TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue May 27, 2025 10:41 am

Hi from the UK
Please see attached pictures (hopefully)
I am currently recommissioning a August 1968 manufactured 1300 Beetle
I’ve learnt very quickly that getting truly correct replacement parts is a steep learning curve over here but I’m getting there.
The car is completely standard and I am trying to keep it that way as much as possible and I’m after some guidance for the correct replacement part numbers concerning the distributor please. I am after current Bosch part numbers for the parts if possible so I can source spares now I have the car running.
May I thank the collective in advance for their time and help in this matter.

Tue May 27, 2025 10:49 am

For part number information, you might have a look at my Bosch Tune Up Parts Chart.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/bosch_tune_up_parts.php

Tue May 27, 2025 11:22 am

You have a 205T, that is most likely not the original distributor. The 205T was originally on a 1970 1600 SP engine.

The correct distributor would be a
VW 113-905-205K (VW part number)
Bosch 0231 137 009 (Bosch part number)

For a 205K the correct part numbers are:
Points: 01 009
Condensor: 02 007
Rotor: 04 006
Cap: 03 001

For a 205T the correct part numbers are:
Points: 01 013
Condensor: 02 007
Rotor: 04 033
Cap: 03 010

Tue May 27, 2025 11:49 am

August 1968 manufacture would be 1969 model year so the 205T might be original.(at least according to the Bosch tune up chart)

Tue May 27, 2025 11:58 am

Mben wrote: August 1968 manufacture would be 1969 model year so the 205T might be original.(at least according to the Bosch tune up chart)
Sure... why not.

After all I have a 74 Beetle with a factory 75 dash pad.

Tue May 27, 2025 4:04 pm

T1GreyBug wrote: Hi from the UK

I assume you already know of these guys in the UK? A lot of us down in Oz buy from them as well as the established US suppliers.

https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/uk/

Tue May 27, 2025 5:16 pm

Hah, well, that was interesting.

I just got off night shift and had been awake for 22 hours when I got home and saw this post and put in that quick reply about the Tune Up Parts Chart.

I saw the 205T and I know that's 69-70 Bug. Now that I've had a bit of a nap and looked at this thread again, I notice that I forgot to look at the first three digits. It's 111 905 205 T.

All of my Bosch Parts books are USA publications, they do have some international data, especially the older books, but only some, and it does not talk about the 111-T except to cross reference the distributor part number.

I'm actually surprised I overlooked it when I compiled that chart though, but I compiled that several years ago. I need to go and edit it now.

Anyway, the 111-T was concurrent with the 113-T. Introduced August 1968. As talked about above, it uses the modern 03010 (orig 0231522183) cap, the modern 04033 (orig 04012) rotor, the 01013 points and 02069 (orig 02007) condenser.

The big difference between the two is the vacuum advance, it uses the older 07017 vacuum canister instead of the 07024. Which means less advance and 7.5BTDC base timing instead of 0TDC.

Tue May 27, 2025 5:54 pm

That's a really nice car. You even have the dark brown cap which is good.

Tue May 27, 2025 6:25 pm

Wow, that is a very original, bone stock engine right there. Very nice.

I'm always amazed at the corrosion VW parts get from the climate in England. I'm just curious, did this bug live near the ocean? I've restored hundreds of those 205T SVA distributors from all over the USA and it's rare that I ever see corrosion like that internally on a distributor that's always been installed on an engine. Of course I do see corrosion on distributors that were pulled out years ago and got wet while in storage. That spring has some serious corrosion on it.

Tue May 27, 2025 6:40 pm

You call that corrosion?

Tue May 27, 2025 7:10 pm

And yet another example of why it’s important to pay attention to the first three digits in the distributors VW part number. The 205 can be completely ignored since all distributors- every single one are 205’s. Ignoring this fact puts you at risk of giving inaccurate or wrong information. The 111 905 205 T and the 113 905 205 T are not the same distributor as Glutamodo points out. The 111 T was used in non USA engines. They are timed differently. The OP is in Great Britain.

Wed May 28, 2025 9:33 am

glutamodo wrote: For part number information, you might have a look at my Bosch Tune Up Parts Chart.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/bosch_tune_up_parts.php

Thank you for this I will have a look at it, much appreciated

Wed May 28, 2025 9:35 am

Glenn wrote: You have a 205T, that is most likely not the original distributor. The 205T was originally on a 1970 1600 SP engine.

The correct distributor would be a
VW 113-905-205K (VW part number)
Bosch 0231 137 009 (Bosch part number)

For a 205K the correct part numbers are:
Points: 01 009
Condensor: 02 007
Rotor: 04 006
Cap: 03 001

For a 205T the correct part numbers are:
Points: 01 013
Condensor: 02 007
Rotor: 04 033
Cap: 03 010

Thank you for this information, I also noted your comment later about production and years, for reference the car was first registered in March 69 in the UK

Wed May 28, 2025 9:37 am

Mben wrote: August 1968 manufacture would be 1969 model year so the 205T might be original.(at least according to the Bosch tune up chart)

This is what I believe with this car and I believe it to have had a very sheltered life with it being standard when I acquired it,many thanks

Wed May 28, 2025 9:43 am

viiking wrote: T1GreyBug wrote: Hi from the UK

I assume you already know of these guys in the UK? A lot of us down in Oz buy from them as well as the established US suppliers.

https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/uk/

Thanks, I am aware and have used them and others in the recommission to get the car running again, but I have had to go to specialist suppliers with genuine good quality second hand parts to achieve the correct running or operation. As an example I got 2 fuel pump Bakelite spacers that were supposed to be exact replacements from 2 suppliers,they were awful,undersized in thickness an tapered resulting in a homemade gasket 1mm thick until I sourced a original part which was correct thicknesses and parallel, worked a treat.
Hence why I’d like the correct info regarding the distributor and it’s items.

