What distributor for a de-smogged 78 FJ40?

[Hardcastle]

Did some searching but didn't find a clear answer.
I bought my 1978 FJ40 a few years back and it had already been de-smogged. I ended up buying a Trollhole carb and it has been running great until recently. While doing some poking around I found that the distributer (under the cap) is totally rusty. Is this a problem or should I be more concerned about the cap/rotor?
If I end up buying a new one, what would be best for my year, de-smogged, and running a Trollhole carb?

Thanks

 

[Pighead]

Either a later 60 fully electronic dizzy, like I will go to some day, (requires the matching side cover), or an early vacuum advance dizzy like I run now.

 

[1911]

... a later 60 fully electronic dizzy

+1, this is the best distributor that Toyota ever made. Spins in bearings not just bushings (like 40 distributors).

To avoid the rusted interior of the dizzy, you need to have the stock evacuation system lines hooked up to the proper VCV and the dash vent. This system was stock on late 40 electronic dizzys as well as the 60 dizzy. Perhaps the PO mistakenly removed or otherwise disconnected these.

 

[Phrog]

If it's just the points and cap that are rusty, you can simply replace those.
if you need a new distributor, however, you can also consider the
one Trollhole sells (that is, according to what I've read on ih8mud,
designed to be compatible with the carbs he sells) or a new DUI/HEI
distributor. Man-a-Fre sells them, and they aren't cheap.

-Phrog

 

[Hardcastle]

Thanks for all the reply's. I actually have the trollhole dist but never put it in based on my friends advice. He wasn't badmouthing his product, but he said since I have the semi-electronic igntion it wouldn't work. So is the trollhole carb basically an early vacuum advance dizzy like pighead mentioned? Maybe I'll give it a shot. I remember my stock dist had a 2 prong electric plug and the trollhole dist only had 1. What should I do here?
Thanks.

 

[grant5127]

What is a trollhole dizzy anyway? points? Sorry I could search but I'm too friggn lazy...

 

[Fast Eddy]

To avoid the rusted interior of the dizzy, you need to have the stock evacuation system lines hooked up to the proper VCV and the dash vent.

Mine is connected only to the dash vent and the air cleaner. I don't think it's supposed to go through the VCV.

If it's just the points and cap that are rusty, you can simply replace those.

No points in a '78 dizzy. I'd just clean it up, put in a new cap and rotor and run it if I were you. Dealing with the side cover is a PITA, but you will get a little more performance if you have vacuum advance. Heck, just getting the dizzy out could be a PITA. Mine would not budge.

 

[DomsFJ40]

Did some searching but didn't find a clear answer.
I bought my 1978 FJ40 a few years back and it had already been de-smogged. I ended up buying a Trollhole carb and it has been running great until recently. While doing some poking around I found that the distributer (under the cap) is totally rusty. Is this a problem or should I be more concerned about the cap/rotor?
If I end up buying a new one, what would be best for my year, de-smogged, and running a Trollhole carb?

Thanks

I did a desmog of my 78 FJ 40 with a troll hole card. Had no issue using my stock dizzy. Just remember to cap the port on the dizzy that you are not using. Will post a pic of mine tomorrow for you, if you can't find it under what have you done to your 40 this week file.

 

[crumbo]

I rebuilt my dizzy...drill out the pin on the cam gear dismantle and clean....lubricate the throw out weights and change the ball bearings replace cam gear pin with roll pin and all is good...very easy and cheap to do and rewarding

 

[Hardcastle]

I did a desmog of my 78 FJ 40 with a troll hole card. Had no issue using my stock dizzy. Just remember to cap the port on the dizzy that you are not using. Will post a pic of mine tomorrow for you, if you can't find it under what have you done to your 40 this week file.

I'd love this, thanks. I really have no idea if the de-smog on my rig was done properly. because i had decent vacuum pressure (16) and it seemed to run fine I didn't mess with anything.
Thanks.

 

[Hardcastle]

No points in a '78 dizzy. I'd just clean it up, put in a new cap and rotor and run it if I were you. Dealing with the side cover is a PITA, but you will get a little more performance if you have vacuum advance. Heck, just getting the dizzy out could be a PITA. Mine would not budge.

