Bosch 0 231 170 034 / 043 905 205 Distributor

[Meiang]

I have 3 NOS Bosch 0 231 170 034 / 043 905 205 distributors.

Two of them have a distributor cap made by Bosch Mexico with part number 1 235 522 183 and a Bosch condenser with part number 237 330 204. They have manufacture dates of May 1998 and May 1999. The colour of the distributor caps is very dark brown

The third distributor has a Bosch distibutor cap with part number 1 235 522 056 and a Bosch condenser part number 9 231 081 575. It has a manufacture date of October 2007. The colour of the distributor cap is light brown.

Are the distributor cap and condenser parts for this third unit correct?

[Glenn]

There are a number of caps that can interchange. Many time there are 3-4 that have different part numbers but will fit. Condensers are pretty generic with only the length of the wire and mounts being different.

For example, for the Bosch 031 the following caps fit 03012, 03013, 03005 and 03019. They are made of different material and the caps are slightly different colors. But they all fit.

Those are all Mexican made Bosch distributors.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
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[tasb]

The ":183" cap is known as the 'dark brown cap" that Bosch Germany utilized in 1968-71 before going with the much more common 056 brown orange cap. The information on what Bosch Mexico went with is still a bit incomplete. Are you sure that the 183 caps are of Mexican manufacture?

As Glenn stated, the lead wire length and the mounting design are what determines condenser part numbers. The condensers themselves are pretty much the same. The truly interesting aspect of Bosch condensers is the date of manufacture stamped on them.
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[Glenn]

Also the 9 231 081 575 tells me it a Bosch Brazil part number.
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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

[Meiang]

Here are photographs of the distributors.

[Q-Dog]

I'll take 2 ... any 2.
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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
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[Glenn]

[Meiang]

Quote

"Also the 9 231 081 575 tells me it a Bosch Brazil part number."

The condenser with part number 9 231 081 575 looks like it may be made in Mexico. Or am I reading the "Mex" labeling wrong.

[wcfvw69]

I've restored several of these Mexican Bosch 034's. They are excellent distributors. The internal parts are as high quality as the German made versions. They parts look identical. The parts interchange between them as well. The big difference is the finish of the bodies vs. the German.

They have the same advance rate and specs as the German made ones on my Sun distributor machine.

I've sold several of these restored Mexican made Bosch 034's all and the folks loved them.
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[Antonio Trejo]

[glutamodo]

183 series caps got superseded decades ago. In my Gallery I did a comparison of classic and contemporary caps:

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Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[wcfvw69]

[glutamodo]

I actually thought it was kind of cool that the black Brazil 711 cap looked to be a copy of the superseded 183 cap. I've never liked the modern orange bakelite colour that Bosch uses - even older German 056 caps have a better tone to them than the new ones do. But a black cap that works there? That's cool. However, I don't know if that Brazil part number is still available. It was at one point - I know, I ordered it!
_________________
Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.