Visual Comparison of Typical Tune Up Parts

[tasb]

I frequently get questions about tune up parts to go with the distributors that I am rebuilding. While I don't mind answering these questions the information is often repetitive and I thought it might be useful to do a visual comparison of some of the more common parts.

It's not unusual for someone to have unboxed parts with confusing parts numbers. To ad to this malaise is the fact that Bosch has changed their numbering system at least three times since the 1950's.

I'm going to submit a couple of pics for review with notes to go with them to get this started. The first two pics are ignition points and ignition condensers.
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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

[Glenn]

Cast Iron parts with NOS left and new right

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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

[tasb]

Dang Glenn, you're fast on the draw

The first set at the top is used on the early mechanical advance cast iron distributors. Note there is no lead wire. The spring bolts to the lead bolt that is attached on the outside of the distributor body. These were used on the BRS 383 the, BR8, BR 25, 010 and the 019.

The 36 hp beetle engines used a SVDA distributor that used two different points arrangements. The set on the right utilized a fine adjustment cam with a hole in the ponts plate for it at the bottom right. These points do not sit firmly without that cam in place. The cam is very small and often is lost. The second set at the left does not require that cam as the points are held firmly by the clip at the top of the points set. The bug points have a wire lead. These points were used on the VJU and the VJUR 4 BR 8 vacuum can distributors. There is a brass pin on the advance plate that holds the points in place.

The 40 hp points sets can be distiguished by the larger bottom base plate. These points do not have a lead wire. There is a square plastic threaded plate where the points spring and lead wire are attached. Like the 36 hp beetle points this set requires the brass pin for mounting. These points were used on the "Big Cap" cast iron bodied distributors ZV/PAU 4 R 1 through 6.

At the end of 40 hp production Bosch switched to aluminum bodied distributors. The points still use a brass pin but now the lead wire is attached to a plastic boss that is mounted to the bottom of the distributor body. A female spade terminal is attached to the wires end for the first time. These points were also used on 1300 and 1500 distributors. The distributor numbers are 111 905 205 L,M,N, ZV/JU 4 R 3, 131 905 205 and even the 113 905 205 series K and L.

Beginning in 1966 the points plate was changed and the brass mounting stud was removed. A centeriing hole was installed in the plate and the new points have a small pin on the bottom of the plate. The lead wire retains the female spade terminal connection for these and the wire still attaches to the bottom of the distributor body. The distributors using this arrangement were the 113 905 205 M and T used stock through 1970 1500-1600 engines.

The later 1600 points sets continue to use the centering pin on the bottom of the points but the lead wire no longer attaches at the bottom of the distributor. The new location is on the side of the distributor. The lead wire has a female connector that is at a 90 degree angle to the lead wire in order to clear the rotor and points cam. The wire also runs in the opposite direction when compared to earlier points versions. These are the points used on the 009. Most subsequent points continued to use this same system with variations on the plastic plug that mounts to the distributor body side.
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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

[Helfen]

Glenn, The late 40hp-009 also fits 1300-1500 that you put down also fits the 65 standard 36 hp engine.

Don

[tasb]

The earliest condensers were originaly yellow wire versions. Later condensers used a green wire. Top left is the unit used on the 010 and BR 25. It requires a bracket that holds the condenser to the body of the distributor. Top right is the model installed on BRS 383, 019 and BR 8's. These have the mounting brackets that are permanently attached to the condenser.

The next example is similar to the 010 model above. They were installed on early cast iron 40 hp distributors. These condensers have a machined end rather than simply a bent wire as above. These parts were mounted inside the distributor requiring a small bracket different from the one used on the 010/BR 25.

The middle condenser in the pic is used on the late aluminum bodied 40 hp through the 1500 cc distributors. The round white plastic plug mounts to the underside of the distributor. A male connector attaches the points assembly inside the distributor body. There is a rectangular tang that mounts on the vacuum can attachment arm.

The early 1600 condensers are similar to the earlier 1500 parts. The lead wire going from underneath the distributor body to the condenser itself is a little longer. I have found that the earlier condensers will work just fine.

The pic shows two later 1600 condensers. The tang is gone and a bump replaces it. The male terminal is bent to accept a 90 degree angled condenser lead. There is a square plastic lug that mounts to the exterior wall of the distributor. The last condenser shown has a lead that mounts in a metal bracket and screw arrangement as shown. There were several variations on this plug and wire attachment arrangements.
_________________
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]

Correct 383 large diameter condenser.

_________________
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

[tasb]

The cap and rotor for the late aluminum bodied distributors and the 1300-1500 cc distributors are short compared to the earlier and later versions.

