Bosch 009 distributor

[Ran Hanks]

A friend of mine suggested replacing the distributor in my 68 912 with a new Bosch 009. He suggested they would enhance performance, bypass the vacuum advance, and make the engine more efficient.

Will it fit? Is it worth it?

Thank you
Ran

[stlrj]

How can eliminating the vacuum advance make it more efficient? Seems you'll be loosing total advance somewhere unless you make up for it by advancing your base timing.

[Ran Hanks]

He said instead of a vacuum advance it was electronic and operated off of engine speed.

[stlrj]

That's news to me. A 009 has nothing more than centrifugal advance minus the vacuum that you eliminated from the stock distributor.

I ran a 009 on my old VW and it turned it into a real dog 'til I put the stock unit back on.

Good Luck,

Joe

[a912]

All:

The VW 009 will not provide a correct advance curve for your 912 but a 050 will. Set it at 20deg at 2000rpm. -andy awilco@hotmail.com

[Ran Hanks]

Thanks Andy, I am trying to locate the Bosche 050 as we speak. Shouldn't I be able to go to the Bosche dealer and ask him for the distributer? The guy at the counter ended up asking me for the year and model of my car and then told me the new distributer for my 68 would run about $400 dollars. This doesn't sound right does it?

[JP Noonan]

The 050 is a good generic replacement for carbed type-4 motors, can't see why it wouldn't work well on a 912. The 009 is popular because it is cheap, most shops don't bother stocking 050 just the 009 so people buy them. The advance is very small, 12 degrees I think. It does come on fairly low in the RPM band, this is because the 009 was designed for stationary engines like generators or welders, not for cars.

The 050 is the way to go, find the one with a vac advance on it, I think there are still some 050's around that are mechanical advance only.

See if Pelican Parts has one, or CB Performance.

[ClayMcguill]

Pick up a copy of Hot VW's at the newstand-plenty of shops advertise in there that you will be able to order an 050 from--or you could consider the new MSD distributor and an electronic ignition.

[Joe Bob]

The 009 has an advance of 12 degrees, was designed for a constant rpm stationary industrial motor....the 050 should go for about $50.00.

Panorama and Excellence Magazine have ads for them....

[Ran Hanks]

Thanx for your help everybody. As soon as I finish paying for the new rims and tires I will have that new 050 on the way.

Ran