Distributor Change

[dgsaz]

Here's what I'm running now:

1776
All parts balanced
Stock polished and balanced crank
Stock cam
L-3 Heads ACN 35/32
Stock lifters
1 3/8 header

Built as a long distance hauler.

And............an old 1990's 009 Distributor. I found the reciept from the PO. He bought it from Gene Berg.

I have had the distributor on every engine configuration 1500 sp, 1600 sp, 1776 sp and now on the current configuration, 1776 dp.

The 009 has always served me well and I have no real complaints. Just the question, "can I do better"? It's 27 years old, has Pertronix electronic points.
I'm a bit hesitant to trust it on a 3600 mile trip next summer.

So with that said, should I stick with the 009 or look into another distributor?

Thanks all,

dgsaz

[fivelugshortaxle]

CN performance magnaspark 2.
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[tattooed_pariah]

If it works well and has given you no problems, why not continue trusting it? If you want to change, change it, but half your post sounds like you like it, and the other half sounds like it's becoming a headache..

For what it's worth, I ran a plain 009 with points for about 6 years in a 1776, including a handful of trips to/from san diego to san jose (about 400 miles each way) and one trip from san jose to bend Oregon (don't remember miles, but it was 15 hours driving time at about 65-80mph..) and back with no problems at all.

It was my daily driver that whole time, but those were the big trips I took with no hesitation about whether or not it would get me home..
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[dgsaz]

[fivelugshortaxle]

[mcmscott]

We ran a "ready to run" magnaspark kit on our class 11 car in this past baja 1000, 1134 miles in the absolute worst conditions known, no problems at all. 57 hours(we got stuck in the silt too many times) straight, poor engine was screaming for all of it without one misfire. I challange any othe ignition "kit" on the market to do this.
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[jpaull]

[Pruneman99]

Never heard of a GB 009 but I don't doubt you. I'm sure it's a quality unit, and there is nothing wrong with a 009 per se. The issue is with all the crap 009's on the market that ain't worth a crap. I have a Bosch 009 that I ran for years. It was paired with a bocar PICT 34 and that's not really a good match, but it was fine. I bet if it was a Chinese knockoff 009, it would have a flat spot to hell as others have reported.

With your duals, a quality 009 is fine. Would a 010 or a 019 give you a better curve? Maybe, maybe not over a GB 009. There most likely would be SOME gain, but it might be minimal.

But after 27 years, maybe it's time to rebuild your distributor with new felt washers, clean, re-lube, and reset end play. If the distributor has huge amounts of end play it can cause timing scatter and hamper performance.

If you've already set $$$ aside for it, one of Glenn's 010's or 019's might be nice. Then there is always crank fire. How happy are you with your performance and how much $$$ do you want to spend experimenting?

[fivelugshortaxle]

[mcmscott]

[Glenn]

[fivelugshortaxle]

[mcmscott]

[Glenn]

Not comparing it, just saying that small caps do not scatter more than larger.

And if you are talking about antiquated, you can buy a V8 crate engine for less than a performance air cooled VW engine.
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[Brian]

[vwracerdave]

Why do you want to fix something that is not broken. Your real Bosch 009 is fine. All the 009 badmouthing is about the shitty Chinese copies, not the real deal like you have. Don't buy into the collectable and nostalgic value of the 010 & 019 unless you have a show car and are only after the bling. You might notice a little bit in the lower RPM city street driving range, but you will not get any more power driving down the highway by switching distributors. At highway cruising speeds all distributors are at max advance and do the same thing. You will get better MPG with a SVDA, but the good Mexican 034 are NLA and neither are the Mallory Unilites. I guess if I had to buy a new distributor today it would be the CB Magnaspark.
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[Glenn]

Dave, while i agree that the German 009s are much better than the aftermarket ones, the 019 and 010 have better curves... In the right application. But the 009 does work... Just not as well.

There is a indexing tab on the cap clip that fits in a slot in the cap and that should prevent the cap from shuffling.

As to the SVDA, the same can be said for the original German vs the aftermarket. I have restored SVDAs in stock so it doesn't matter to me what the customer needs.... I can help.
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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

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[jpaull]

If that 009 doesn't have any play in the shaft, I would lock out the advance and get a CB Black Box and run a REAL timing curve that will get you some more torque and MPG.

Their Picture is a Perfect example of how and why.

http://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/2013.htm

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[gt1953]

What ever you decide keep the 009 for a back up distributor and take it on the trip. Never hurts to have a spare on hand.
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[Glenn]