Wed May 28, 2025 9:47 am

glutamodo wrote: Hah, well, that was interesting.

I just got off night shift and had been awake for 22 hours when I got home and saw this post and put in that quick reply about the Tune Up Parts Chart.

I saw the 205T and I know that's 69-70 Bug. Now that I've had a bit of a nap and looked at this thread again, I notice that I forgot to look at the first three digits. It's 111 905 205 T.

All of my Bosch Parts books are USA publications, they do have some international data, especially the older books, but only some, and it does not talk about the 111-T except to cross reference the distributor part number.

I'm actually surprised I overlooked it when I compiled that chart though, but I compiled that several years ago. I need to go and edit it now.

Anyway, the 111-T was concurrent with the 113-T. Introduced August 1968. As talked about above, it uses the modern 03010 (orig 0231522183) cap, the modern 04033 (orig 04012) rotor, the 01013 points and 02069 (orig 02007) condenser.

The big difference between the two is the vacuum advance, it uses the older 07017 vacuum canister instead of the 07024. Which means less advance and 7.5BTDC base timing instead of 0TDC.

I have rebuilt the fuel pump, carburettor, cleaned the tank ,replaced fuel lines, set points with feeler gauge,cleaned the plugs and oil bath and static timed it to 7.5 as per the sticker on the tin and she runs a treat ,many thanks for your information and anything else you would recommend I will gladly take onboard

Wed May 28, 2025 9:50 am

heimlich wrote: That's a really nice car. You even have the dark brown cap which is good.

We are so pleased with it especially as we can’t find any modifications to it other than some consumables and the cherry on the cake is it’s the same colour as my late father's when I was a child in 1971

Wed May 28, 2025 9:57 am

wcfvw69 wrote: Wow, that is a very original, bone stock engine right there. Very nice.

I'm always amazed at the corrosion VW parts get from the climate in England. I'm just curious, did this bug live near the ocean? I've restored hundreds of those 205T SVA distributors from all over the USA and it's rare that I ever see corrosion like that internally on a distributor that's always been installed on an engine. Of course I do see corrosion on distributors that were pulled out years ago and got wet while in storage. That spring has some serious corrosion on it.

I believe it’s not lived by the ocean, but we do have 4 proper seasons, I believe it has been sat for a while in a clean garage unused properly for 20 plus years with only a drive up and down a short road occasionally

Regarding the spring are these obtainable? Is it worth me investing in a complete back up of the whole distributor system ?

Many thanks for your knowledge and time it’s much appreciated

Wed May 28, 2025 9:59 am

tasb wrote: And yet another example of why it’s important to pay attention to the first three digits in the distributors VW part number. The 205 can be completely ignored since all distributors- every single one are 205’s. Ignoring this fact puts you at risk of giving inaccurate or wrong information. The 111 905 205 T and the 113 905 205 T are not the same distributor as Glutamodo points out. The 111 T was used in non USA engines. They are timed differently. The OP is in Great Britain.

Many thanks for your help it is much appreciated and the reason why you and the rest of the collective on the forum are a great help to owners around the world

Wed May 28, 2025 12:24 pm

T1GreyBug wrote: wcfvw69 wrote: Wow, that is a very original, bone stock engine right there. Very nice.

I'm always amazed at the corrosion VW parts get from the climate in England. I'm just curious, did this bug live near the ocean? I've restored hundreds of those 205T SVA distributors from all over the USA and it's rare that I ever see corrosion like that internally on a distributor that's always been installed on an engine. Of course I do see corrosion on distributors that were pulled out years ago and got wet while in storage. That spring has some serious corrosion on it.

I believe it’s not lived by the ocean, but we do have 4 proper seasons, I believe it has been sat for a while in a clean garage unused properly for 20 plus years with only a drive up and down a short road occasionally

Regarding the spring are these obtainable? Is it worth me investing in a complete back up of the whole distributor system ?

Many thanks for your knowledge and time it’s much appreciated

If you have distributor restorers over in England, they can restore that original to the VW distributor. When I restore those distributors, the springs are one of the parts that are stripped and re-zinc plated for corrosion resistance. If that distributor has never been restored, it would benefit from being disassembled, cleaned and then relubricated. Often times, the points pivot plate doesn't pivot easily due to lack of grease, dirt and corrosion. This puts extra stress on the vacuum canister that has to pivot it to advance the timing.

If you can't find anyone over there to restore it, I do restore parts sent from Europe too. I also do have spare springs for that distributor as well.