whole lot of basic questions

[christojen]

Hi all,

I have a few basic questions i couldn't find the answers to, so here goes. ( I have a 3 month old to me 68 912)

How much oil should be in the oil tank - my dipstick shows the right level but the oil tank is empty - should i fill it?

Is the 009 on the distributor as the last three numbers what type of distributor it is? - are these dizzys ok, or should i look at something better - can a petronix go in this? - i really want electronic ignition

One carb (the left) is flooding a lot - the car has an electronic fuel pump in it with no regulator, i thought the problem may be too high fuel pressure, but then wouldn't both flood, or is it because it is closer and takes more pressure?

Thanks

Chris

[bigbrotherjohn]

im not sure about your oil question but if you are expecting to find oil in the filler tank where you pour the oil in there is not supposed to be oil there. It drains into the bottom of the crankcase where it is picked up by the oil pump and pumped through the case, but not back up to that tank. I cant think of any way that the dipstick reading could be wrong, any one feel free to correct me on this.

The 009 distributor does not have the best advance curve for these engines but will still work(performance will suffer though). If you are going to spend your money on a petronix unit look or a 031, 050, or 022 distributor to install it in.

Many times an aftermarket electric fuel pump will cause the carbs to flood becasue the check valves cant hold back the higher pressure. The stock mechanical fuel pump is sufficient for a mild or stock engine and the electric one is probably not needed. Your explanation as to why only one carb floods is probably right.

[dimps8]

Chris,

Like what John said about the oil filler. Just read off the dip stick. I takes about 4 liters if you don't have an external oil cooler.

The 009 is a VW distributer common among bug guys. It has the wrong advance curve for short strock porsche engines. some race guys use them, where their at full rev all day. They can be recurved to match though. Most guys are using a 050. Personally i'm using a rebiult original 022. I still love points as long as there kept up.

The solex carbs can only handle 3 psi. i would check your float levels first. remove the plug on each carb and check to see if fuel flows out. make any adjustments slowly and wait for the level to catch up. don't screw the float adjuster all the way in as there very fragile. Be carefull of FIRE too.

[christojen]

Thanks guys, very useful info from you both. I assumed that was the case with the oil tank, it seems quite strange though because it looks like it is designed to actually hold oil by the capacity of it. The dipstick reading is fine though.

Sounds like the 009 dizzy will be coming out, i am a big fan of electronic ignition, so am keen on the idea of a petronix. Regarding all those types that you mentioned, is there any particular one i should go for, and how do they compare price wise? How does getting the 009 recurved compare too?

And what about the 12 or 012 one i have read about, i think they are new - are they any good. The car is really going to be a daily driver, but i do want it to go well.

While i am asking basic questions, what are the most common engine faults and how do you avoid them? I mean, i am pretty good at maintaining engines, and i know all about the importance of oil etc. but do these engines have any special idiosyncracies that should be watched / avoided?

I might try a poll on that one....

Thatnks again for all the answers.... Dimps do you know of a good place to get the dizzy's in melbourne, i am sick of ebay, or should i just go pelican?

Cheers all,

Chris