Marelli Distributor Rotors in Atlanta

[Dirty Marty]

Greetings Porschephiles,

The rotor cap on my 70 T distributor self destructed and I replaced it with a used one off a donor distributor I had in my parts bin. Now I need a replacement to have in case the used one goes.

I came across an outfit on the interenet in Atlanta called "***********" or something like it that claims to have a replacement rotor that fits the Marelli distributor. It looks a little different and they want $95 for it.

Anybody out there had any experience with this outfit?

Note to Pelican Forum Master. Sorry but you guys don't list the part.

Dirty Marty
Fallbrook,CA

[Stutzdriver]

You might try Stoddard Parts, I think I understood he had some not 100% sure but worth a check. They are in suburban Cleveland...West Coast Phone number 800-438-8119

The owner Bruce is a great guy!

[ddubois]

I believe these are the same parts from AA. So has anybody purchased them?

Thoughts?

Thanks

[pwalke]

I tried in vain to get parts for the marelli distributor. I ended up swapping it out for a bosch distributor. Parts are cheap and easy to come by.

See this link for more details:
Swapping Out That Old Marelli

[ddubois]

I've been watching for a Bosch replacement but they are 1.) hard to come by, 2.) overly expensive and 3.) will likely need a rebuild from wear.
I spent the afternoon today putting together a solid Marelli from two that I have that has no noticeable wear in the shaft or the advance plates. Just got back from a test drive and it runs great and I'm getting full advance to 35 degrees. All that I'm lacking is a new cap and rotor.
So I'm wondering if anybody has purchased these reproductions from Atlanta and what they thought of the quality. Sounds like a few people have negative opinions of Auto Atlanta but I'm not interested in that aspect.

Thanks

[Bob Kontak]

From what I see AA has an OEM unit for $95 and a reproduction unit that is not ready to ship for $90 - they have some cryptic instructions relating to the reproduction unit - telling you to order it to let them know you want it - but they don't have it.

901 602 928 01

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by ddubois

Sounds like a few people have negative opinions of Auto Atlanta but I'm not interested in that aspect.

Putting $100 at risk would make me interested. Especially with an electrical part.

[ddubois]

I found an alternate reproduction on another 911 forum that had some good comments.
The cap, rotor, points and shipping came to $107 and claim to be in stock. I ordered the set and we'll see how it turns out.

[Bob Kontak]

70 1970 Porsche 911 Distributor Cap - Engine Electrical - Beck Arnley, Bosch, Standard Motor Products - *********

$12?

[Mr9146]

Call Kurt at ************ in Arizona. I have done a number of Marelli rebuilds with him (including an RSR S121B) and they have all been top notch.

He has spent a long long time reproducing points, rotors, and caps for Marelli distributors and the work is simply outstanding. I cannot recommend him enough.

************ Classic Parts & Mechanical Restorations For Porsche® Aircooled Models

[Mr9146]

Originally Posted by ddubois

I found an alternate reproduction on another 911 forum that had some good comments.
The cap, rotor, points and shipping came to $107 and claim to be in stock. I ordered the set and we'll see how it turns out.

See my above posting...

[ddubois]

Originally Posted by Mr9146

Call Kurt at ************ in Arizona. I have done a number of Marelli rebuilds with him (including an RSR S121B) and they have all been top notch.

He has spent a long long time reproducing points, rotors, and caps for Marelli distributors and the work is simply outstanding. I cannot recommend him enough.

************ Classic Parts & Mechanical Restorations For Porsche® Aircooled Models

Thanks. It looks like the parts shipped yesterday, which is always a good sign. I'm thinking I will send him my other Marelli for a rebuild and Pertronix to go with my MSD.

[Mr9146]

Quote de Mr9146

Call Kurt at ************ in Arizona. I have done a number of Marelli rebuilds with him (including an RSR S121B) and they have all been top notch.



He has spent a long long time reproducing points, rotors, and caps for Marelli distributors and the work is simply outstanding. I cannot recommend him enough.



************ Classic Parts & Mechanical Restorations For Porsche® Aircooled Models

Thanks. It looks like the parts shipped yesterday, which is always a good sign. I'm thinking I will send him my other Marelli for a rebuild and Pertronix to go with my MSD.

That would be money well spent.