The 1600cc 113 series M and T as well as later distributors used the same cap and rotor found on the ubiquitous 009's.

Here is a comparison of the late 36 hp cap and rotor next to the 40 hp version. The late 36 hp caps are very similar in appearance to the later 1600 caps. The easiest way to distinguish the earlier caps is by the half round cutout found on the distributor body mating edge of the earlier caps. The cutout accomidates the lead wire bolt that passes through the body of the distributor.

The cast iron 40 hp distributors had a much wider body as the condenser was mounted inside the housing. The "big cap"and rotor are used on these cast iron distributors.

Glenn has aleady contributed an image of the early caps and rotors. Here is another. The rotors without a tail do not have the built in radio noise supression resistor. The resistorless rotors were common on the early 25/36 hp and there is an example of a later one in the 36/40 hp pic above.
_________________
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

[tasb]

Here is a pic of the rotor and flat cap mentioned above.

_________________
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

[tasb]

Here are a couple of comparison pics of the Garbe Lahymeyer "VW" distributor tune up parts. The points are very unique to this distributor. The rotor is very similar to the BR 8+ 019 beetle and bus distributors. With some minor tweeking they can be made to fit.

The cap and rotor shown are very short between plug wire contacts. Interestingly the cap and rotor appear to be interchangeable witht the flat top 383 distributor cap and rotor. I have not run a set on the 383 but they appear to be a functional fit! The rotor is an early resistor type for radio noise suppression.

_________________
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

[pupjoint]

[Stocknazi]

[AlteWagen]

the cast iron caps have a different locating slot (due to the tab on the clip) and a small half circle cut out for the condensor isolator gaskets.

The later 1600 caps have a wide key that locates in a cutout on the distributor body and no cutout for the condensor parts as they are now a plastic isolator with male connector rather than the nut/bolt/isolator set up on the cast iron models.

[Dangermouse]

[Stocknazi]

anyone know if the oldest bosch part number for 237 330 067 would be LMKO 1Z20Z
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[empiracer]

Does the 343T distributor use the same points & condensor as the 383 ?

[Frederik]

Didn't know where to put this but is sorting out my tune up parts and did a comparison of rotors. (Shorten down the 1 234 332 "..." in Bosch part numbers in the picture).

Top row is "36hp" rotors and a straight "family line", zvt53z9 non resistor and zvvt5z4 resistor version of "the same" rotor (old bosch part numbers) and 1 234 332 070 the new part number (and rotor) for the resistor version. In the next row (also "36hp") the new part number for the resistor verision zvvt5z5 is 1 234 332 072 (it's accually a dowal brand nos knock of in the picture, but the box was labeled with Bosch part number). I'm not 100% sure about this row, but to the right as comparison is todays often used replacement 1 234 332 088. The picture below explain the difference of the two rows of 36hp rotors. Second row of rotors have a grove in the bottom of the shaft for dust shielding.

1 234 332 082/zvvt5z7 (new/old) is the common "short" rotor used in many distributor mid 60's. 1 234 332 107 is a common late 60's/early 70's rotor, my 1980 Bosch parts display sign however show the 1 234 332 074 as replacement rotor (old number zvvt5z6) and again it appears as they (107/074) are dust shield vs non dust shield rotors? But dust shields also changed in design, the 1 234 332 215 rotor (common mid 70's rotor and replacement rotor) doesn't have any groove but was used with it's period dust shield as it just "fits" in the center hole.

[Frederik]

[tasb]

[tasb]

Here is a collection of ozone/dust covers for distributors:

211 905 205 (mistake should be 241) Early Garbe Lahmeyer cover made of fragile bakelite. I've only seen four mechanical advance GL distributors in 59 years and these were on two of them. Markings: Kontakt - 0.4 abstand- 0.5

111 905 241 for cast iron Bosch distributors no markings light steel cover

111 905 241 E Garbe Lahmeyer later version of plastic VW and GL logo no Bosch

111 905 205 F Common Bosch for 1964- @ 1973 distributors They were made of black and semi transparent plastic

113 905 241 Big cap cover made of aluminum painted black. I've only seen one of these in 59 years- you're looking at it.

1 230 500 147 Later cover like those found on "009's". No VW part number.
_________________
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

[[email protected]]

It looks as if your examples are geared tword the earlier distributors. Do you have any comparisons to some of the "70's" stuff, or common 009's? I'm thinking along the lines of Bosch 04012/04033 rotors, 03010 caps, 01011/01013/01030 points, and 20504/02069/02074/02086 condensers.