I went to the local AP store (Advance Auto) to get a new condenser for the ignition system, and after fooling with the computer, the sales guy tells me there isn't one for my engine or any old vehicle. I looked up myself on the company's website and found one that looks like what is on my engine, and again the sales guy says there aren't any, when I give him the part# I wrote down.

Even MSA and BD don't seem to have them, unless you own a 240Z, and you can get a condenser with a set of points.

Finally, he found one. Then he tells me they don't carry parts for old cars because it doesn't make "good business sense."So now all those old classic cars you see at car shows and cruise-ins will be relegated to the trash pile, thanks, probably, to some guy in a suit that only wants to make money by selling what's 'in demand' buy today's new vehicles.

So are there any specifics you need to know about finding and buying an ignition coil condenser for a 280Z? AFAICT, they are basically all the same.

Go to the junkyard and get ANY condenser out of ANY old car's distributor, and chances are 95% it will work JUST FINE.

What happened to your old one?

Yes, they indeed ARE "basically all the same."

The SIZE of the condensor, which is actually a capacitor, should roughly match the size of the coil (capacitance versus inductance) to prevent metal migrating from one contact point to the other.

So if they're slightly mismatched you'll just wear out points slightly faster. Big whoop.

It was rusty and about 10 years old. I just put on a new coil, so we usually did the condenser too.

Comw to think of it, somebody told me to get one a Radio Shack...

Edited May 20, 201311 yr by TomoHawk

Autozone has your condensor for $7

Ignition Condenser | 1972 Nissan/Datsun 240Z 6 Cylinders 2.4L 1BL 2 Carb | AutoZone.com

Nissan service manual for L20A and L24 engines Page EE 35 says it is .22 to .24 uF (microfarad) but doesn't mention voltage rating though the website below mentions 600 volts or a little more.

Mike

a quote:

Yes, the value of the cap matters. There are old servaice manuel that show if the value of tha cap is to low the points will transfer metal from one side of the contacts to the other. If the value is to high the transfer of metal from one contact to the other reverses.

saw this at:

Capacitors in Ignition Systems

Tomohawk has a 1978 with electronic ignition. I would guess that the capacitor is for absorbing electronic noise, similar to the alternator capacitor. Size probably not as important. Any old capacitor would probably do the job.

Some multimeters have a capacitance measuring function (Fluke 115 for example). If you want to get a reading on the old one to match it. Even though it may not matter much.

edit - Tomohawk, aren't you using Pertronix?

Edited May 21, 201311 yr by Zed Head

Thanks, but it's odd that there is is only the one type at Autozone. Usually you see lots, all for new vehicles.

I will look into it, although it is a special order item- no store in the area has it.

ZedHead- nope. I try to keep it all stock, as Mr. K designed it

Edited May 21, 201311 yr by TomoHawk

Well then, either way, you don't have to worry about metal transfer on the points.

That's what is so nice about the electronic distributors; you don't have to be fiddling with them or be conscious about the coil/condenser/ballast you have installed. It's got a few week spots too, IMO.

Have you tried Nissan?