odd ball distributor, what is the application?

nshaddox

i found this goofy lookin distributor at the swap meet today. the parts on the distributor all have 211 part numbers, so i figure its type 2, but maybe not. I have yet to own a bus unfortunately, so they remain somewhat of a mystery to me. anyways, the distributor itself seems to have no part number. its cast iron body, only vacuum advance. and it looks old.

what years/engines is it for? anyone know what to call it, parts number wise or otherwise?

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Braukuche · Samba Member Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 11004

BarryL · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:47 am Post subject:

Besides the VW, does it have an LG on the cap? Those are really bullet-proof distributors. VW tried to make their own for awhile then went back to Bosch. If anyone messed with the advance tensioner then it will need resetting. Even the vacuum canister is VW. I think their number is VW 211 905 205L. What Braukuche said, 65 bus only, I think, too. Not sure if it was 1500 only or was also on the 1200.

crofty · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:05 am Post subject:

Anyone have a cap and rotor for one or know the replacement part numbers?
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BulliBill · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:16 am Post subject:

I think it was also on the 1200's too I'm running one on a mid-1961 engine in my '59 DD Panel, and it runs sweet, real happy with it (I installed a new NOS cap, rotor and points though).

Bill
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BarryL · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:05 am Post subject:

katastrophenshutzwagen · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:16 am Post subject:

not 65 only i don't think. i have the original one on my august 62 built bus.
the original cap has only vw on but the NOS spare i have carries the lg logo too.

crofty · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:23 am Post subject:

Braukuche · Samba Member Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 11004

Funny, last time this topic came up people were saying they were crappy distributors.
--Dan

katastrophenshutzwagen · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:29 pm Post subject:

Mr Mike · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject:

I have one of those distributers. It came as original equipment on
the 1300 engine in my 1966 bug. I bought the car new at Truman Motors
in June that year while I was stationed with the Navy at
NAS Miramar in San Diego.(Marines operate it now.)

Its a long story, but I still own the car, kind of a family "heirloom"
at this point. I drove it in the Navy, my daughter drove it when she grew up, daily driver in college, yada,yada, yada.

Anyway, the distributer worked great, no issues. Just a bit hard to find points an stuff for it, in recent years. "Back in the day" at Truman motors,
someone told me that there was some kind of labor dispute in Germany
effecting Bosch from the fall of '65 'till late summer in '66. I dimly recall
someone at the dealership telling me I could change the distributer if I wished. At the time it was no big deal, the car ran fine, so I let it go.

Currently I have a 009 in its place, but I'm cleaning the car up and
going back to the original distributer. I've got one distributer cap and
a couple sets of new points which I've had for some time. Beyond that nothing thats NOS. When Volkswagen quit supporting the aircooled community, this is one of those items ( I think ) that kinda fell thru the cracks.
Parts are available, just kinda hard to find. That may be why some
folks think their "crappy". I never had any issues with mine other than parts.

tasb · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:03 pm Post subject:

I have rebuilt a fairly large number of VW and Porsche distributors and I have encountered several of these distriubtors in that process. I have done some research and here is what I have found out.

The distributors were not manufactured by VW. They were manufuactured by the German firm Garbe Lahmeyer. This company has been around almost as long as Bosch. They have been making industrial electrical equipment. They supplied the power generators for many of the German battle ships during WWII including the Bismarch. Accoring to Progressive Refinements the GL label has been manufacturing electrical parts for VW since the mid 1950's but not in large quantities. There are at least three different distributors released. There is even a mechnaical advance only example. The largest number installed probably occurred during the labor dispute mentioned above. There were however many used in the early 1960's. Apparently GL had a licensing agreement with VW which in part explains the VW part numbers and label. The GL label can be found on the parts too its just not as widely recognized. Although the parts have a 211 part number they were intstalled on beetles as well. If you question this assurtion simply look to the 1966 bus Bosch distributor with a 131 part number as an example of the sometimes inconsitant numbering system.

I have found the distributor to be as reliable and sturdy as the Bosch distributors of the same time period. I've never heard a solid reason why the distributor was "crappy" but assume it's because it's history and appearance are not consistant with Bosch units. While the parts are harder to locate than Bosch counterparts they are by no means rare. I have a collection of nos parts. I have seen them on The Samba and on Ebay all the time although their listings are sometimes mislabeled. Kurt Slauser in PA has been advertising the whole tune up kits for some time now. They are less expensive than the Bosch parts in general. I have never found a failed vacuum can on one of these distributors. If you have a 40 horse engine or a 1300 I see no reason not to run one of these distributors.
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Roads Scholar &
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018

1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc

1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse

katastrophenshutzwagen · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:07 am Post subject:

so does anyone have any leads on points for these?
Cool

BarryL · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 11:15 am Post subject:

Tasb, that is some Sambakipeda stuff right there, excellent!

Terry Gaudet · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:18 pm Post subject:

I will look in my stash of NOS parts and advise. I know I have a dist cap and rotor but not sure on the points.

Best regards,

Terry
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Terry Gaudet

1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab

tasb · Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:26 pm Post subject:

Well the static timing and full advance specs are the same for this distributor as for 1965 bus engines so I see no reason not to at least give it a try. There are some with the opinion that cast iron distributors are more stable than the later aluminum.
_________________
Roads Scholar &
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018

1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc

1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse

BarryL · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:14 am Post subject:

Where are you looking up the specs i.e. advance curves?

tasb · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject:

Sorry Barry I don't have a curve chart for that one. Just the static and full advance stats. That's why I was suggesting that it would be safe to experiment with and see if you like it.
_________________
Roads Scholar &
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018

1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc

1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse

BarryL · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 7:21 pm Post subject:

Static and full advance is what I seek. I just want to look up some various other model numbers as well. I love that cast iron one and agree the iron ones tend to stay solid and the bushings last longer on average.

staceyz · Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 8:55 am Post subject:

I have a NOS set of points for this distributor, Part # 111 998 061.

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odd ball distributor, what is the application?
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