4Cruisers
SILVER Star
I had a couple of distributors laying around (actually, I have quite a few), as well as a good supply of parts and supplies, so I thought I'd try to build an equivalent to the popular non-US 19100-61080 points distributor.
One of the distributors was a late F engine vacuum retard distributor that @ToyotaMatt graciously donated to my distributor R&D collection. Even though I discovered that it can't be converted to vacuum advance, I realized a few weeks ago that most of the parts can be re-used to build other distributors.
Here are the basic ingredients:
1. A like-new aftermarket electronic distributor of a type I've never seen before (thanks to @Green Bean). The housing is in great shape, and very close dimensionally.
2. An early F vacuum retard distributor like those above.
3. A new early '70s OEM 2M distributor.
4. A new mid-'70s OEM 4M distributor.
5. Various parts from other Land Cruiser, non-Land Cruiser, and Toyota forklift distributors.
Apply a healthy dose of @ToyotaMatt's skunk works mentality, top it off with a little labor of love, and you end up with a close replica of the 19100-61080 non-US small cap vacuum advance distributor.
Here is a photo showing all of the ingredients at the time I started the build:
Before I finished, I had substituted a few different parts where it made sense. For instance, I used a different octane selector knob (an OEM metal one versus the aftermarket plastic one that came with the advancer), and a new, thicker McMaster-Carr phenolic washer on the distributor shaft, which allowed me to bring the thrust play back into FSM specifications. I also substituted an aftermarket made-in-Japan distributor cap for the aftermarket Toyota forklift cap.
New parts from other non-Land Cruiser Toyota distributors include the points cam, later type OEM upper breaker plate parts and points, external condenser, octane selector cap/sleeve/gasket, wire harness clip, distributor cap clamps, mechanical advance weights, and miscellaneous hardware. The distributor housing and vacuum advancer are from the aftermarket electronic distributor, and the shaft, gear, mechanical advance springs, and lower breaker plate are from the vacuum retard distributor.
Here are a few photos of the completed distributor. BTW, I plan on installing a new OEM rotor before putting the distributor for sale in the MUD classifieds. This refurbished distributor will be an excellent high quality alternative to the non-US 19100-61080 small cap distributor.
One of the distributors was a late F engine vacuum retard distributor that @ToyotaMatt graciously donated to my distributor R&D collection. Even though I discovered that it can't be converted to vacuum advance, I realized a few weeks ago that most of the parts can be re-used to build other distributors.
Here are the basic ingredients:
1. A like-new aftermarket electronic distributor of a type I've never seen before (thanks to @Green Bean). The housing is in great shape, and very close dimensionally.
2. An early F vacuum retard distributor like those above.
3. A new early '70s OEM 2M distributor.
4. A new mid-'70s OEM 4M distributor.
5. Various parts from other Land Cruiser, non-Land Cruiser, and Toyota forklift distributors.
Apply a healthy dose of @ToyotaMatt's skunk works mentality, top it off with a little labor of love, and you end up with a close replica of the 19100-61080 non-US small cap vacuum advance distributor.
Here is a photo showing all of the ingredients at the time I started the build:
Before I finished, I had substituted a few different parts where it made sense. For instance, I used a different octane selector knob (an OEM metal one versus the aftermarket plastic one that came with the advancer), and a new, thicker McMaster-Carr phenolic washer on the distributor shaft, which allowed me to bring the thrust play back into FSM specifications. I also substituted an aftermarket made-in-Japan distributor cap for the aftermarket Toyota forklift cap.
New parts from other non-Land Cruiser Toyota distributors include the points cam, later type OEM upper breaker plate parts and points, external condenser, octane selector cap/sleeve/gasket, wire harness clip, distributor cap clamps, mechanical advance weights, and miscellaneous hardware. The distributor housing and vacuum advancer are from the aftermarket electronic distributor, and the shaft, gear, mechanical advance springs, and lower breaker plate are from the vacuum retard distributor.
Here are a few photos of the completed distributor. BTW, I plan on installing a new OEM rotor before putting the distributor for sale in the MUD classifieds. This refurbished distributor will be an excellent high quality alternative to the non-US 19100-61080 small cap distributor.