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Wed Apr 30, 2025 12:33 pm

Hello
Just purchased a 1957 oval that has been locked away since 1990
Nice project
Im stuck on a problem so i thought i would throw it out here
Fitted with a Bosh VJU4BR8 distributor
It had no spark replaced points and condensor and got it running for a few minutes then no spark,replaced points and condensor then after a few minutes the same again.Only use quality parts they were both from different suppliers
Got me stumped
thanks for your help

Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:14 pm

Rusty or ungreased points cam in the distributor, grinding down the rubbing block?

The lobes need to be very smooth, clean and greased.

Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:22 pm

Why replace those parts again? Was there damage? If so, what did it look like? Maybe the coil is shorting out? Maybe the generator is producing too much voltage?

Lots of items to check.

Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:40 pm

lobes are smooth no rust
i was thinking maybe coil

Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:45 pm

Verify that the pass through bolt that connects the points and condenser to the coil is not shorting out on the distributor body. That particular part is very finicky on this particular distributor.

Wed Apr 30, 2025 2:55 pm

Take a multimeter and set it to continuity test. Put one end on the bolt that goes through the housing. Then take the other end and put it on the rotor shaft. When the points close it should beep or pass the test. You can also put it on the bolt and the housing. If it beeps it's grounding out.

Sun May 04, 2025 12:03 pm

Hello me again with a follow up
Tested the coil with multimeter within specs
Went to a local show and was given a distributor by a good friend
I got home and set up a bench rig i saw on youtube where you spin the drive and it worked :)

Vw ignition tips & tricks
The EZGZ

iIf your interested

Any way the distributor on the car put up a fight to get out !!!!

I followed the manual set TDC removed the distributor which said at TDC the drive should be perpendicular to the case seam and the smaller segment pointing towards the pulley
Mine is not
i know the engine was rebuilt many years ago did they not put it back in right when they built the engine ??
I put the known working distributor back in but the rotor arm points towards the number 1 cylinder is this correct ??

Thank you

Sun May 04, 2025 6:39 pm

Don't assume anything based on the distributor orientation. You can find TDC by checking the valves. Once you find TDC, where ever the rotor is that is #1. Connect your #1 wire to the terminal above that and then go through the firing order connecting the other wires.

Thu May 08, 2025 8:05 am

An incorrectly aligned distributor drive is fairly common. Usually only a tooth off.

Sun May 11, 2025 5:30 am

Had a similar problem after changing points once, it was the little bakelite washer where the contact to the points goes through the body of the distributor, that broke, so it earthed in the distributor body.