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oshima
Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2011
Posts: 112
Location: Knoxville, TN
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 Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 3:26 pm Post subject: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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Hey y’all,
My distributor’s advance diaphragm is shot. It’s a 205S from a 78 FI - and I really can’t seem to source a new one for less than $100. A rebuilt 205 is $125 including the can - should I spring for that or try for a new vacuum can?
Thanks |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51145
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 4:30 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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Beware of cheap rebuilds, many just involve a coat of paint and a few mismatched parts. For quality work contact Bill , Glenn or Tasb .
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
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Слава Україні! |
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oshima
Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2011
Posts: 112
Location: Knoxville, TN
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| Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 5:04 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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| Busdaddy, I gotta say ever since I’ve been here you’ve been so helpful. Let me know if you ever end up in Knoxville TN. We’ve got a castle we’d love to host you in. |
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SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 5:10 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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bu a new can. I keep a couple spares around because one never knows when they will go NLA again.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50348
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| Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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| SGKent wrote: |
| bu a new can. I keep a couple spares around because one never knows when they will go NLA again. |
Might help if you told people where they can buy a new can from.  |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 8:22 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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Vacuum canisters are already NLA. You can find some in the classifieds here, occasionaly on ebay and sometimes at swap meets. Good working used is another option but the canisters of this vintage are more prone to failure than the earlier ones. I checked my inventory and I do not have any #581 canisters. All of the 500 series VW canisters have the same advance characteristics. It's the mounting geometry to watch out for.
The $100 canisters are too rich for my blood too but seem to be the going rate. I can pick up a canister for my 1953 Studebaker for $35 shipped still in the Delco- Remy box.
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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 |
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 9:48 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| SGKent wrote: |
| bu a new can. I keep a couple spares around because one never knows when they will go NLA again. |
Might help if you told people where they can buy a new can from. |
Mike they come and go. Today you might only find a used one for $140 and tomorrow someone may be selling 2 dozen NOS ones for $30 each. Over the last few years I have pointed out to others where I found one or two and usually (there are a few exceptions) no one ever gets back to me except to whine that parts are too expensive, call me a dick to someone else behind my back because I would not sell them a spare, or that they procrastinated so someone else beat them to it.
If it were me and I was on a tight budget, until I found a new original one and could afford it, I would try contacting John at Aircooled.net to see if one of his generic SVDA cans that sell for around $25 might work. The vacuum advance is close.
or put man's best friend to work finding one like they search for truffles..
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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kreemoweet
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2008
Posts: 3899
Location: Seattle, WA
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wcfvw69
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2019 10:46 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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At horrifically inflated pricing. Ironically, before he started this little NOS business of his, he called out several on this site for what he said was gouging. 
OP, if you need just the 581 vacuum canister, I think I have a few spare used ones.
Send me a PM.
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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** |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22668
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:41 am Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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Is that guy actually making them ( fair price) .or reselling (gouger)?
I import a lot of stuff monthly and would be happy To bring in some cans for you guys who rebuild distributors
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oshima
Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2011
Posts: 112
Location: Knoxville, TN
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| Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 5:42 am Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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| wcfvw69 wrote: |
OP, if you need just the 581 vacuum canister, I think I have a few spare used ones.
Send me a PM. |
Amazing, thanks. I'll definitely send you a PM. |
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thewalrus
Big Jack
Joined: March 27, 2006
Posts: 3014
Location: Belchertown, MA
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76937
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:25 am Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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| oshima wrote: |
A rebuilt 205 is $125 including the can
Thanks |
Too good to be true unless the person doesn't value their time or experience.
Are you sure it's a 205S and not a 205? They are different.
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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
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:04 am Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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| Abscate wrote: |
Is that guy actually making them ( fair price) .or reselling (gouger)?
I import a lot of stuff monthly and would be happy To bring in some cans for you guys who rebuild distributors |
He doesn't make vacuum canisters- middleman. He's fairly new at rebuilding distributors unless he has someone else doing the work.
_________________
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 |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:16 am Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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| Glenn wrote: |
| oshima wrote: |
A rebuilt 205 is $125 including the can
Thanks |
Too good to be true unless the person doesn't value their time or experience.
Are you sure it's a 205S and not a 205? They are different. |
They sure are!
This statement makes very little sense, There are literally more than 95 different "205" VW distributors from 1955 until 1979. Nine of those do not have a suffix letter at the end.
If you can find good cores for $5-$10 at swaps as is possible that price is getting close to realistic.
_________________
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
Last edited by tasb on Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:33 am; edited 1 time in total |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:28 am Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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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 |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:31 am Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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| Abscate wrote: |
Is that guy actually making them ( fair price) .or reselling (gouger)?
I import a lot of stuff monthly and would be happy To bring in some cans for you guys who rebuild distributors |
I for one am taking you up on your offer, thanks.
_________________
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 |
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wcfvw69
Samba Purist
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 13389
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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| tasb wrote: |
| Glenn wrote: |
| oshima wrote: |
A rebuilt 205 is $125 including the can
Thanks |
Too good to be true unless the person doesn't value their time or experience.
Are you sure it's a 205S and not a 205? They are different. |
They sure are!
This statement makes very little sense, There are literally more than 95 different "205" VW distributors from 1955 until 1979. Nine of those do not have a suffix letter at the end.
If you can find good cores for $5-$10 at swaps as is possible that price is getting close to realistic. |
I personally value my time, expensive tools (including my Sun distributor machine), materials and experience more than selling them for that price. Even buying used cores at the swaps for that price point. It takes hours to fully tear them down and restore them correctly. Cleaning all the parts spotless in ultrasonic parts cleaners. Then inspecting the parts to insure they are still in spec. Many are not and the distributor is scrapped. So, you eat the cost of the core.
Add the cost of installing real Bosch fiber washers, stripping the old zinc, corrosion and then re-bright zinc plating the external steel distributor cap clips. Removing the corrosion off the distributor bodies and polishing them and the hours add up.
My plating station wasn't cheap to set up either. The expensive chemicals need to be changed more than I like to get the results I expect in the plating quality.
I've taken apart too many "restored" Cardone distributors that folks bought for $125 dollars. They sent them to me to see if they could be fixed because they didn't work. I found the internal parts to be worn out, miss matched and incorrect parts installed along with the wrong vacuum canisters mounted. Many vac cans were blown or leaked down. In fact, every Cardone distributor I've disassembled was junk.
The old saying of you get what you paid for it really applies.
_________________
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** |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76937
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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| wcfvw69 wrote: |
| every Cardone distributor I've disassembled was junk. |
They are the GEX of distributor rebuilders.
_________________
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 |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2019 8:16 pm Post subject: Re: Distributor advance vacuum can replacement |
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Cardone distributor restoration topic:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=686913&highlight=cardone
_________________
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 |
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