Distributor advance vacuum can replacement

[tasb]

I don't strip and replate my parts. I value my health and the environment more than shiny metal, but I get why others do. I use hot lemon juice to clean my distributors and parts rather than ultra sonic cleaners or other solvents. All of that saves some overhead. Call me old school, I'm ok with that. They still look good, are clean and function the way they should.

I don't work on a lot of SVDA distributors, focusing on the old cast iron and early SVA. These don't wear as frequently or rapidly as the later distributors. With some trouble spots in mind and a vacuum tester in my hand I can eliminate poor candidates before I hand over the cash at swaps. It's a bit harder to do that with the later SVDA'S and DVDA'S. The wear points are hidden under the points plate and old greasy dirt. I had a seller offer me a bin of over 60 of them a year ago, for $100. I didn't think twice!
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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

[oshima]

An I going to do any damage by driving without the vacuum advance while I wait for it to come in? I’ve got the line plugged up in the meantime.

[Wildthings]

[tasb]

With a dual advance distributor you still in theory have the mechanical weights advancing the spark.You won't be advancing fully without the vacuum functioning properly. Wildthings description is the result.
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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

[wcfvw69]

[SGKent]

Folks here are lucky to have folks here who restore distributors.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Abscate]

I don’t have any magic in sourcing this stuff, just importing. It’s not rocket science, I just happen to have logistics people in many EU countries
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.ssS!

[tasb]

Here's one that may work for you. Having two mounting holes on each side it may be ok. It's a universal unit non USA withe the same advance specs as the 581.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2235000
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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

[Sawspa]

Hey all,
I have a 78 2.0 FI. Currently points.
Will this can work on my factory svda distributor?
https://airheadparts.com/vw-part/vacuum-advance-can-043-905-271/
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1978 Westfalia Campmobile 2.0L oversized ham heads and a stepped up cam, running points and a 76 exhaust "Lefty Loosy"

[SGKent]

yes - buy several at that price. Probably not the best quality but it will work. When they are NLA they can sell upwards of $100 each.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Sawspa]

Thanks! After reading this thread I was afraid of the low price.
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1978 Westfalia Campmobile 2.0L oversized ham heads and a stepped up cam, running points and a 76 exhaust "Lefty Loosy"

[tasb]

Depending upon your distributor you might have to add some holes or elongate the ones already there on the mounting tabs of aftermarket canisters in order to mount 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

[Glenn]

Vacuum canister are not one size fits all. the have different part numbers for a reason.

And if you have to "make" them fit, I would suspect it's not the right one for you.
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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

[airschooled]

PSA for anybody with a fuel injected engine with a "bad vacuum advance can…" …I have seen two shops miss this in the last year alone.

Please check your EEC valve for proper function before indicting your vacuum advance mechanism. If the EEC valve is shot, (moderately common,) you will not have any functional vacuum advance, and you should disconnect and remove the Tee to the air cleaner's valve while you search for a working EEC valve air cleaner body.

See you on the road,
Robbie
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Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com

[tasb]

There are only nine different German Bosch vacuum canisters listed here on TheSamba for SVDA distributors. Six of them deliver between 8-12 degrees of advance at between 180 (2)-200 (4) mm/hg. They are almost interchangeable. If you are unable to find the exact match trying one of the others is worth experimenting. Most of the advance with SVDA's is a function of the mechanical weights.
_________________
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