The "aluminium" distributor used on B20 engines can be work on B18 engines?.

Hello-

Just wondering what is the advantage of a vacuum advance distributor compared to a non-vacuum advance distributor? More power? More acceleration?? ???

How would you time the vacuum advance distributor?? Would you use the B20 timing or the B18 timing settings?

Thanks-

Paul

Most all would agree to leave the vacuum unit disconnected whether advance (rare) or retard (more common). All Bosch Volvo distributors have centrifugal advance which does a dandy job by itself.
Shayne.

Thanks a lot to all. Just one week ago I discover a new "indian market" on car used parts on the east of Lima, named San Jacinto. On this market a lot of Volvo used parts are available from 240 and 120 cars. Next Saturday I will hunt for an additional distributor. Just now I have a old "021" Bosch distributor on the car, but I want a more stable unit for try electronic ignition.

Thanks a lot to all. Just one week ago I discover a new "indian market" on car used parts on the east of Lima, named San Jacinto. On this market a lot of Volvo used parts are available from 240 and 120 cars. Next Saturday I will hunt for an additional distributor. Just now I have a old "021" Bosch distributor on the car, but I want a more stable unit for try electronic ignition.

Where are you going to buy tune-up parts (points, condenser, etc.) for this distributor?
How readily are they available?
I guess what I'm getting at is that you should check the part number on the side.
The Bosch "085" is nearly impossible to get Bosch points for. I don't know the availability of inferior brand tune-up parts. The "085" is also one of the 1969 "mirror image" distributors that will not accept any of the known Pertronix units.
The "007" is an excellent unit if you have one in good shape-easy tune-ups.
The distributors ("021"?)out of the D-jet fuel injected cars are also very good and make for easy tune-ups.
Have fun,
Shayne.

Hello-

What is the difference between the "085" and the other Bosch B20 vacuum advance distributors? I asked that because I have a B18 distributor(no vacuum advance) with a Crane electronic setup, and I also have a extra "085" distributor. I was planning on swapping the Crane setup into the "085". Can it be done or does the "mirror image" also prevent the Crane system from working?

Thanks-

Paul

Yes, the 085 is vacuum ADVANCE. Most other bosch aluminum distributors are vacuum RETARD (if equipped with a vacuum module). Vacuum advance seems to work good on Chevy's but not any pushrod Volvo's I've tried. If you set yourself up with the 085, you may end up leaving the vacuum diconnected (the swap seems pointless at this point, huh?). The Crane will fit any distributor you can fenagle the bracketry into. In my experience the only aluminum distributor that would be worth an afternoon swap from cast iron is the 007-good advance curve, easy tune-up parts.
Hope this helps,
Shayne.

That save me some time!! The car runs great with the distributor(I think it's an 002) that's in it with the Crane setup!! I'm always looking for ways to improve it, and thought a vacuum regulated distributor might help.

Thanks-

Paul

Hi Shayne, the bosch distributor has always been a bit of a mystery to me, i have a couple of B20's in the process of being rebuilt, long term! I just loked at my box of distributors, one 021, one 008 which is the electronic one, many 099, what year is the 021 and are the 099 worth saving?
Thanks
Hans

I think the 021 is from the D-jet fuel injected cars but I don't have one here to look at. Are there trigger points in that unit?
The 099 (from my experience) is the same as 009 and 003, or has the same base plate anyway. Sure, they are worth saving; you never know when the centrifugal advance will fail on one, some, or all. I have five old distributors (003, 009, and 099) that don't work real well, maybe someday I'll have them shipped out and repaired.
Shayne.

Yes the 021 has trigger points, does this alloy unit accept the petronix electronic setup?
Hans

Check the centrifugal advance to make sure it's still "springy".

Ola Joaquin,
I have the Bosch 007 aluminium distuributor on the B18 in my 62 P1800 and on the B18 in the 59 PV544 vintage racer project.
Jim

¿Como no?
--
George Downs, The "original" Walrus3, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Yes.