I am soooooo happy...., Niggling problem found and fixed Options

[porsche735]

So, after 7 years of blowing up pistons and mis-diagnosis, we have finally figured out what our problem was. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif) We found that even though our distributor was rebuilt and the curve tested, all that was tested was the mechanical advance. Our vacuum advance/retard canister turned out to have a leak on the retard side. This caused us to have about 40 degrees advance at points. Seems we should see about 33-35 total advance maximum (duh 27 adv with disconnect plus the 8 degrees of vacuum advance..http://www.dgi.net/914/tech/distrib.html). We are getting the new part this morning to cure this once and for all.
It has been very expensive over the years with the multiple rebuilds we have gone through (a few thousand). All for a $95 part.
One question I still have is about these A1 cardone remanufactured distributors. I got mine rebuilt by a shop and am buying a new vacuum canister. It seems like you could use this:
http://www.partsamerica.com/PartDetails.as...ype=218&PTSet=A

All I have found is the one for a 1.7L, but it seem sto come with the vacuum canister AND trigger points (same as 2.0L) for $51.99 plus $1 core at my local Kragen. This sounds too good to be true as the trigger points and canister are each about $100. Obviously, the canister is probably used, but tested to spec... but gosh...

Has anyone gone this route? You would have to throw away the distributor on the 2 liter cars, but seems worth it if you need either of the other parts. Are the trigger points new?

Anyone with first hand knowledge of this?

Chris

[porsche735]

Actually what you need to do is put the car under load. You can test this by jacking your rear end (the car's) in the air. Start teh car up and apply the emergency brake. Then put it in 4th gear, rev the engine to 4krpm and slowly let the clutch out this will cause the load and should cause retard to occur. Use a timing light to see what happens as you let out the clutch and keep the revs up. If you get no retard, you have a problem.
The vacuum changes as you have the car under load. It is not quite as you have listed here. It is a combination of load on the engine and rpm.

Looking at your readings, it seems you have the same problem as me. Your retard is messed up. Our's was difficult to find because we would check it by sucking on the hoses and the arm would move on both advance and retard sides. The thing we never checked until 2 nights ago was how long it would hold the vacuum......

Good luck.

BTW, I still haven't got a response on the A1 Cardone rebuilt distributor. If what seems to be true is, that is the way to go to get a tested canister. Plus, you get the added benefit of spare trigger points..

Chris