3.2 Distributor (different drive gear?) converting to carbs
 

A quick question.

I have a 3.2, rebuilt to 3.5, but no distributor. Its a euro 3.2, if that makes any difference.

I can buy a 2.7 distributor (0 231 184 001)

OR

a 2.4E distributor (0 231 169 004)

Am i right in saying, I ALSO need to find a 3.2 distributor, to swap the drive gear from the distributor over?

I will most likely go for a MSD programmable unit (for the ignition curve), the car did have an electromotive crank fire systems, but this has gone up in smoke (at least the coil packs have), and i was planning to just get the engine running, then work out how to sort the ignition. .

Why?
From the 2.4 on, except SC 78 to 83, all use the same crank drive for the dist., the hole for the dist are all the same size after 72.
Bruce

Hi Bruce, thanks for the response =)

Ah intresting, so your saying the crank drive should be the same on the 3.2 as for the 2.4 or 2.7 and as the dizzy mounting hole is the same from 72, then a 2.4 or 2.7 dizzy should just drop straight in (ignition curve aside).

I had read some thing about the 3.2 having a different drive gear, and i was worried about fitting a different clockwise distributor (i.e 2.4 or 2.7) and then having a big problem caused by the meshing of the distributor.

In case your wondering about why i need a distrbutor. Its an engine on carbs (orgincally 3.2) but the entire motronic system is missing, including the dme, so it thought try and get it to work with a distributor + programmable MSD.

It does have a clewett crank wheel fitted, and i might go with that, but its alien technology to me, and i was thinking about just getting the engine running first, before figuring out the best way to do it.

thanks for your help!

Ive found different part numbers for the brass distributor drive on the crank :

72 to 79 has 90110211501
and 84 to 99 (911) uses 93010211201

Q - Does anyone know, if its just the inner diameter (where it fits to the crank) that is different?

Or is it the meshing of the gear that is different, as that contradicts Bruces comments above that the distributor from 72 will slot straight into an 1984 onwards 911.

Do the 911 turbos from 84 onwards, also turn clockwise, and it was only between 78 and 83 that things were anti-clockwise? It looks like they use a different gear.

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I have located a part number for a distributor drive gear for a 3.2 (93060242402). Maybe i should just buy that and fit it to an earlier distributor

It's my understanding that the crank gear has to match the distributor gear, model to model. Just what I have read. I'm not an expert, but researched this in the past.

In the long run, you will probably be better off finding a Carrera distributor. Since the older distributors use points, have centrifugal advance mechanisms, and use the older style 3 pin CDI.

You may want to ask this question in the 911 Engine Rebuilding forum.

Track,

thanks for the response. appreciated. Ive gone ahead with buying a 2.7 dizzy, and the 3.2 dizzy gear on the bottom, the reasoning is that i have a spare 3 pin cdi to hand, so at least should be able to get the engine running, before i decide if A) its a good engine, and worth spending more cash on B) and IF so how better to do the ignition, IF not i'll just part it out.

I'd check with Rich Clewitt to see what his system would cost you. Crank fired ignition systems really are the way to go.

jack, you'll shoot me for knowing i have a clewitt crank wheel fitted! to buy and ship it over to this side of the pond, is about $2000 all in. Not that big a cost for a good car. In my case, im still assessing what ive got, and hopefully all will be well, in which case i'll make that investment