Vacuum advance

[jsutton911]

The distributor vacuum advance unit on my 1983 911s 3.0 is inop. New or rebuilt units are not available from Pelican, anyone have any ideas.
Thanks
Jim

[jtfreels]

I don't have any ideas but a question. How do you know its not working, what are the symptoms?
I'm having some issues with my 82 and think its a problem with the vacuum advance, mine runs like crap with the advance hooked up but fine with out it.

Thanks
Jay

[Gunter]

Advertise for one in the "911 Used Parts Classified" forum; '80-'83 SC's have the same vac pod with advance and retard.

Make sure that yours is in fact bad. If it doesn't move the advance mechanism inside the distributor, the mechanism might be frozen and needs to be cleaned and lubed.

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

Distributors are usually neglected over the years.

[porsche8777]

Try a Bosch dealer. The Bosch part number is 07180.

Here is a link to look up the Bosch numbers for our cars

http://www.bosch.com/content/language2/html/3501.htm

[john walker's workshop]

that bosch website doesn't seem to enable you to list the year/model/make of a car in order to look up parts for it. how do you find anything for, say a 1983 911?

[Gunter]

Try this one, John:

http://www.boschautoparts.com/Resources/VehiclePartFinder/

[john walker's workshop]

yeah, that one is good for the part numbers. the locate supplier part is a joke. multiple napa and schucks stores. not likely.

[jsutton911]

Staggering on initial acceleration, poor fuel mileage, and the timing remains static on acceleration/deceleration when checked with a strobe timing light.

[Gunter]

Originally Posted by jsutton911

Staggering on initial acceleration, poor fuel mileage, and the timing remains static on acceleration/deceleration when checked with a strobe timing light.

Time to service the distributor; the vacuum advance plate inside could be frozen. (Rusted)
Simple check: Open the cap, remove the rotor, remove the advance vacuum line from the rear of the throttle body but leave it connected to the vacuum pod.
Suck on the line while watching the advance mechanism inside the distributor; it should move freely.
If it doesn't, or if the distributor hasn't been serviced for a long time, DIY with the easy instructions provided in the link above.

If you have an extra vac line, you can save yourself the trouble of finding the vac line behind the TB; just connect the extra line to the advance nipple on the vac pod and check the mechanism.
When the advance doesn't work, you'll have retarded ignition and that's not good; it needs to be freed up.
With the easy DIY, the mechanical advance (Weights and springs) and the upper half of the shaft can be cleaned and lubed at the same time.