Pertronics III observations, and solutions

[oprn]

Lots an lots of times on this site products are labelled as inferior with absolutely no explanation, just a "trust me". The aim here is to SHOW what I found and come to an understanding as to what will work and what won't.

A quick bit of back ground:

Type 4 - original distributor worn out - no repair parts found - no replacement locally available - need vacuum and centrifugal advance - need to get this thing on the road.

Enter - online shopping!

Pertronics III - specs sound good - price reasonable - press "buy".

Install - set timing - check advance curve and pot response - looks good. 8* initial, 31* total, 9* vacuum.

About 8000 miles later - Fuel mileage is not improving as it should with jetting changes, in fact it is getting worse when it should be improving. Recheck timing: 16* initial, 31* total, no vac pot response, advance not starting until 2000 rpm or more.


Hmmm...

[oprn]

What's with all the plastic parts? I have been wrong before but can plastic really hold up to the long term use and heat expected here? Every point of contact and bearing here is plastic! Is this ok? what do you think?

This is where I found the biggest problem to be. Vacuum advance plate notchy feeling and stiff. Two ragged stamped steel plates rubbing together with no bearing surface provided. Very crude! Notice the screw that holds the sensor on the left side sticking out? That sucker is dragging on the bottom plate! Filed off the screw and all high points and lubed it up liberally but still not as free as it should be. Note the rub points at 1, 4, 7 and 10 o'clock!

Added some weight to these to see if I can get the advance to come on sooner. Weights were 9.5 grams each, now they are 10.5 grams. Just a stab in the dark.

[joey1320]

China crap do what China crap do...

I would recommend contacting either
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=24116

Or

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=3066

And see if they can rebuild your old one or sell you a rebuilt one.

Good luck.
_________________
1971 Super - Sold
1984 Puma GTC - Sold
1971 Campmobile

[oprn]

Thanks for the links Joey! I have not decided on a plan of action at this point. There are a number of options vying for prominence. At this point I just want to get it running well again for February ice racing then have a permanent solution lined up for spring.

This vacuum plate set up is very problematic, to keep it working is going to be an almost daily lube thing!

[joey1320]

I would rather bite the bullet and go with one the rebuilt distributors by one the two members I posted.

For my '71 Super I went with one of Bill's (wcfvw69) restored distributors and couldn't be happier. It looked as if it had travelled through time from 1971, straight from a VW parts shelve.

It truly sucks that pretty much every parts supplier is on a race to the bottom.

Good luck!
_________________
1971 Super - Sold
1984 Puma GTC - Sold
1971 Campmobile

[heimlich]

Those plastics parts hold up for decades.

If you look through my restored distributors you will see in the pictures that in the early 70's Bosch started using that type of plastic.Even before then they had what is called phenolic resin. I put new plastic in many of my restored distributors so they start out fresh when my customers get them. 40 year old plastic can be brittle and it is just a matter of time until it breaks.

Marcel
_________________
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[Glenn]

There's nothing like a properly rebuilt GERMAN Bosch distributor using genuine Bosch parts.

I say Pertrohnix are no where as good because i've tested a few and taken them apart. The stampings, assemble general build is when you expect from mass produced stuff from China.

Don;'t be surprised since you paid so little.
_________________
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

[rodeking]

Did you really expect anything different when the guy who put it together probably took home about 12 bucks for the day??

[j-dub]

What did you use to add material to the fly weights? It sort of looks like solder, I want to use this trick myself.

Thanks,
Jeremy
_________________
1957 Oval rag
"POLICE STATION TOILET STOLEN ... Cops have nothing to go on."

[oprn]

[Glenn]

[oprn]

[Glenn]

I don't remember exactly the conversation.

I don't give advice on modifying distributors because it's a "black art" and many mods can not be undone. If you want a custom curve, get either the CB Magnaspark digital or go crankfire. But you need to know what you are doing.

If you have a stock engine with the stock carb.... use the stock distributor that came with it.
_________________
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

[oprn]

Looks like the CB Magnaspark is not a direct fit on a type 4 engine. The cooling tin has to be modified. I can see that the distributor is much larger so that makes sense.

I am open to the crank fire option too if it can be made to fit this engine.

[Glenn]

Ah... Type 4. That's why I couldn't help, I just have no experience with them.

The Pertronix SVDA is a copy of the Bosch 034 which was designed for a Type 1 with a 34PICT-3 carb.

I assume your engine is not stock, so what mods have been done to it?
_________________
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

[oprn]

[Glenn]

With no crazy headwork, reasonable compression, i'd suggest a restored Bosch 205S which was the stock distributor for a late 70s 2.0l with FI.

_________________
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

[oprn]

[Glenn]

Bus & Pickup Late 1976-1978 All States, 1979 Federal * 2000

Distributor: VW 021-905-205P, Bosch 0231 168 005 > 022-905-205S, 0231 170 093

Timing Set At:: 7.5deg BTDC @ 850-950 rpm (Man Trans), 900-1000 rpm (Auto Trans) w/strobe, vacuum hose connected
Advance/Retard Range: Vacuum: 8.5-11deg Adv @ 7.9 In. Hg; Centrifugal: 8-13deg @ 1600 rpm, 20.5-24.5 @ 3400 rpm
_________________
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

[oprn]

Interesting. Could you pm me a price shipped to Canada please?