Cannot identify 78 FJ40 Distributor

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Nov 15, 2019
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Arlington, TX
I have looked all over the distributor. I cannot locate any stickers or indicators on the distributor where they should normally be located.

Any ideas on how to identify this distributor?

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That looks like a vacuum advance to me, with the octane adjuster. Sometimes there's a label...

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69-74 1F dizzy. Points and vacuum retard.
I got a stupid question. Will the 69-74 1F Dizzy work on a 78 2F engine? That is the engine that it is on right now!

The frame, tub, etc. is 73, the engine, tranny and t-case is 78.

I am tired of having to adjust the points ever 90 days or so.
 
That looks like a vacuum advance to me, with the octane adjuster. Sometimes there's a label...

Yep thanks! I had an edit that I didn't submit. Early advance.

Dizzy is OEM toyota (Nippon Denso). Yes it works just fine on your '78, just make sure the points are clean and set gap and check dwell. Then make sure its all clean inside and same for mechanical weights.
 
Early advance.
Well, not early early, as in a '69 and earlier. but maybe an early 2F. Might even be original to that '78 block.
There are some dizzy gurus (like @4Cruisers) that could probably tell you what month and year it is
 
75-~76 were retard
~76-77 were advance with California being retard/advance
'78 went to electronic with 1 year only dizzy cap.

So its 69-74 in the picture- I've had two on previous 2Fs where folks swapped.
 
75-~76 were retard
~76-77 were advance with California being retard/advance
'78 went to electronic with 1 year only dizzy cap.

So its 69-74 in the picture- I've had two on previous 2Fs where folks swapped.
But we know it's a vacuum advance. I'm guessing late '76-'77 non-Ca...
 
But we know it's a vacuum advance. I'm guessing late '76-'77 non-Ca...
Nah the early advance was the hardline with nut - circa 69 because the hardline bolted to the distributor for vacuum and that ended at 3/69 with the M style carb until 9/69. So my guess is 68/69.
 
Nah the early advance was the hardline with nut - circa 69 because the hardline bolted to the distributor for vacuum and that ended at 3/69 with the M style carb until 9/69. So my guess is 68/69.
OK. The reasons I don't think it's early are I don't see the little oiler thingy lower on the body and the octane adjuster on the early dizzys was made of a metal, OP's octane adjuster looks to be plastic, like the later dizzys

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OK. The reasons I don't think it's early are I don't see the little oiler thingy lower on the body and the octane adjuster on the early dizzys was made of a metal, OP's octane adjuster looks to be plastic, like the later dizzys
The oiler cup on the side of the distributor went away before '69, but I don't know how many years before.
 
I have looked all over the distributor. I cannot locate any stickers or indicators on the distributor where they should normally be located.

Any ideas on how to identify this distributor?

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A photo with the cap removed would confirm or rule out whether or not it's a later non-US 2F distributor. The breaker plate in those was designed to accommodate the US model 1/75 through 9/77 type points. @Pighead's photo with the Pertronix shows that breaker plate.
 
Are you happy with the Pertronix, that is where I am trying to go. Which pertronix did you go with? Igniter 1, 2 or 3
Yes. I have always put a Pertronix in my points dizzys. I've not had a problem with one yet, I always carry the points though. I got the ignitor II, I asked for the one that I wouldn't fry if I left the ignition on. I didn't know that there was a 3.

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Do you need their coil as well?
Probably not. They say that certain of their ignitors prefer certain Ohms. They know more about it than I do so I went with their recommendation
 

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