[mcaterino]

I finally got around to ordering a new cap and rotor from partsklassic, following Marco's strong recommendation. While I agree that they seem to be great parts, they also seem to be made by Auto Atlanta, despite partsklassic's claims to have had them reproduced. 'AutoAtl' is cast into both pieces.

I'm very happy, nonetheless, to have the new parts, and the car seems happy too.

Mike

[rusnak]

I have a NOS complete Marelli distributor still in the box from Porsche on the shelf, where it will sit. It's for my '70 914-6. I don't know why anyone would run a Marelli, which has basically no advance adjustment. I converted over to a Bosch distributor, which is running in the car normally.

[ddubois]

Originally Posted by mcaterino

I finally got around to ordering a new cap and rotor from partsklassic, following Marco's strong recommendation. While I agree that they seem to be great parts, they also seem to be made by Auto Atlanta, despite partsklassic's claims to have had them reproduced. 'AutoAtl' is cast into both pieces.

I'm very happy, nonetheless, to have the new parts, and the car seems happy too.

Mike

Mike,
I was on the phone with Kurt last week talking with him about rebuilding my other Marelli, Pertronix vs points with my MSD, etc. I asked him about the AUTOATL molded in the parts as I also thought they were the same parts Auto Atlanta is selling. He said they are not and the AUTOATL is associated with the company in Germany molding them. Auto Atlanta is apparently thinking about molding their own and is in a 'pre-order' stage to see if they can get enough interest to cover the cost. He said everyone who is selling these new caps and rotors is actually buying them from him.
Anyway, after installing the new cap and rotor and my spare Marelli AX, which was in much better condition than my original BX, the car runs MUCH better. I sent my original BX to him last week for rebuild and I'm looking forward to installing that.
Regarding the MSD, have you noticed your points wearing faster since installing it? I'm wondering if the MSD actually runs some current through the points as opposed to the stock CDI which is simply a ground switch through the points. Kurt was thinking adding a condensor might help with the point wear if this is the case. He was going to check with MSD to see what they are doing with the points circuit.
Kurt can install Pertronix on the Marelli and I'm debating doing that. I've heard good and bad about Pertronix. I'm tending to leave in the points and just change them more regularly.
When I get my rebuilt Marelli back I'll post some pics.

[ddubois]

Originally Posted by rusnak

I don't know why anyone would run a Marelli, which has basically no advance adjustment. .

Here's a good reason for using the Marelli - good luck finding a -008 Bosch, and if you do, paying for it. Yes, I know you can use later Bosch and turn down the shaft, machine off the lug, etc. But even those distributors cost a fair amount plus you will likely have to rebuild it. I called Jerry Woods a week ago about all of this and we agreed that by the time you find a Bosch distributor and machine/rebuild/re-curve it you are looking at $1k.
Tinkering with the advance curve is not important for my recreational driver, and now that I can get caps and rotors for what I feel is a very reasonable price I'm perfectly happy with my Marelli.

[mcaterino]

Doug,

Thanks for clarifying the AUTOATL coincidence. I stand corrected.

I didn't pull the points changing the rotor. They were the one component I was able to get new to install after the engine rebuild. So after only about 1800 miles I left them alone. I'll have to check. Also, I don't have any non-MSD experience to compare wear rates with, as I went from non-running directly to MSD. All that said, I did notice what I think was pretty extreme wear on the distributor cap contacts. I don't have a 'before' picture to compare with, but I don't recall anything like this (see below), so it fits with what you're saying.



Mike

[cvillegas71]

I am excited to know that I can get replacement parts for my Marelli. I have had my unit for 10 years since I bought the car and I have had no problems. I have been looking for cap and rotor for some time now and I am interested to know how these units from ************ perform. Do they perform as good as original?

I had my unit rebuilt about a year ago at a local indi in South Gate for $150.00! However, I could not locate the cap and rotor so I cleaned the cap and rotor and just used them again. They are working but I do get a little bit of a "pop" now and then at idle. I hope that changing the cap and rotor will alleviate the issue.

The only issue I think with the Marelli is that when I have to change the points I have to remove the whole unit because of the back locking screw is not easily reachable without removal, has anyone figured out how to replace the points without removing the unit?

Other than that, it is kind of cool to have a somewhat unique part in the car and I also think it is original for my car, I don't know how to check that out but I do like it.

Drive On!

[daepp]

Dude - you live in Fallbrook? Call Henry at Supertec - you won't be sorry.