Reverting back from an electronic ignition

[JimmyZ]

Jimmy' date=' is there any way of telling if the PO replaced the distributor or just gutted it?

John[/quote']

You've probably got the body and centrufugal advance of the original distributor in there. Your backing/mounting plate for points and the points cam is missing.

Unless you have some spare distributor parts laying around you're going to need to get a new one. As mentioned above the Black Dragon part is cheap. As an added bonus you get a distributor which is free of any play or slop when you get the reman part. There are no compatibility issues. Just plug in the new distributor. I doubt any judges at shows will compare the series of distibutor vs your mfg date.

If you're really stuck on keeping the distributor body that came with the car then I'm sure someone in the club has a spare mounting plate and cam for your dizzy. If it needs to be re-bushed having access to a lathe is nice. If I recall the dimensions were not standard meaning that you have custom make the bushings. I made my new bushings out of phosphor bronze.

2c

Jim

Edited November 15, 2008 by JimmyZ

[JohnnyO]

unless you want a perfect Gold restored Z car why not stay with electronic ignition? But that is my opinion and it is your car do what will make you happy.

That is exactly what I want for this car. It is in too good of condition to do anything other than a concourse restoration.

Now, after this one, when I pick up a nice 71 or 72, I will keep the engine and tranny original but after that all bets are off!

I think I will keep the Hays ignition until then.

[JohnnyO]

..... I made my new bushings out of phosphor bronze.

2c

Jim

You are grossly over estimating my abilities.

I think I need to find a recently unemployed machinist in the Twin Cities.....

I should send my father in law back to work. He was a machinist for 32 years, just retired in 2003. Now he has no access to the tools.

Well thanks for the input Jimmy. I think I will try to find the parts first and then hit up black dragon if all else fails. I have time. I just pulled the motor and tranny on Sunday and have yet to start on tearing down the engine compartment. Plan on having it in the shop for body work and paint in January.

I did find a parts source near me and will be driving out to pick up just about everything I need in about 10 days. He had a E31 head with 88,000 on it, 4 rims, series 1 belts in restored condition, metal "datsun" emblems (been looking for these for a while now), a seek/scan radio (working), apron corners and jack/toolkit. A good find! If he has a distributor for me I'll be set.

Thanks again.