Distributor help needed

[konish]

I searched here and on HybridZ and found answers, but not in the combination I'm looking for.

I have a '71 240z that has a 280ZX electronic distributor installed. The ballast has been removed and the wiring has been modified to use the stock 1971 240z tach.

I have been having crazy misfires when the car gets warm. I can clearly see this happening on my Innovate LM-2 wideband. In the morning, I get a steady AFR with a few hiccups and as I drive it the idle AFRs are *all over* the place. A new coil is on the way but I have a sneaking suspicion that it's not going to solve my problem.

I know this much about the installed distributor having taken it apart. Most of the breaker plate guts are missing (bearings, retainer plates etc), basically there's just enough of the breaker plate stuff left to screw the thing back together...which doesn't matter as I'm not using my vacuum advance.

I also can see that one of the reluctor teeth is broken (increasing the gap 3X larger than the other 5), but the stator and magnet are fine.

So, instead of buying all the little parts and maybe the ignition box etc, I was thinking about gutting the distributor and dropping a pertronix or crane ignition system.

Since my wiring has been modified and the ballast removed, will this be an issue using either? I know they were designed to replace the points in a dist., keeping the ballast and everything else stock (?)

Any other recommendations? If nothing else, I gues I can bit the bullet and buy a high performance Kameari dist or Mallory Unilite, but that's some major coin I'd like to avoid for a street driven, slightly modified motor.

Thanks!

R/

Dustin

[zKars]

The reluctor gaps being way out of whack is your basic problem.

If the dizzy shaft bearings are in good shape (no play you can feel), then you can use the guts for a pertronix conversion. But I'm feeling you're missing out on mechanical advance from your description of what's left of the guts. Surely there is much more performance you are missing out on!

I'be be looking for a new ZX dizzy in good shape.

Other options are to use any Z or ZX reluctor dizzy with a HEI module trigger. Pretty easy to put together and easy to replace a blown HEI module at any parts store. Not so with a E12-80 module.

Hope this helps. Gotta spend a little money to get this fixed.

Jim

[konish]

Jim,

Thank you. As I studied the distributor when I had it apart, (and as you proably already know) the breaker plate was independent of the mech advance which operated flawlessly...timing light confirms. My guess is that if the guy who put this thing together didn't actually need the breaker plate to bolt the dist back together, it would have went in the trash :-)

The bushings are in great condition. Oddly enough being in Japan makes finding a decent ZX distributor challenging...vintage parts are crazy expensive. All of my parts have to come from back home which can be gamble as I have been victim to pretty loose definitions of "like new", "rebuilt", "excellent condition" etc.

Getting an HEI module out here would be like finding life on Mars, which is why I kinda need and off the shelf solution that will potentially address all the possible issues in one shot. My thought being a crane or petronix ignition module would rule out the module, wiring from the dist, pickup coil, magnets etc, etc.

If I balked every time this thing demanded either time, blood, sweat, tears or money (in most cases all of the listed) it would have been long gone :-)

R/

Dustin

[zKars]

Dang, didn't notice the Japan thing. Not the first thing I have noticed this week, eh guys?

I'de throw you a spare ZX dizzy or HEI module in the mail if you'de like. How far is Japan from Western Canada anyway? Maybe 5-10 miles, right?

[konish]

Jim,

That's mighty kind of you. How much for the module and dizzy? Also, if easier (and I'm sure it will be), you can send it to my brother in Colorado and he'll shoot it over to me. Let me know, and thanks!

[zKars]

PM sent with some details and options. Let me know what you want to do via PM or my e-mail that I sent. Glad to help.

Jim