distributor machines

Rudy van Daalen Wetters · Fri Feb 13, 2004 7:54 pm

My 250 gte s/n 4001 could use some ignition help and I am really trying to find a distributor machine to set the dual points in the distributor. Can anyone help me find such a machine? There have been a couple on e bay
but buyer beware if they work properly.

Thank you.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters

fest · Post by **fest** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 11:13 pm

"Ferrari Tuning Tips & Maintenance Techniques"
Roush and Apen circa 1975 FAF
(Re-Print Veloce Press 2001)

contains an excellent section
on how to properly set up 2 Distributor Ignition Systems
(that is why I bought the book, actually, as I was rather clueless)

also see

"Ferrari Guide to Performance"
Bishop 1987 Motorbooks
(also reprinted by Veloce Press)

contains a good section on how to rebuild Distributors
including the Mechanical Advance Mechanism
as well as infomation on setting them up

try http://www.amazon.com

The Machine is apparently the only way to check
the if the Advance Curve is correct,
however, it is easy to check
if the Mechanical advance is working properly
by using a Timing Light

I have not gotten to this step as yet
(and right now I am glad my car has
one Distributor and Electronic Ignition)

John Vardanian · Post by **John Vardanian** » Sat Feb 14, 2004 4:24 am

Rudy,

There is a fellow in Michigan that sells restored Sun machines. I got one from him last year and it is in excellent shape. I can give you his contact information next week when I get back to the office.

John Vardanian

Rudy van Daalen Wetters · Sat Feb 14, 2004 11:52 am

Thank you, "fest" and John Vardanian for your replies. John, the info on the Sun machine restorer would be most appreciated. The Ferrari Forum has been quite helpful in the short time that I have been a member.

Regards,

Rudy van Daalen Wetters

fest · Post by **fest** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 11:15 pm

John-

please post this contact info for us
when you get a chance-
I may need it for future reference

maybe he is willing to do a 'tune up' on older units as well
so if one of happens to find one, we can get it checked out

John Vardanian · Post by **John Vardanian** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 5:55 pm

The fellow in Michigan who sells Sun distributor machine, his name is Mark Saunders and his email address is mdsaunders@ameritech.net

Hope this helps.

John Vardanian

Rudy van Daalen Wetters · Wed Feb 18, 2004 5:15 pm

John,

Can you check the e mail address for mdsaunders@ameritech.net? I am getting a delivery failure notice regarding the address.

Thank you.

Rudy

John Vardanian · Post by **John Vardanian** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 11:41 am

Rudy,

You may try calling him at 616-878-9734. Hope this one works.

john

Rudy van Daalen Wetters · Thu Feb 19, 2004 6:46 pm

John,

Thanks for the phone number for Mark Saunders. He sounds quite capable. He has a new e-mail address which is:

mdsaunders@sbcglobal.net

Thanks again,

Rudy

Bryan P · Post by **Bryan P** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:26 pm

If you live in the mid-atlantic, David Carte's shop in Edinburgh, Virginia has an old distributor machine. If you're nutty enough to show up w/ your S85s in hand, he just might set them up for you.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters · Sat Feb 21, 2004 11:48 am

Mark Saunders was very informative regarding the distributor machines. He noted that many of the machines he receives are reading incorrectly and the dwell could be way off. These machines need to be calibrated with a preset test distributor which he has. The last of the distributor machines were made in 1977, per Mark, and who knows how accurate some may still be these days if they are not being checked on a regular basis.

Rudy

Michael Bayer · Post by **Michael Bayer** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 8:05 pm

Setting the points is sometimes only half the challenge. In a two distributor car, the advance curves have to match in each which means advance springs and weights adjusted to create equal curves over their range of operation. For this a distributor machine is crucial and after 35 years its not a safe bet the pair tracks. You might want to take them to someone to set them up and avoid the cost of a machine, if you put MSDs in the car at the same time, you ought never have to add points for decades. Michael Bayer #9727

Rudy van Daalen Wetters · Sat Feb 21, 2004 8:55 pm

Michael,

Good point on the advance curves matching on both distributors. I had not paid heed to that as closely as I now realize how important that is!
Tell me more about MSDs and fitting it to a GTE if you could. I love originality but perhaps it is wise to be practical sometimes.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters
s/n 4001

Rudy van Daalen Wetters · Sat Feb 21, 2004 9:08 pm

Bryan P,

Thanks for the info on David Carte's shop but I am in sunny California.
My brother has a 365 2+2 and I the GTE, so we thought it nice to have our own distributor machine. They are not cheap, to say the least.

Rudy

Michael Bayer · Post by **Michael Bayer** » Sun Feb 22, 2004 6:54 pm

Rudy: They are a no brainer to instal, one each distributor, in the 330s everyone hides them in the area behing the front wheel well access panels. Short answer is they send tiny amounts of electricty and load over the points, fire electronically and create a constant spark voltage over a wide range of input volatge, as in when the car is at low speed and the other loads are high. Perforamnce is GREATLY improved over all ranges most at slow and mid and you can run a slightly hotter plug wo fouling. Best point is no electrical erosion of the points, enabling them to out live the owners. They have a web site below:
http://www.msdignition.com As I remember it they were about 150 each. Michael Bayer #9727

www.tomyang.net