From: "Fred Cisin (XenoSoft)"
<cisin(a)xenosoft.com>
To: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org
Subject: Analog advance (was: Heathkit EC-1
Reply-to: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org
Date: Fri, 2 May 2003 17:37:23 -0700 (PDT)
> > Many cars of this time frame may not have a
vacuum advance.
> >I know my Fiat Spider doesn't( I think the VW's did though ).
> I've never had a spider but I had other Fiats and MANY VWs and
> they all had VA. One of the common mods to the VW was to change the
> stock VA distributor to a mechanical advance only distributor with a
> faster advance curve. I used that in a couple of VWs but they weren't
> original.
Sounds like 009 distributors. It was foolishly used to "perk" up
performance and drivablity suffers bec of wrong advance curves w/
vacuum advance carbs. So u get a "hole" in acceleration while
accelerating steadily. That 009 was orignally for bus to push heavy
weight by pushing rpm up with correct carb for bus.
Basic cure was change back to correct carb w/ dual vacuum advance and
overhaul that engine. They don't have the "life" compared to
liquid cooled engines hence the frequent overhauls. 65,000km is
about typical for those.
Oh, in other email, troubles with cooling meant wrong cooling
hardware or missing vital bits like small bits (goes between
cylinder to plug the "air hole" and cooling flaps helps to direct
air and proper warm-up process, correct tinware like fan shound
(generics didn't have vanes built in to guide air in), etc, good
engine/body seal. Even early engine lid (fewer vent grilles) w/
1600cc engine instead of 1200cc straves engine of cooling air.
There were good bugs that had no problems with engine temps running
a/c add on.
Remember german engineers thought of everything so even little bits
do matter like in those air-cooled cars.
Even the older jettas that my friends have, I even still find them
they still need frequent care and expensive.
Cheers,
Wizard