Distributor service (Clean and lube) real easy without removing the pinion gear!

[Gunter]

I strongly recommend that you check the curve in situ with a strobe light at various RPM's.
Start with the basic 5 deg BTDC ~900 RPM. Then connect the vacuum. There should be no change but as soon as you come off idle, the advance should be noticable.
Record the degrees for all RPM's right up to 6000 were it ends at ~30-33 deg.
Let us know what you get.

[patkeefe]

Yes, I will post results when I get the engine back in the car.

[1982911SCTarga]

Great thread, Gunter. Thanks for posting this information.

I cleaned and re-lubed the distributor on my SC project cabriolet yesterday. My distributor was in a similar situation to Pat Keefe's -- on removal I found that I could barely turn the thing! It amazes me how far out of whack things can get and the engine would still run. Between the condition of the distributor and the monkeyed-with CIS (probably because the distributor was overlooked as a cause of starting/driveability issues), I may be more than halfway home to getting project cab back in fine fettle.

One different thing I did: Rather than pry the timer core with screwdrivers to remove it, I used (carefully) one of those cheap battery terminal pullers with a small block between the puller screw and the top of the distributor shaft. As Gunter said, be watchful of the tiny pin that locates/mounts the timer core in its correct position!

It was unbelievable how dirty/sticky everything was in there. After copious cleaning and lubing, it looks great and ready to go for another 100,000 miles. Also as Gunter said, use the dust cover. This distributor didn't have it and I'm thinking that was a major contributor to its horrible condition.

These distributors are expensive to replace -- take good care of the ones you have.

Brian

[porsche930dude]

when i unplug my vacume lines and plug to check the timing the idle jumps to 1500 so i cant check the timing without them connected. Anybody know what the problem could be? its an 82 sc right now its at 5 degrees with the lines connected. I havnt done the distributor service yet

[Gunter]

Sounds like the lines are crossed.
Check the vac connections at the throttle body: Advance is connected in the REAR of the TB, the retard goes in front of the TB.
Timing is set with vacuum disconnected: 5 deg BTDC at ~900 RPM.
Along with that, you need to adjust the mixture and idle.
I suggest that you do the cleaning/oiling of the distributor and also make sure that the vacuum diaphragm works by sucking on the advance line and watching the movement inside. (Cap off)
Who knows where your timing is at the moment, something is screwy.
Service the distributor.
Then you'll know what shape the weights/springs are in and that the parts move freely.

[porsche930dude]

I appear to have two different sizes of springs on my advance weights is that normal? I cant get in there though because two of the three mpg allen screws are stripped out. Looks like i hit a dead end on my rehash. Im not too keen on ez outing them but it looks like thats the only option. Any bright ideas?

[porsche930dude]

also how much movement is the vacume advance arm suposed to have? It holds vacume fine but the arm doesnt move at all when you blow or suck on it is that bad?

[1982911SCTarga]

The vacuum advance plate was frozen on my distributor on my '83 cab before I rebuilt it. Penetrating oil and slowly turning it back and forth freed it up. FYI, the three screws on mine were the slotted type and not allens.

Brian

[porsche930dude]

how free is free? Seems like it should have to move about a half inch?

[1982911SCTarga]

That's about right. You'll see how it operates if you can get yours disassembled.

Brian

[Early_S_Man]

Yes, two different springs are used. The lighter spring provides the rapid ramp off-idle, and the heavy spring provides the gentle, slow ramp after 2500 rpm engine speed.

[Gunter]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

how free is free? Seems like it should have to move about a half inch?

The vacuum advance limit is determined by the internal stop.
Make sure the vac advance plate pivots freely in the magnetic pulse generator, use penetrating oil.
Now that the pod is off, test the vac diaphragm by sucking on the line connected to the advance nipple.
It moves just a little but the important issue is that it holds the vacuum and doesn't leak.
As for the broken Allen screws, I suggest that you go to a machine shop to have them drilled out on a milling machine. If you attempt this yourself, the drill will wander off into the softer Alu material; not good.
Unless you have the right equipment and skill to do it, you'll ruin the distributor body and you'll be sorry.
I believe the thread is M4 but if all fails, it can be drilled/tapped to a sligthly larger SAE - NF size thread.
Leave it in the hands of a good machinist.

Early_S said it about the springs/weights.

