Distributor Questions

G'day all, I'm doing up my ignition system on my 69 which you may or may not know uses the Marelli distributor. Questions to you all is;
1. Do I change to the Bosch?
2. Cost?
3. Can I use a BMW or Mercedes equivalent.
Or can some on put me on to a website that has a list of "alternative" parts. Eg. Ford part# fits GM product XYZ

If I stick with the Marelli, what are the worth-while upgrades that can be made?

One more question....Stock leads vs Aftermarket?

Cheers!

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John Forcier
69 911T

if you can find a bosch unit, i would definitely swap it out. way better advance curve. they're hard to find though. your 69 should have had the bosch anyway. bosch parts are easy to get. marelli caps and rotors are almost extinct. fiat points work in them. bosch # 1 237 013 804. or bosch short # 01 189. never heard of any mods to help the marelli, and no other bosch units from other cars will fit.

Thanks JW. I forgot to mention that the engine case/pistons/barrels are from a '71. This must be why I have the Marelli?

Still interested in anyone's opinions on stock leads vs after market

Cheers

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John Forcier
69 911T

I have just been through the same ordeal. I found a good used cap and rotor for my Marelli, but even then couldn't get it to run right. Probably the springs where shot. I finally gave up and bought a Bosch designed to replace the Marelli. What they do is take a later Bosch, lathe off the smile shaped adjusting boss that comes on the later distributors, make sure it is the correct diameter for the block, and rebuild it. It cost $300 US from Motormeister. I have heard mixed reviews of Motormeister, but I finally got my distributor after calling a few times. It works well, but the Bosch only has 30 degrees of total advance while the Marelli had 40. At least now I can buy tune up parts. Good luck, Russ

stock wires will work fine if they're new. unless you have super high output ignition you don't need fancy wires. i've machined later (up to 77) distributors on the lathe down to the size of the old units with good results. a new o ring groove has to be cut. set them to 35 degrees total advance and you're down the road.

Anyone know where you can get just the spring set for the Bosch Distributor?

How about the breaker plate and vacuum retard device?


Thanks,

JA

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John
70/73 RS Spec Coupe

Stoddards sells springs. Dont know about the other bits. They have a website. Good luck.

G’day John

Have the same car with a Bosche distributor with the innards removed and replaced with an electronic number. Like your car I’ve got the later P&C’s. The set up I have is sensational – mainly due to the fact it as no points. The car ALWAYS starts and has a perfect ignition curve, as it was custom set up by my mechanic. The best news the PO had it done! I don’t know a lot about it but I think I heard it referred to as a “Holzman effect” unit, those more knowledgeable than I will give more details and or correct name. Runs stock leads. Can’t recommend this upgrade enough – go see your local P guy and ask him about it.

By the way love the posted picks of the car – now I want to turn mine into a red version of it. By the way, where did you get the wheels restored?


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Paul
911T'69

Good to hear from you again Paul. Thanks for the info on the distributor, I'll definitely look in to it.

Same answer to you re. my wheels...PO had them done about four years ago, in Melbourne of all places! They are apparently off an SC. I'll go through the car's files and see if I can find the wheel refinisher/supplier.

Thanks for the compliment on the car

Cheers

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John Forcier
69 911T

If you have the chance to dig through your files I'd appreciate the details of the guy who did your wheels, and perhaps a couple more shots of your car.

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Paul
911T'69

Paul....I think you may mean "Hall Effect", as in "Hall Effect Transistor" (any relation to Warren?) Hall Effect transistors are often used as switching devices in ignition systems.


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Doug
'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
members.home.net/zielke/911SC.htm