refurbishing a distributor, big job?

[thecherryB]

Does anyone know how big a job it is to refurb a distributor,(1982 t25 2ltr CU)?

I'm asking because apparently this distributor is a one year only type and the whole thing is not available. My garage has ordered the parts to refurb it but can't do the job till next wed, i can get the parts on friday and want to go away next week so am contemplating the job over the weekend myself.

Is it just a case of taking old bits out and putting new ones in or is it a bit more involved?

Cheers for any answers/info

[Aidan]

it looks fairly straightforward, I've done the later one for 2.1 MV which has a pin to drift out to dissemble the shaft, the early ones I think have a circlip on the top so probably easier, just a case of keep it all in order, look at the exploded parts diagram, I think it's in Haynes, deffo in Bentley and also on ETKA, VAGCOM etc.

[sarran1955]

Hello,

If you are going to dismantle the distributor it is worth investing in a pair of offset circlip pliers with points small enough to engage in the very small circlip holes. If not you will struggle!

Otherwise it is all straightforward. Follow the Haynes.

Use a little vice or similar to hold the timing clamp steady.

I have just built up a mechanical distributor with vacuum advance and retarde to replace the Hall effect electronics using bits from my stock. No problems, all the bits seem to interchange.

Why change to mechanical??..... I find it easier to set up a CT engine for unleaded with a dwell meter and strobe lamp.

Good luck!!

Cordialement,

[gsmoke]

Its not a big job.
If you haven't got a timing gun, make sure you accurately mark the position of the dizzy before you remove it.
As Aidan says, you need circlip pliers to remove the ignition module, the holes in the circlips are quite small so your pliers need to have small tips.
The toughest bit is not losing the tiny retaining pin after you have removed the first circlip.
When the ignition module was removed, I cleaned the mechanical advance with carb cleaner and added a few drops of oil to make sure that the arms and springs move freely.

(Slowly typed while Sarran wizzed in!)

[thecherryB]

Thanks guys, I think its worth having a pop myself, (famous last words!!)