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chclark
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2025
Posts: 2
Location: Pennsylvania
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 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 4:05 pm Post subject: '56 Distributor help |
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Looking for a some help with my dads 56. Its been his for 20ish years and hasn't been running for years. I commandeered it and would like to get it running take him on some drives. He's just turned 80.
Anyways it has what i believe to be a 36hp. Engine number 1790383, Solex 28 PCI carb and a ZV PAU 4R5 distributor.
It currently is getting spark from the coil but not to plugs. my plan was to replace plugs, wires, cap, rotor, points and condenser. But as i started to dig into this a little I quickly realized this distributor is from a 40HP. is the pairing of thses parts ok? It ran and drove for years but I felt like it was never quite right.
Take it easy on me I am a VW newbie and have a lot to learn!
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 79493
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: '56 Distributor help |
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You have the wrong distributor, yours is for a 40hp. The correct one is a vju4br8.
_________________
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
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי |
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chclark
Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2025
Posts: 2
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 4:26 pm Post subject: Re: '56 Distributor help |
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| Glenn wrote: |
| You have the wrong distributor, yours is for a 40hp. The correct one is a vju4br8. |
Thanks! |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 79493
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: '56 Distributor help |
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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
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6750
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 6:33 am Post subject: Re: '56 Distributor help |
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Besides locating the correct distributor you will need to find a vacuum advance line as yours was modified to fit with a 40 hp distributor. You should be able to find both in the Samba classifieds as they are not available new anymore. Good restored units can be had.
_________________
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
Member# 2059 |
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VW_Jimbo
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016
Posts: 11155
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 8:00 am Post subject: Re: '56 Distributor help |
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| tasb wrote: |
| Besides locating the correct distributor you will need to find a vacuum advance line as yours was modified to fit with a 40 hp distributor. You should be able to find both in the Samba classifieds as they are not available new anymore. Good restored units can be had. |
I have not purchased one of these but Wolfsburg West offers a vacuum line for that. It is the metal line with a thread end at each end. Again, I have never purchased one from them but it is listed.
https://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=111129493A
_________________
Jimbo
There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!
| TDCTDI wrote: |
| Basically, a whole bunch of fuckery to achieve a look. |
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6750
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 5:24 pm Post subject: Re: '56 Distributor help |
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That would be the one. There is also an adaptor fitting that you will need at the carburetor.
Classifieds search under: vacuum line fitting.
_________________
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
Member# 2059 |
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