Rare Unique and Oddball stock ignition distributors

[wcfvw69]

[tasb]

An educated guess would be about 1 in 10 are mismatched, so fairly common.
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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

[tasb]

That Service Department replacement distributor should have a vacuum canister that delivers approximately 32 degrees of advance and static timed starting at 0 degrees.
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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

[tasb]

Many of us have been using Progressive Refinements as a near gospel when it comes to dates for various changes to the early Beetle and Bus. I am discovering that at best it is selective in what the author chose to include and that it is not an exhaustive accounting.

In two cases the listing is either incomplete or erronious when it refers to distributors. PR states that the date coding of distributors began in March 1951 (Electrical sec.). This is without a doubt inaccurate as Bosch has been date stamping distributors at least as far back as 1937 and likely further.

PR also states that advance spring revisions are identified by a red paint mark (engine sec. April 1954). The fact is that there were several colors used and each probably referenced a specific revision that has probably been lost to time. Here is an example of an early take off distributor. It is date stamped 12 K or December 1954. The condenser is date stamped 11 K for November of the same year. This distributor has the same condenser installed by the Bosch factory worker 62 years ago and it is still functioning normally by the way. The rotor and points are very likely just as original. The cap is definitely an older version, correct for the distributor vintage, with no logos on the outside.
_________________
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]

I have seen distributors from 1954 with red, yellow and blue marking's.

While it still functions it remains original/un-restored.
_________________
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]

In 1967 Porsche produced 2,178 of the 911 S' models, 360 of those were Targa's. One of the unique parts on those 911 S models from 1967 was the distributor. While the "regular" 911's had distributor # 0 231 159 001 the S models received the 0 231 159 002. A unique feature of the 002's was the badge background being yellow instead of the typical black. Here is one of only 2,178 yellow badged distributors. It does have a kind of golden sheen to it.

Porsche distributors are taller and have a drive gear at the end of the shaft. I'm not quite finished with this one since the pin is peened onto the gear face. These distributors also have an oil port that can be seen on the left side.

The 002 uses the same condenser/bracket as the BR 25, 010 models. They also share the same points. Amazing that even Porsche was still using points as late as 1967 on their top line model.

Looks just like the mechanical advance distributors on VW's except that there are 6 peaks on the cam.

Besides the drive pin I still need to source a distributor cap and find the rev limiting 7300 rpm rotors that I stashed somewhere in the shop.

This exceptional piece stumbled my way in a parts lot with no mention of a cast iron distributor at the bottom of the box. I had to sit down and catch my breath when I found it and turned it over to reveal the yellow badge.
_________________
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

[spanky324]

Nice piece!!

[tasb]

This piece of machinery fits into all three categories: rare, unique, oddball:

The assembly has three parts a top middle and bottom.
It mounts in the distributor location perfectly but is too short for the stock distributor drive gear. The identifying marks are as follows.

Top: Cog VW 120.17.01.1 The bearing has "Made in Sweden" stamped into it in English!

Middle: Cog VW logo - 5 - 120 -17 - 02 . 1

Bottom: Cog VW logo 120-17-03 .7 - 5

I've searched pretty thuroughly for a date stamp but have not found anything yet.

From this angle you can see that there is a part missing from the assembly. There is no cap or wires present so likely that is what is missing. Note the driven gear facing the left side of the engine.

From this view you can see that there is an adjustment arm. It appears to attach to something.

This appears to be a magneto and/or speed governor from the World War II time period.
_________________
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

[Oldfart]

Looks like a governor that aircraft have for constant speed propeller. Any chance it's from a diesel that this thing governs the fuel injector pump?

[BarryL]

My guess is governor with the adjustment on top. The take-off drives a distributor. Navy?

[Oldfart]

That drive looks like a magneto coupling

[tasb]

[tasb]

[Oldfart]

Are you sure it's that old? VW engines have been used as aircraft powerplants for a while, the earliest I've seen was a modification to a 25HP.
To me it looks like an aircraft application but normally you don't have constant speed prop/governor on lower power engines such as VW conversions.

[tasb]

[tasb]

Here are a couple of pics of the assembly together.

The distributors in the background are not part of the assembly.
_________________
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

[notchboy]

The bracket that attaches to the magneto - also is supported by the fuel pump studs?

Would it use a modified pump or at the least a longer rod?


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[tasb]

Hey notchboy, did you notice that we joined TheSamba on the same day/year?

You are member 2066 and I am member 2067. There were only three people who joined on that date. The first member last visited in 2002.
_________________
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

[BarryL]

"Seattle", "Running", "Lincoln". and "Kennedy" have the same amount of letters.

[notchboy]