Well, I am either lucky or uninformed. I just won an item on ebay for my car and it looks like brand new. Here is the description:


"YOU ARE BIDDING ON ONE (1) RARE VERY LIGHTLY USED LUCAS CEI IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR. IT IS LUCAS TYPE 45DM6 DISTRIBUTOR, PART NUMBER 41819A. IT IS VERY LIGHTLY USED! IT IS SPOTLESS INSIDE WITH NEGLIGIBLE WEAR ON THE ROTOR & CAP. I IMAGINE A MECHANIC INSTALLED IT ON A CAR TO CHECK AGAINST THE ORIGINAL. THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURENCE. IT FITS THE FOLLOWING;
JAGUAR XJ6 4.2 SERIES 2 WITH FUEL INJECTION, ENGINE # 8L67735 on.
JAGUAR XJ6 4.2 SERIES 3 (AUSTRALIA) TO 8L87450."

I would like to install this in my car but I have two questions for those who may have input.

1. Is there any reason this would not go into my 4.2 and work?
2. Install steps? I have never done a distributor on a Jag. Just wondering what technique people use. This part looks to be just about brand new and I figured it is in better shape than the one I have in the car now. Even though my car runs fine, I would say a newer distributor cannot hurt and I can keep the old one as a back up. I got this for a song, so if it doesn't work Im not out much. BTW also won a brand new fuel sending unit for $9.

Thoughts?

 

The 45DM6 is correct for 4.2 Ser IIIs although there was some market-to-market variance in advance curves. Probably not significant. However....

The parts catalog shows the Australian cars using the 45DM6 beginning with engine number 8L87451. Prior to that I think they had the old Opus ignition rather than the CEI.

Do you have a pciture? Does it *look* like your exisiting one?

Unlike many others the Jag distributors have an offset drive "dog" (that's what I call it) which means the distributor can go in only one way...making life much easier. But....before we get into that let's make sure it's the right one

Cheers
DD

 

Doug, I have not taken the old one out yet but giving it the "eyeball" test for a comparison, the only difference I can see is how the cap is secured. The one in the car is secured by screws and the one I bought is secured by clips. it appears as if the electrical connector has the same plug and the size is the same. I will take some pics tonight and post them... if I can. And yes, from what I have read the distributor can only go in one way (thanks Kirby Palm) so that will help.

On a side note, in Kirby's book he says the spark plugs must be gaped at .025 but my new plugs are gaped at .035 so I was wondering which one is correct. Do I need to shorten up the gap?

Also, I think you can still see the pics from the ebay ad at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

 

Late reply but I read this in a guide:

 

Hmmm, which guide?

My Jaguar Ser III shop manual shows .035 is correct for all cars/markets with the 4.2 engine, 3.4 engines after 1981, and the Pre-HE V12s.

The HE V12 and the 3.4 (pre 1981) used a .025 gap

Cheers
DD

 

I'm thinking of replacing my OEM Distributor on my 1987 Series 3 XJ6. Am looking at the Pertronix -


questions - which one? any luck with this? which coil? how easy to install? Is it worth it?


reason for replacing the OEM is that if it rains here in Orlando - the cat wont start. Any other weather - like a cat !


Also, does any one have a source for a right hand muffler (same auto).


Many thanks in advance...


Chuck

 

Lots of great remarks about Pertronix in the archives. I've never used it so I can't offer specifics.

Are you reasonably sure, though, that installing one will solve the no-start-when-raining problem? What have you checked/tested/eliminated so far?

Cheers
DD

 

Noi knocks here on Pertronix. Much better than points and condensors. Sorta!!
The main knock on P & C's was dwell time limits and burnt points and worn rubbing blocks.Lottsa ways around those. A lot of cars developed a lot of power and went very fast with them, but, when carefully tuned and maintained. 32-48 Fords had excellent units, developed by Mallory. In junk racer days, I used two. One to qualify and do a heat. never got into a trophy. and one for the main, usually the consolation. I ran them on 6v direct sans ballast. Cost burnt points. But, we thought it was worth it. Next race prep included refurbing two distributors. I got to be good at swapping. everyday car needed frequent swaps as well.

The Lucas EFI distributor is an excellent unit. Whether Pertronix is better, I dunno.

But removing an old worn out unit and replacing it with a fresh unit of any genre will yield improvement.

So, oftent eh comparison is unfair. Old wore out vs new fresh???