Adriel Rowley
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2006
Posts: 4748
Location: Mesa, Arizona
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 Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| JSMskater wrote: |
| architect_7 wrote: |
| JSMskater wrote: |
| architect_7 wrote: |
| JSMskater wrote: |
I ran a pertronix until my enigne took a dump. , the vacuum advance unit. It works great, and I would say the only noticeable advantage is off the line throttle response. MPG improvement was like, 2. points work fine, but i hated the stupid little hesitations and things that were right off the line. Pertronix fixed that. Not having to diddle with the distributor at valve adjustment time was nice too, but not a selling point in and of itself.
Personally, i feel like points work just fine, and pertronix would be overkill on an old FI motor. if you're building from scratch though, why dick around? its not like they're expensive. |
Well 2 miles per a gallon, so 36 miles per a gallon, so 374 miles, versus 281!  93 extra miles! So, about $6.75 saving! Did I do that right? Still, takes 13 fill-ups to break even, or 4875 miles, or two or three years. So, guess it is not a huge improvement, especially with such loose figures. It is more of a tuning and engine quality application.
The engine is not old! It has about four thousand miles on it, and runs well. No oil burning, good mileage, and good performance. That is why I am looking at a filter, to make it last even longer. |
13 fill ups!? my pertronix cost me 40 dollars brand new. at 7 dollars savings per tank, that's only 6 or 7 fill ups. and thats at 32mpg.. iv never gotten 36. 40 dollars is peanuts for better throttle response. |
What? Where? I have seen them at $80-$100! Might be something to look into. Rust, filter, then Pertronix.  |
I bought mine online at CPR. even so, 80-100 bucks is still not that bad for electronic points. you don't have to use the pertronix units either, there are compufire and other companies that make the same kits considerably cheaper. |
CPR does not come up with a site, but I found "CHICO PERFORMANCE RACING", but no site.
| JSMskater wrote: |
part number 1847V. it's listed for 1968-1973 VW T3. it is the vacuum advance unit. I called and specifically asked them, before I bought it, whether it would function in the FI distributor. they assured me it would, and I used it without issues for months.
likewise, the kits offered by other companies (hot spark, compufire, etc) are pretty much identical kits, and they also only come in two varieties- 009/ mech advance, and vacuum advance kits. don't be surprised if you have to file a little here and a little there, I had to take .002 off the corner of my pertronix base in order for it to seat properly. |
I tried the part number, but did not find it for $40, or at any of the usual suspects.
| raygreenwood wrote: |
Pertronix iss better than points...because points very quickly carbonize...unless they are perfect. That carbonization...closes gap and changes dwell. Carbon is a conductor.
That being said, I have used both Pertronix and compufire. I thought the shielding and harness/grommet assembly on the compufire is sub par compared to Pertronix. Also, the whole module frame and locating lug on the Pertronix was better.
Yes, the vacuum advance model listed for 411/412 and Porsche 914 is correct.
That being said, it is not perfect without mods.
(1) The fit of the magnet disc sometimes slips down too far and is too close to the module.
The magnet disc fit is also sloppy and loose on all module brands. I dropped a thinwall washer made of a slice of metric tube onto theshaft, then put JB weld around the hole in teh disc....slipped it on and let it dry overnight. Don't forget to lube the shaft so it comes off. In the morning I removed it and filed it clean. It fits nice and tight now. I found this can represent about 5 degress of timing change on some distributors. Its the difference in machine work on shaft and cams...not the disc.
(2) The back end of the module needed to be clearanced. It commonly comes up against the wall of the distributor during advance...wedging it so you get incomplete advance.
(3) On some breaker plates....the brass locator pin on the module is just a few thousandths too long. When you tighten the unit down...it pins the two plates together...locking out vacuum advance.
(4) carefully route the wire inside of the dizzy befire you lock down the grommet with the fork and screw on the outside...or it will wear against the edge of the breaker plate everytime you advance...and short out eventually.
Attention to detail I have found.....is what makes most people unhappy with their points replacement module....not the module itself.
If you do not get VERY NOTICABLE smoothness as compared to points on a distributor with high miles on it....then you slop elsewhere in your system (breaker plate slop, spring slop, distributor drive slop, weights sloppy, worn advance arm etc.). This will not fix all of that.
What it does fix...are the minute differences worn distributor lobes give you when added to points that are starting to carbonize.
I always carry points, and condensor as a spare....but I would never purposely go back to points. Ray |
I am almost sold on Pertronix, but until it comes up in the list...
Ray, thank you for the further instructions!  I also did not think about the carbon build up.
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Please consider I am Autistic, so I process information differently and still working on social skills. Thanks.
Dad's 1964 Beetle purchased September 1968.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9252810#9252810
1971 Sunroof Squareback with Fuel Injection
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=219811&highlight=squareback+rejuvenation |
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