1.7/2.2 distributor hybrid thingamajig

[Cooter]

Hello all,

Quick inquiry for youz all.... Does anyone have any information on mating a 1.7 VW distributor to the 2.2 distributor shaft to be able to get mechanical advance on the carbed engine??? instructions and pics would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I'm curious what the ECU on the 1987 carbed Omni (automatic) controls. I'm pretty sure the vacuum spark advance and the feedback solenoid, but what else????

Thanks everybody for what I'm sure will be WICKED AWESOME replies......

[bobr19]

www.geocities.com/ngant17/VW_distrib_mod.html bobr19

[85lebaront2]

VW distributors, Ok, but...take a 1980 Onmi/Horizon 1.7L distributor and follow the basic instructions as far as the shaft cutting and drive coupling placement. This is a dual advance (vacuum and centrifugal) unit that used an external ignition amp (not the old dual ballast one) it is a Hall effect trigger. Get a carburetor from an 86-87 2.2L minivan, this is a non-feedback unit. This is the setup the race car uses. Use any electronic ignition the HEP will trigger. Your car has a stand alone alternator setup so that's not an issue. The 1987 Omni ignition box controls spark timing, drives the coil, mixture control, and controls the "fast idle" on deceleration and initial hot start. The air pump and canister purge are controlled by the thermal vacuum valves on the water box.

[Wizard]

Ooh, initial hot start? can any else explain about this? Just asking so I can understand this one better.

I also have 1987 caravan with 2.2 carb, just fixed everything with carb & manifold gasket.

Cheers, Wizard

[85lebaront2]

Wizard, initial hot start, the engine is held at a higher idle to allow the cylinders to clear for emission reasons. I think it is 90 seconds. It also holds the idle on deceleration, more on an automatic than a manual and holds the throttle open slightly at higher speeds. All this is for emissions.

[Cooter]

bobr19 - That was the kind of WICKED AWESOME answer I was hoping to get



85lebaront2 - the 80 1.7 omni distributor you say is both vacuum and centrifugal advance?? so would I still need the ECU to assist with the vacuum advance, or would I still be able to ditch the ECU?? The alternator has an external regulator (as you already stated), so besides the spark advance and the feedback solenoid control, does the 1987 ecu control anything else???

anymore help provided is still greatly appreciated.

[bobr19]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooter anymore help provided is still greatly appreciated.

Cooter --Once you go with the old style point VW distributor and get yourself a non-feedback carb the ECU is useless-- centrifical advance will be controlled by engine RPM and spring weight of the advance--vacumn advance will be controlled by a line directly to intake manifold or base of carb--you're back in the good old days then and all you'll need is a dwell meter--can't remember what they did--gotta dwell on that--if you go with the hall effect pick up dist. you'll have to have a electronic box to actually fire the coil--believe any good old Ford [pre 85 or so] unit will work fine--bobr19

[Cooter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobr19 --if you go with the hall effect pick up dist. you'll have to have a electronic box to actually fire the coil--

anything aftermarket that could be suggested???

[bobr19]

Don't know of one for sure--maybe MSD??? maybe LebaronT2 will pick this up and solve the problem??? bobr19

[Wizard]

(thanks for the hot-restart thing)

Take a GM HEI 4pin module and drive it from hall effect sensor or points and HEI fires the coil.

The MS spark Jr is another option for "stripped down" electronic spark computer control, the board is small and has fewer components than full blown megasquirt.
Controls the ford EDIS and get timing from 36-1 toothed wheel mounted to crankshaft.

http://picasso.org/mjlj/

Cheers, Wizard

[Wizard]

I have question:

Going with aftermarket fuel injection & spark control, means losing computer control of fuel vapor recovery control. Now I wonder about timing of opening to let engine draw vapor in and when this happens? Also is it a on and off for certain of time?

Cheers, Wizard

[85lebaront2]

I am planning on using an early Ford Escort TFI module. It normally mounts on the distributor body with the pickup leads plugged directly into it. Since Ford uses a hall effect pickup also this should work well. The reason for the early version, no computer involved. The other option I have considered, but haven't full researched yet, is the later, pre-DIS Ford V6 TFI units. They are remotely mounted in a heatsink and may work also. As for the Evaporative system, use a thermal vacuum valve like the carbureted systems already have to control the "signal" (top port on canister) and the normal tee into the PCV hose. I know a lot of people like MSD, just like a lot of people like Pertronics. I am not a big fan of either system. If the GM HEI 4 pin module will trigger from an HEP, go for it, they are cheap and readily available. Use the GM external coil, the late Mopar square coil or the Ford square coil. If you are really froggy, take an early, carbureted Escort distributor and mount it on the end of the head, driven by the cam. It is a dual advance unit with a built in TFI module. All it needs is power and a coil to run. That's where FOMOCO put it on the Escorts.

[bobr19]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85lebaront2 If you are really froggy, take an early, carbureted Escort distributor and mount it on the end of the head, driven by the cam. It is a dual advance unit with a built in TFI module. All it needs is power and a coil to run. That's where FOMOCO put it on the Escorts.

I like this idea bobr19

[85lebaront2]

You will need to make a mounting plate and cut a drive slot in the coil. It's a pretty nice setup. I know the 86 still used it as I had a couple.

[Cooter]

Okay, Can the 1.7 distributor be mounted on any 2.2 distributor shaft?? I'm gonna be throwing in a rebuilt 89 2.2 CB....will I be able to mount the 1.7 distributor to the 89 shaft???