Installed my “Powerspark” distributor today along with the recommended Lucas coil, new HT leads and new N12Y plugs.

The Powerspark comes from SimonBBC in the UK and is well priced at £56. I believe a similar product is offered by Petronix for Jaguars, but installs in your distributor.I needed the full replacement as my vacuum advance had broken off the housing.

Installation was straight forward – the black lead attached to the distributor earth lead and the red lead to the coil + double terminal. I removed the ballast resistor and just joined the two leads.

On start up the motor wanted to catch but popped and backfired – too far retarded I thought. This is where the problems started.I rotated the distributor clockwise to advance the timing, but the lug on the housing hit the hose connection on the waterpump.,The original distributor has no lugs on this side.Started the engine OK – everything working fine, nice smooth idle but checking the timing with a strobe showed only 16 degrees advance at 1700rpm.About 4 degrees short.Removed distributor and took a file to the lug near the clip.Enough movement available now to get 20 degrees advance.

Next problem was connecting the vacuum pipe. The original copper pipe and elbows will not reach the inlet!Off to the auto parts shop to buy a short length of 1/8” vacuum pipe.About 4 inches needed to reach the inlet.

So all is running OK now. Have yet to road test this new ignition – already it seems to offer a better idle, but that may just be the new plugsand HT leads that replaced the 46 year old leads that were still on the car.







Check the lug at around 2 o'clock hitting the waterpump hose

 

Bugga.

Had a thought, yeh I know.

Put the dizzy back where it was, and move the HT leads ONE post clockwise. The car will never know, and will return the rotational movement you need to time it.

 

[QUOTE=Grant Francis;2139829

Put the dizzy back where it was, and move the HT leads ONE post clockwise. The car will never know, and will return the rotational movement you need to time it.[/QUOTE]

I should have thought of that! With the additional advantage that the vacuum input will be more accessible.

 

.

 

180 degrees wrong??? If the lug was on the other side, it might fit better???

Carl

 

Posted in wrong area, sorry