[porsche930dude]

Thanks guys! Iv got it all back together i think the problem lies elsewhere. I feel bad asking all these questions in someonelses thread but here goes. As gunter said to check the vacume lines. They seem to be in the right places advance in the back and retard at the front lower and the wur goes to the upper larger port. But the suctive power is questionable. The reason the idle rises when the lines are disconnected is beacuse the retard has alot of suction at idle and the advance doesnt. Then when its reved the retard vacume drops and the advance sucks under load and when reved up which seems normal but.... is it? Should they suck equally at idle?

[Gunter]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

As gunter said to check the vacume lines. They seem to be in the right places advance in the back and retard at the front lower and the wur goes to the upper larger port. But the suctive power is questionable. The reason the idle rises when the lines are disconnected is beacuse the retard has alot of suction at idle and the advance doesnt. Then when its reved the retard vacume drops and the advance sucks under load and when reved up which seems normal but.... is it? Should they suck equally at idle?

You say: The reason the idle rises when the lines are disconnected is because the retard has a lot of suction at idle....................
How can you have suction if the lines are disconnected?
Be more specific and refer to the OEM vacuum connections.
Do you still have the Thermo-time valve in the loop?
Pictures would really help to show how your lines are connected.
Timing is set with vacuum DISCONNECTED at 5 deg BTDC @ ~900 RPM.
Are you doing that?
Set the timing first according to factory specs, then connect the vacuum.
Even with the lines connected at idle, there should be no change in RPM.
What max advance does your strobe light show at WOT?

[porsche930dude]

I made a new thread here http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/379208-82sc-vacume-timing-problem.html#post3607237

[mhoffman]

Has anyone diagrammed all the washers? I had them laid out nicely and in order during disassembly, but did not pay attention to the magnetic effect of the pick-up and got them jumbled...the diagram does not clearly show how many and where...

Thanks-
Matt

[patkeefe]

Bump for help for Early_S_Man. I figured anyone who has posted in here will get an email response via subscription, and many do not know of Warrens plight...

[DavErb]

Just did this particular project this weekend. The timer core was damn-near welded on and it took an overnight penetrating oil soak and the battery terminal puller (great tip BTW, couple of screwdrivers had NO effect on this puppy). Interior of distributor was all bunged up with some sort of reddish oily junk and the advance weights were reluctant to move. Cleaned and freed it all up and stuck it back together again using the thinnest smear of antiseize on the part of the shaft the timer core sits on since I may want to get it off again sometime in the future. That fiddly little pin is a pain to work with since the core magnetizes any steel anywhere near it. Finally used a pair of wooden tweezers and a brass drift to get it in place. A tip for people haveing trouble getting a philips driver to properly engage the 3 bolts that hold the coil in place: a #1 Robertson (green square tip) screwdriver does a great job on these little bolts.

My distro had no washers in it but has about 1.3mm axial play. Should I try to take this out?

[Gunter]

I am not too concerned about axial play; the wear marks on the gear should be in the middle.
If you like, mark the gear and take it off with a little puller, then use fiber or brass/copper washers to reduce the play.
I am surprised about the 3 small bolts being Phillips or Roberts.
If they are Phillips, I don't see how a Roberts screwdriver would work and vice-versa.
Various SC distributors I took apart always had small Allen bolts for a 3mm key.

[DavErb]

Originally Posted by Gunter

I am not too concerned about axial play; the wear marks on the gear should be in the middle.
If you like, mark the gear and take it off with a little puller, then use fiber or brass/copper washers to reduce the play.
I am surprised about the 3 small bolts being Phillips or Roberts.
If they are Phillips, I don't see how a Roberts screwdriver would work and vice-versa.
Various SC distributors I took apart always had small Allen bolts for a 3mm key.

I guess the bolts are just another example of the stuff that can happen in a 25 year old car Probably someone had some metric philips along the way. BTW I beleive a true Philips head (as opposed to something like a Reed & Prince head,also cruciform) has a center squarish bit (thus the ability of the Robertson to engage) and the arms of the cruciform radiate out from the points of the square. It also tends to be shallower than a comparable R&P and has a flattened bottom to the hole.

Thanks for the comment on the axial play. The wear pattern was in the middle so I guess its OK. Besides I just got back from a mid winter gotta-test-to-see-if-it-works run and it was too much fun to immobilize the car again