Very weird running problem

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David Pettengell
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Re: Very weird running problem

#31 Post by David Pettengell »

excited to try these fixes at the weekend!

CJ, if Mike finds a con rod hanging out I will have a nice ornament LOL

Norm Miller
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Re: Very weird running problem

#32 Post by Norm Miller »

Remember that those cute little neg. terminal disconnects can be a voltage suck.
If you have one bypass it for testing.
They look OK and measure OK but don't work.
Turn on the headlights then bypass it, are they brighter?
This also makes the generator work it's arse off to little avail.

Nothing makes a 6V 356 happier than a lead acid battery with good connections.

Norm
 

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Bruce Smith
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Re: Very weird running problem

#33 Post by Bruce Smith »

Jim Liberty wrote:CJ., all, my two cents, and I'm not as much an expert as most of you. I use only original Porsche (Bosch) distributors in my cars. The units that came with that particular model. I do have an 031 in my big bore S-90. That said, I always have John Jenkins curve mine to match carbs and cam. He usually sets the advance to come on at 1200 RPM. As to the science of these devices, I am no expert, but before John J. got involved, I had a lot of problems with idle.
The BR18/022 are spec’d to begin advance around 800-900 RPM. This can make setting idle difficult if advance is also rising. The later aluminum 031 distributors were designed for a later onset, about 1000-1200 RPM. If you’re setting idle at 1000 RPM (factory spec for later engines) and using a BR18/022, it helps to modify the mechanical advance to begin advancing similar to the 031. Curves below show the difference.

- Bruce
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David Pettengell
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Re: Very weird running problem

#34 Post by David Pettengell »

So what would be the "correct" original distributor for my engine? 022?

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Doug McDonnell
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Re: Very weird running problem

#35 Post by Doug McDonnell »

1965 356C 2000 BMW 740i Sport 1967 Honda CL77 There is never enough time to do it right, but always enough time to do it over.

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Wil Mittelbach
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Re: Very weird running problem

#36 Post by Wil Mittelbach »

Norm Miller wrote: "Nothing makes a 6V 356 happier than a lead acid battery with good connections."
Norm
++1

Dave Erickson
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Re: Very weird running problem

#37 Post by Dave Erickson »

I don't think that chart is correct. Early C's came with BR18's, but the chart says all C's came with 022's. BR18 & 022 are the same distributor, Bosch just changed their part naming scheme, and I imagine it occurred on Bosch's calendar, not Porsche's. I would not be surprised if there are similar overlaps for the other models.

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Bruce Smith
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Re: Very weird running problem

#38 Post by Bruce Smith »

Good point Dave, thanks. I'll add a footnote to the table. The differences between BR18 and 022 are the shaft bushings, shaft oiling felt and the terminal insulator/spade. The advance mechanism, cam, and breaker are the same.

- Bruce
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David Pettengell
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Re: Very weird running problem

#39 Post by David Pettengell »

So I tried the usual suspects but most want a core for a 022. ANyone know where I could get a restored one without a core?

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Doug McDonnell
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Re: Very weird running problem

#40 Post by Doug McDonnell »

http://www.sparkingplugs.com/2.html Bruce may have one in stock. Not cheap but rebuilt correctly and a pleasure to deal with. Mike Smith may have a source across the pond. And Jeff Fellman has reproductions in classifieds https://porsche356registry.org/classifieds/1160
1965 356C 2000 BMW 740i Sport 1967 Honda CL77 There is never enough time to do it right, but always enough time to do it over.

David Pettengell
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Re: Very weird running problem

#41 Post by David Pettengell »

OK, so no progress. I must have had a weird connection before as I checked the voltage at the coil today and it was 6.04V without the engine running so that tells me the supply to the coil is ok?

The car would not run today, same symptoms as before. Tried a 009 distributor and nothing. pretty frustrated now. At least the car is going to PRS Tuesday.

Any other ideas?

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Re: Very weird running problem

#42 Post by Mike Ruddy »

Take the weekend off from it.

Drink beer, eat fish and chips and go for country walks, autumn is just starting to to turn the trees and you can pick sloes and spend Sunday making gin.

PRS will sort it.

David Pettengell
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Re: Very weird running problem

#43 Post by David Pettengell »

Good call, went to the golf today and was a refreshing change

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Thomas Sottile
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Re: Very weird running problem

#44 Post by Thomas Sottile »

I would take out the wire going from the key switch to the coil (Black with white stripe)
and clean the bullet connection and and the seat it fits in. I had a problem not much different then yours which drove me crazy, but I found the connection was working sometimes and not others. good luck

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C J Murray
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Re: Very weird running problem

#45 Post by C J Murray »

Thomas Sottile wrote:I would take out the wire going from the key switch to the coil (Black with white stripe)
and clean the bullet connection and and the seat it fits in. I had a problem not much different then yours which drove me crazy, but I found the connection was working sometimes and not others. good luck
Very good point!!!! How does one measure very low voltage one time and fairly good voltage the next time? Bad switch? Bad wire connection? Reading a voltmeter is fairly easy and David is not stupid.
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