1984 Ignition Components: Upgrade to '85 or?

[DeMinimis]

Hey All,

Lots of stuff to do before we try and fire our new (to us) '84. For example, mice took out plug wires and coil wire. Westy had pin style wires, and a non-pin style rotor cap ( coil wire contacts dissolved). Anyway, time for an update. '85-'88 parts seem the way to go, unless you folks think there's a better option. Also, preferred wire sets, and good coil source (since it appears Bosch is no longer an option)? Thanks!
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Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII in perpetual progress and, for reasons that escape me, an 84.5 Westy

[jlrftype7]

We started with the earlier push-in style ign since that's what the Vanagon came with when we bought ours, but after a few years, that style seemed harder to find parts for than the later, Pin style when it came to Plug Wires in a good set. So, swapped over to a Pin style Coil, Bosch, and cap and wires as a result when putting in a replacement engine at Fall of 2023. Was a good time to just do it.
I only buy the Ign parts from our regular VW suppliers, they seem to stock good stuff with no hassle or worries, but everyone here probably has a favorite that they'll chime in with.

Plugs, I use NGK. I think the Bosch Coil issue is more with the later Digifant system, and there are threads on people losing coils with their later Vanagons, but those failures point more to an ECU issue damaging the Coils than Bosch Coil Quality. Digijet doesn't control the coil through the ECU like the later Digifant ECU, so we of the earlier Vans escape this issue.
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[DeMinimis]

Thank you. I was also working under the assumption that a cap with pins (while using the older style rotor) is all that is needed, as opposed to a complete distributor. Correct? Thanks!!
_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII in perpetual progress and, for reasons that escape me, an 84.5 Westy

[Wildthings]

I have the later style cap, coil, and wires on my 83 1/2 and have run them for a decade or so at this point in time. They came off my '91 when I swapped it to a Subaru.

The Digijet distributor has the old style mechanical and vacuum advances, while the Digifant system has the advance built into the ECU, so you need the distributor that matches your ECU.

[DeMinimis]

Thanks! Sunday morning, a Westy was about the furthest thing from my mind. By Sunday afternoon, completely out of left field, we had an agreement to buy this (sight unseen). Come Monday, a friend and I strap towed it a mile to my in-law's place. Last night, we trailered it home. I only got to poke around the engine compartment for a little while, in the dark. This AM, I discovered the coil was switched out to the pin style Bosch. So, they were running a pin style coil and wires, but the non-pin cap. The coil wire retaining ring had turned to powder inside the cap. Some serious arching. This is a bit of a treasure hunt. I found a new wire set (pin), but missing the coil wire (I wonder why ) and a new distributor cap (old style). So I'll order up, proper cap(s) and wires and rotors and plugs today (along with a host of get-it-running goodies) so The Boy and I can maybe fire this thing up when he is home for TG weekend. Thanks again. Looks like this mystery is solved.

PS: This is our first water boxer. Our prior '85 had a Tiico conversion when we bought it. Other than that, I've always been a VW air-cooled guy. So, thanks for answering my Dick and Jane WBX questions.
_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII in perpetual progress and, for reasons that escape me, an 84.5 Westy

[jlrftype7]

Don't forget to remove the rotor and oil the felt 'sponge' that should be under the rotor, on the distributor shaft. Even if it's missing, add a few drops of oil to the shaft before putting the rotor back on.

Clean all your engine grounds. Get to those fuel hoses as soon as you can.
I recommend new Fuel Manifolds over keeping the original plastic ones that the VW came with.

Here's how scary ours looked when we first got the Vanagon in Fall 2018. Didn't actually leak,,,,,yet........

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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[DeMinimis]

Thanks. It already has the billet ones.
_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII in perpetual progress and, for reasons that escape me, an 84.5 Westy