This is what i'm thinking would be best. I don't think the dizzy is my actual problem, I just figured a rusty one couldn't be good.
My real problem seems fuel related. I have rough idle and black smoke out the tail pipe. I've found plenty of threads dealing with this problem so I have some ideas. If i can't figure it out i'll post up a new thread.
Thanks

 

[1911]

Mine is connected only to the dash vent and the air cleaner. I don't think it's supposed to go through the VCV.

Here's how my 1980 is, including the stock VCV:

 

[Trollhole]

This is what i'm thinking would be best. I don't think the dizzy is my actual problem, I just figured a rusty one couldn't be good.
My real problem seems fuel related. I have rough idle and black smoke out the tail pipe. I've found plenty of threads dealing with this problem so I have some ideas. If i can't figure it out i'll post up a new thread.
Thanks

This doesn't sound dizzy related. Sounds like trash in the dizzy. I've got a new shipment coming in a few weeks. If you can wait that long I'll swap you out. If you ship your carb back I'll fix it for you. As long as it's been within a year I'll take care of you the best I can. You can also call me after 5 and I can run you through a couple things. If your comfortable taking the top off go for it. If you hose it up I'll still take care of you. I hate having customers with problems and usually will do everything I can to make them happy.

864-414-0563

 

[Trollhole]

What is a trollhole dizzy anyway? points? Sorry I could search but I'm too friggn lazy...

Early vac advance dizzy. I sell them for $75 shipped. They are kind of a last resort item. The 60 dizzy's are the best option in my opinion. I'll do everything in my power not to sell one of mine and get them to buy a 60. Some people want the old school look and want the simplicity of points. I tune them all on a distributor machine before I send them out. Out of the 60 I have sold I've had one bad one. I have a new shipment of those coming in a few weeks as well.

 

[Hardcastle]

This doesn't sound dizzy related. Sounds like trash in the dizzy. I've got a new shipment coming in a few weeks. If you can wait that long I'll swap you out. If you ship your carb back I'll fix it for you. As long as it's been within a year I'll take care of you the best I can. You can also call me after 5 and I can run you through a couple things. If your comfortable taking the top off go for it. If you hose it up I'll still take care of you. I hate having customers with problems and usually will do everything I can to make them happy.

864-414-0563

Thanks, I appreciate that. So do you think my issue is carb related? Becuase my carb has performed so great since I started using it I assumed i had a different fuel issue brewing.

Basically my 40 ran great one day and then the next time I drove it there was black smoke blowing out, rough idle, and I noticed fuel dripping out of the carb. Nothing happened gradually, just all the sudden.
Thanks.

 

[Trollhole]

Might check the fuel level and make sure the float isn't stuck.

 

[Hardcastle]

Might check the fuel level and make sure the float isn't stuck.

So I couldn't see the fuel level. I think it was too high for the sight glass. Is that even possbile?

I took the top off the carb and I think you might be right, the float might have been stuck. The pin (hinge) was hanging far out. Although I may have moved it by accident during disassembly I made sure the float was moving easily and put everything back together.

My rig is running much better at the moment, but not great. It seems to idle fine but still blows a little dark smoke when you first hit the gas. The fuel level in the bowl is just above the midway point.

If it helps i'm still pulling 16 vacuum and my spark plugs were covered in black soot (I cleaned them off and also ordered new plugs). When I installed the carb I set timing and and adjusted valves. Spark Plugs, Wires, cap/rotor, air cleaner, PCV valve are all about 3 years old but i've ordered new.

Any ideas of what I should do next?

Thanks.

 

[Healey]

Sorry to hijack, but where can I get one of these 60 dizzy set ups? They would seem to be the way to go for my 40.

 

[1911]

Sorry to hijack, but where can I get one of these 60 dizzy set ups? They would seem to be the way to go for my 40.

I bought mine right here from a Mud member. Look and/or post in the Classifieds section.

 

[Healey]

I bought mine right here from a Mud member. Look and/or post in the Classifieds section.

Done! And I got one! When I get it I should probably send to Jim C for rebuild and recurve?
Now on to the carb and other bits. Waiting on a Trollhole carb (hope I'm on his list). Engine was out of the 40 when I bought it, so I am piecing things back together. These threads are very helpfull.