Morris H. Arthur writes:
> 
> My distributor is advancing way too much on my '77 Camper. A stock 
> replacement would cost $150-300 (local import parts stores). A Bosch 009 
> would cost $55. Bob Hoover and others have told me that the 009 doesn't 
> produce a nice power curve for Bus applications, but I'm ready to waver 
> considering the price differential...

I bet the reason for the price differential is that the stock
distributor has some additional stuff in it that the fuel injection
needs (I think the FI gets a signal from the distributor) and I bet the
009 doesn't have it.  Why don't you get one from the junkyard?  And are
you *sure* it's advancing too much?  Sounds  veeeery strange that that
could happen.  And if it is, perhaps you only need replace a spring or
something.
> 
> But here's the question: my friend Stefan (from the list) has a 009 in 
> his '76 (I don't know if it's Bosch): on his distributor, cylinder 1 fires 
> at a different position relative to my stock distributor!!!

So you might have to rotate the distributor in the case.  No problem
unless there isn't enough clearance.
 
> Switch the plug wires???? Sure, but then I'd have to re-adjust all my 
> valves...

Why?

> And anyway, if #3 fires differently from #1 (as previous posts suggest),
> would that mean I'd have to change the distributor shaft 180 degrees to 
> match the proper camshaft position ?????

No, the previous posts were suggesting that #3 fires a little later than
the others, but that doesn't require changing your wires around.  And
you can't change your distributor shaft 180 degrees - it only goes in
one way.
 
> All this, just to put in a 009 distributor???? Help!! Where does your #1 
> fire on your distributor relative to the notch that fits into the 
> distributor cap ???

All service manuals for your van will tell you what the proper position
of your distributor should be.  If you don't have one yet, I would
consider purchasing (in order of preference) Bentley, Haynes, or
Chilton.  Good Luck...
  
-David

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David Schwarze                     '73 VW Safare Custom Camper  (Da Boat)
San Diego  (Actually La Mesa)      '72 VW Westfalia Camper      (Da Project)
California, USA                    '73 Capri GT 2800            (Da Beast)
e-mail: des@teleport.com           '87 Mustang Lx 5.0           (14.17@99.34)
http://www.teleport.com/~des       '93 Weber WG-50              (Da Piano)
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