The wrong distributor?

[Monkeyzak]

As part of my misfire cure I was going to fit a new cap and rotor arm. I just realised. I don't think my car has a delco remi distributor. Not totally sure but think it might be Lucas. Can't see markings.

Did they come with different ones from the factory. Or has mine been swapped out potentially when the electronic ignition was added?

I just need to source the one in it so I can get the right cap and arm.

Thanks.

[Monkeyzak]

It seems to work fine so happy to leave it in place

[FI Spyder]

They came with different ones. I will be corrected if wrong but they initially came with Lucas, then N/A got Lucas electronic and eventually Delco electronic for N/A. Not sure if/when Europe got electronic but the N/A Delco unit had the amplifier integral with the Delco coil. Not sure if Europe ever got it.

[Monkeyzak]

Its a UK car. 1981 with air con if that makes any difference. I'll take a pic later and see if it's identifiable

[Monkeyzak]

The distributor cap is much shorter. About half the height. Hard to show it in pictures due to access

[saabfast]

Does it have a large circular rotor arm held on by two screws which covers all the top area, and when you remove it you see the advance assembly over the points, making the points very difficult to get to and adjust? That is what the AC Delco D302 which was normal on UK cars looks like.

[Monkeyzak]

There's electronic ignition so not sure about the points

The rotor arm is a normal sized one with a separate white plastic disc. The cap is about half the depth The replacement I received is a big disc with built In rotor arm like the one you describe

The only writing on the distributor I can see is made in England. Does that make it Lucas?

[saabfast]

Certainly does not sound like the AC Delco. What is the history of your car/engine? According to Mr Haynes some US versions had Lucas 47DE4 distributor with Opus electronic ignition. From the look of the drawing in the manual that does sound like yours. Does it had a sort of 'block' on the side (the amplifier) with the retard vac unit fitted on it? With the Air con fitted as well I wonder I it was originally a US spec. Christopher will probably be able to shed some light on it with some details.

[Monkeyzak]

Registered 1981 on a w. Just presumed it's UK car as its mph and right hand drive.

Don't know if the distributor is original or replacement when the electronic ignition went in.

I confess I know nothing of the history of the car apart from its been parked up a long time and went through a major restoration in the early 90s. A huge album of pics came with the car. There's folders of stuff I haven't even looked at. Must dig it all out.

How do I get the info thAt would help? Stil awaiting my logbook as the previous owner didn't send his bit away. Dvla sent me a letter to say I'll get one in a couple of weeks.

[trsforever]

Hi, no its not a Delco, looks to me like a 16v Sprint which is a Lucas 44D unit but with a different cap (Sprint caps are side entry, to clear manifold as they are wider). Compare it to the illustrations on the Sprint spares page on Rimmer's web site. I have seen top entry caps on ebay
advertised as been for the Sprint. Hope this helps.
Scott.

[supercass]

To the best of my knowledge U.K. cars never had aircon. You say it has had a major restoration. Could it be a converted l/h drive car?
supercass

[Monkeyzak]

I never thought of that. I'll have a look at all the pics that came with it.

I just presumed it was a UK car. How can I tell?

I won't have the logbook for another 2 weeks so can't see till then where it was first registered.

[Rich K]

The VIN code should indicate which specification/market the car was built and intended for. I believe the third character on Canley built cars is the one in question, 'A' indicating it is a home market vehicle. There is a page on the TR Drivers Club web site that explains the meaning of the VIN number system used on TR7s and TR8s
http://www.trdrivers.com/tr7___tr8_vin_numbers.htm

[Monkeyzak]

Thanks for that. I'll check it tonight when I get home.

Someone else told me some UK cars meant for directors and managers from bl came with air con too.

[Monkeyzak]

I think this means it's a UK car.