021 905 205P distributor refresh (pics)

[Glenn]

Here's one i just completed.

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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"

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[mcdonaldneal]

Gorgeous Glenn!
Better than new!
Any idea why your vacuum can looks different, with a dimple in the middle, even though the arm has the same number 581?

Pleased to say one of my distributors has found a good home. Shipping to the states tomorrow.
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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

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[Glenn]

No idea...
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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

[wcfvw69]

That distributor looks great Glenn
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Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
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**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours**

[Glenn]

[Crowan]

1. Fiber shims/spacers that act as oil seals: these look like a thin gasket... How about buying a sheet of gasket material and cutting out the appropriate size?

2. My brother recently bought a 3D printer and he is making me a pair of "H"-shaped plastic wing nuts that secure one end of the centrigugal advance springs. I will post a picture when they are done. Perhaps others would be interested.

[raygreenwood]

[Glenn]

[Tcash]

Let me try this thread.

[Crowan]

[RWK]

What is the demand for this small plastic wing? I build plastic injection molds, always looking for another VW project, plastics have come a long way since the 70s, anyone have the dims. on one? I was reading these post looking for info on which distributor to run or have restored on my next project and this NLA part sparked my interest!

[wcfvw69]

[RWK]

Wouldn't print them, build mold direct, small enough part to make easily, built plenty of molds for underhood parts, changing matl is pretty simple most mat'l that would be used for this application have similar shrink rates which is all that would effect the mold size. Could build a mold with all required parts, bushings, ect. would be a" family mold" plastics are MUCH better now, even have access to a German molding machine, for the purist,lol.

[mcdonaldneal]

Thinking back, it seems to me that the plastic 'wings' and the fibre washers are the key 'worn', NLA parts that hold folk back from restoring these common ditributor types.
Having them available could be the difference between a piece of junk and a $100 plus restored, quality distributor. Of course, you still need a fair quality core to start with (which is a problem in my part of the world), but I think there would be a few people very keen to have a handful of these (me included!)
Watching with interest!
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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Wildthings]

I have wondered if there is an off the shelf bit of tubing which could be cut up and the pieces forced down over the spring posts?

[mcdonaldneal]

I thought it would be interesting to post pics of the condition of a 'known' distributor. Although I have refurbished a few distributors now, I had never replaced the original distributor from our Kombi (if it ain't broke!...)
Anyway, for a seperate reason I needed to swap it over, so I decided to service it. We have had the Kombi for 19years, and I am pretty sure the distributor has never been serviced or replaced. As confirmation, the Kombi was built in October 1977, and the distributor date code is 729: September 1977. It has done 220,000km (about 140,000 miles) and to be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by its condition. One fibre washer had disintegrated and one 0.2mm shim had separated into two concentric parts, one a sliver of a ring. Otherwise it was fairly clean.

I dismantled as per the thread, cleaned with kerosene and isopropyl alcohol, blasted the outside of the body with baking soda using a spot blasting gun and then used metal polish. The shims were 0.2mm and 0.3mm and I replaced them with 2x 0.3mm. New fibre washers, soaked in oil and I reused the other hardware. New Bosch/Beru service parts and lubricated with oil/Bosch distributor grease as per the Volvo diagram up thread. Perfect amount of up and down play in the shaft, good as new and will serve as a spare, maybe never to be used again!

_________________
1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[wcfvw69]

Nice job Phil.

Those distributors were well made. If the plastic spring retainers are in good shape and not brittle, they can last for decades after a good PM service like what you did.

Its amazing the filthy condition I see so many of these distributors in when I restore them. Breaker plates almost frozen. The lubrication that was applied 40+ years ago is gone and replaced with dirt, grit and debris.

They work so much better after being cleaned and re lubricated!
_________________
Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc

Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours**

[furgo]

Excellent work.

I noticed the position of the capacitor. A while ago I had some "fun" with mounting it after noticing it wouldn't let me rotate my distributor enough to set the correct ignition timing in that particular position.

The details are in this post. The best capacitor position, and what I think NOS distributors for Type 4 engines would be assembled like, I found out to be #2:

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'79 Westy, P22 interior, FI 2.0 l Federal, GE engine (hydraulic lifters)

Decode your M-Plate

[mcdonaldneal]

Thanks furgo , that's interesting. I can see your point, although I remounted the capacitor/condenser in the same location as it has always been. I haven't had any difficulties setting the timing, although I'm not sure how close it came to any other part of the engine. At the moment I have Pertronix ignition, so it isn't an issue!
Cheers!
_________________
1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Curtquarquesso]

In the market for a new/refurb 021-905-205P distributor. Can anyone point me towards the best source for one at the moment? Thanks.
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1978 Westfalia
1971 Westfalia/Sportsmobile
1966 Beetle