

What I find odd is of the 6 or 7 383 distributors i'ver restored there's no rhime or reason for which have the wire style distributor cap clips and which have the solid ones.

Does anyone have any info on them?

For example this one came with the solid clips, but it has the early perferated ozone screen. It also has an o-ring so i'd assume it was a later one.

But it also has the early large diameter capacitor.

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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare