lol..
half the time people don't say what kind of engine they are talking about.

since all waterboxers have electronic ignition ( waterboxer starts in 1983 )
and 83 diesels don't have points , you must be talking about an air-cooled
vanagon.

it's really nice to have two distributors ..
one to modify, one stock with points as a back up.
  I think I would look for another good used distributor just to have one
anyway.

Air flow meter pops into my mind.
I have seen them get worn in one spot ..
 the spot that corresponds to around 3,000 rpm .

just a thought of something else to consider..
not a real diagnosis.

what happens if you just advance the timing more ?
just as a test.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Poole" <jfpoolio@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 9:33 PM
Subject: Consistent cutout at 3k rpm

> Howdy Vanagon List,
>
> My '83 Air-Cooled Vanagon is consistently cutting out at 3 thousand rpm.
> This behavior started recently after I made some changes to the ignition
> system.  I believe that the problem is related to my changing out the
> breaker points for a pertronix electronic ignition module but it may also
> be
> related to the new plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, coil, plugs or the
> thorough cleaning of all accessible electrical connections in the engine
> compartment or the adjusted timing.
>
> A few items of note:
> -the timing at idle and high-rpm is good (7.5 deg to 31 deg) so it doesn't
> appear to be an advance issue
> -the engine runs great all the way up to 3k rpm with better power/feel
> than
> before these changes
> -fuel pressure was stable when tested it while making these changes.
> -engine temps are good (350 cht, < 220 oil) when cruising at 2900 rpm
> -I have tried different gaps between the pertonix unit and the magnetic
> ring
> with little/no change in cutout/performance.
> -the tach doesn't drop or jump erratically when the engine cuts out which
> may contradict my suspicion of the pertronix unit?  The tach is out of a
> '91
> Vanagon and wired up in typical fashion off of the coil.
>
> My next tests will be to re-check voltage at the coil at high-rpm and then
> to put the points back in but I wanted to inquire here before the
> switch-out
> in case there is something easy that I have overlooked that I can test
> before pulling the pertronix out.
>
> Any suggestions, especially of easy tests, are appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jonathan