Distributor rebuild

[rrubyxsh]

Have a 1981 FJ40 distributor that need a new vaccume advance and rebuild. Who's rebuilding?

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@4Cruisers might

 

[rrubyxsh]

@4Cruisers might

Sent a private message to @4Cruisers and waiting for responce. I think he's said he was trying to get some projects done. Thanks

 

[wimberosa]

The vacuum advance is getting extremely scarce to find. Its plausible to rebuild the primary diaphragm (not HAC diaphragm) if you want to keep it stock. I documented it in a thread awhile back...

Thread 'Refurb'ing a dizzy two diaphragm vacuum advance'

Jan 8, 2026

@NeverGiveUpYota @62Cruiser @duffontap @ducktapeguy @65swb45 @4Cruisers

I'm standing on the shoulders of giants here (see above members) ... but would like to close the loop on definitively how best to fix the diaphragms in vacuum advances. In this case I have a vacuum advance with both carb port and HAC port. I have split both port sides at the lip (which btw is actually pretty simple and took less than an hour opening both sides). I have two types of diaphragm materials on the way but am willing to try others until I nail it with proper...

• wimberosa
• Replies: 22
• Forum: 40- / 55-Series Tech

• 

 

[JohnnyC]

I have heard of people using flex seal on the vac diaphragm with success … just an idea if yours is bad and can’t find a replacement

 

[rrubyxsh]

I had bought and installed the Davis Performance DUI distributor and had nothing but issues with the cap making contact with the battery tray, metal heater hoses and timing to get it adjusted to 12 degrees TDC. I even installed with the vacuum advance towards the front and towards the back facing the firewall. Being an all original USA LC I really want to keep it original. My thinking is to go to a new OEM point/condenser distributor. More reliable and OEM. This is not my daily driver so I won't have an issue with replacing tune up componets. Besides, I owend and maintained my old 72 FJ40 and 76 FJ40. So changing and adjusting points is no big deal. Right now I want reliability. The DUI distributor I had gone through 4 ICM modules and clocked a maximum of 10 miles for them all together. Let me know what pros and cons you think of why I should keep trying to locate or get my large cap distributor rebuilt or replaced. Tks

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

@cruisermatt sells new points OEM dizzies for 2Fs

 

[charliemeyer007]

My 72 came to me with a Delco in 82. I rebuilt it once around 2000. Well it wore out again. I bought the chinesium delco copy off Amoron $130. Had to change the drive gear off the old delco which was from a toyota, and the o-ring seal was too fat. China points lasted about week until the points arm bent. Put in my used real delco points, condenser and cap. Everything fit and has been working great, coming up on year now.

Love the straight mechanical advance, no vacuum nothing on my rig but a gauge I drive with.

 

[rrubyxsh]

My 72 came to me with a Delco in 82. I rebuilt it once around 2000. Well it wore out again. I bought the chinesium delco copy off Amoron $130. Had to change the drive gear off the old delco which was from a toyota, and the o-ring seal was too fat. China points lasted about week until the points arm bent. Put in my used real delco points, condenser and cap. Everything fit and has been working great, coming up on year now.

Love the straight mechanical advance, no vacuum nothing on my rig but a gauge I drive with.

Nice. 2f engine, the metric Chevy.