Bosch z44 Distributor overhaul? Any point?

[Ferrit]

Morning all.

Whilst I am waiting for head news and build I thought maybe I should spend some time on the only other thing I have touched, the distributor.  Is it worth a strip and clean, if so any tips how to strip it down before I just start removing screws and circlips?

[peteracs]

Hi Mark

Personally I would not mess with it, check the spindle play if it has any and then when you have the car running check the advance by using a timing light and revving the engine. If either not good suggest have a specialist refurb.

Just my 2 cents...

Peter

[WestonE]

As Peter says better a professional overhaul, but look very carefully at the wires in and out under the dust/dirt cover. The insulation fails with heat bringing your next break down. A pro overhaul will replace this bit. Consider the 123 Distributor mod Chris had done.   

[Ferrit]

Thank you Eric.  I have already had to replace the wiring as it failed in the Summer.  I think its working okay for the time being, advance to c20d seems about right.  Just thought it was worth checking.

[peteracs]

Hi Mark

What do you mean by c20d?

Peter

[Ferrit]

20 degrees advance at 3000 rpm I think was the figures

[peteracs]

Hi Mark

Is that the distributor advance or the total engine advance?

From memory the static advance is 8 degrees and the total engine advance is 28 max normally, so 20 degree distributor advance makes sense.

Peter

[Ferrit]

So my book (Lancia Tech Data book that seems is exact for my model and engine as I have found) says 10d static and 24d +/- 2d.  Interesting its at a much higher revs than I have been using..

It seemed to be working all okay last time I checked so maybe I will pass on a full strip down just in case I make it worse/break something :-)

[peteracs]

Hi Mark

I stand corrected, though my distributor has no vacuum on it.

Peter

[rossocorsa]

So my book (Lancia Tech Data book that seems is exact for my model and engine as I have found) says 10d static and 24d +/- 2d.  Interesting its at a much higher revs than I have been using..

It seemed to be working all okay last time I checked so maybe I will pass on a full strip down just in case I make it worse/break something :-)

It's all very confusing and I spent a long time on this subject a while ago. The 3200rpm for testing is just a reference point that Lancia recommend and have a relevant reference mark on the crank pulley. Fixed advance 10⁰ then as you look at the graph 28⁰ at 3200 rpm (10 + 18). Tested with vacuum advance disconnected on models that have one. For some reason the engine speed is sometimes quoted as 3000rpm (??)
This is for setting advance on electronic ignition models

[Ics19]

A 3200 rpm reference is certainly easier on the ears to get things going - in comparison monte's are spec'ed 24 degrees @ 3000 and have a somewhat higher rpm for the max advance @ 5400.  I recall guy croft recommended you always check/set at the highest advance though and tolerate any lower rpm discrepancies that are due to distributor wear, presumably as the results of any poor running due to mis-timing are more tolerable/less catastrophic.