Fuel Distributor

Recently, my wrench informed me that my fuel distributor would need to be replaced on my 76 Targa. This is a result of starting problems and missing from 3000 - 4000 rpms when pushed hard. My question is, can the fuel distributor be successfully rebuilt or is it best to replace the unit? If the unit can be rebuilt, how difficult is this procedure?
Thanks,
Steve
76 Targa

Sorry Steve, I don't have a direct answer to your question but I did see something interesting last weekend in the junk yard.
I was sifting through crap looking for a rocker arm shaft assembly for an '85 Sentra (don't ask) and I noticed a late '70s early '80s Mercedes sitting in a corner. I was curious so I investigated....I'm no MB fan but I can see why some people are. The motor was huge, very heavy weight looking. The thing that interested me about the car is that I instantly realized that it used a Bosch CIS system. A bit different in the way it was mounted and setup but definately CIS. One thing in particular that caught my eye was the fuel distributor. Gosh it looked an awfull lot like the one on my car (read: identical). Unfortunately I didn't write down any numbers off of it but unless there are internal differences I think it may be the same unit. Hell, you could pick that thing up for probably $20.00 or so at a junk yard. For that amount of money, I think it would be worth a shot. I don't know if anyone makes Rebuild kits for the distributors or if they are just canned. Someone else might have some better imput.

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

Thanks Leland....I will try and find a junk yard in my area that may have the part I need...even better would be to find a (don't get upset)wrecked Porsche in one of these yards locally that I could get plenty of extra parts from. The problem here is that they never answer the phone so that you can ask what they may have available.

Steve and Leland:

Just last month I sold our 1981 MB 280 SE, and yes, it had the exact CIS system that my 1983 911SC has. It was really cool that both our sedan and our toy had the same system, and thus made for ease of service and security of knowledge.

However, this is not surprising, since many of the German parts vedors sell their products to all the German manufacturers. We have to remember that Porsche, by their own admission, is really an assembler of parts bought from other sources. All the electrical stuff arrives at the factory completely assembled, the seats arrive at the factory ready to be bolted in, the motor parts come into the factory from various vendors and are then assembled into complete motors, etc. Porsche AG will have these vendors stamp the Porsche numbers on them, and Porsche AG will package these parts into Porsche cardboard, but often they are the same as you can find in MB, Audi, VW, BMW, etc.

Japanese cars, by the way, are much the same. It's surpirsing how much of my commuter Mazda has the same parts as the Toyota, etc.

I believe it was Warren who once said that there are often the same parts available from alternative sources, at lower cost. Very true, except that you do have to be careful. Sometimes a particular vendor will modify a part for Porsche, that is not modified for MB. And it wioll work better in the Porsche if it has been modify FOR Porsche.

So being frugal (I did not say cheap!!!), and being assiduous in your hunt, can often lead to less expensive parts for our toys...Andras

Steve,
My '82 930 was starting to spit back through the intake when cold ,rough running when warm , generally down on power. I put on the pressure guages and checked fuel pressure, system pressure and leak down. Every thing was normal.On a chance the problem was the fuel distributor, I removed it to check it out. It looked normal with just a little brown from fuel varnish deposits over time.
the metering piston seemed to slide normally. Any way, I squerted spray carb cleaner through all the ports back and forth cleaned the little line filters and worked the piston around with cleaner. After checking the movement of the air flap and reinstalling the fuel distributor, the car ran better than it ever has.
So... before buying a new fuel distributor try just cleaning it out. It worked for me!
It's very easy to do. (Don't drop the piston!)
Bob W.

Steve,
A clarafication on my last. Do not disassemble the fuel distributor. Only turn it upside down and remove the counter weighted flapper assembly under it. Then the metering piston can be removed and cleaned. At this level of disassembly every thing can be cleaned. No need to disassemble any more.
Bob W.

Bob, thanks for the info, however, my wrench performed the same procedure that you mentioned and yes it did run great, the only problem is that this was done just a week ago and it is starting to act up again. This is what has me concerned and considering the replacement.