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Subject:Re: Bosch 009 Dist. on pancake.
From:David Schwarze
Date:Thu, 8 Feb 1996 22:39:27 -0800 (PST)

Aaron J. Wood writes:
> 
> Is anyone using a Bosch 009 distributer on a 1700cc pancake engine?  
> I was told that the 009's were made for a different engine(Bug 
> engine) and that they retard the spark to the #3 cylinder.  I was 
> told that this is not needed for a bus engine because the #3 cylinder 
> does not have an overheating problem like the bug.  I bought a 1974 

That's basically true.  The mechanical-advance 009 distributor did not
work well for me on my type IV 1800cc bus engine.  There was a major
flat spot at part throttle that I never could get rid of.  One day on a
whim I put the stock dual vacuum advance distributor back in and guess
what?  It ran a whole helluva lot better, and no flat spot.

> camper with a 1700cc engine(hardly ran) an it has an 009 distributer 
> on it.  I am in the process of rebuilding the engine now.  The same 
> guy who told me all this about the 009 said that to put it in a 
> pancake engine the right way you have to cut the tins a little. Has 
> anyone had to do this.  He also said he has seen alot of people that 
> have it put in backwards so that the #1 plug is retarded. 

I think he's retarded.  There is no reason to retard the #1 plug or any
plug for that matter, and the distributor can only go in one way unless
you are talking about resetting the distributor drive shaft which is a
very stupd thing to do, IMO.

-David

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David Schwarze                     '73 VW Safare Custom Camper  (Da Boat)
San Diego, 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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