I am going to check out an 83 brat tomorrow and the owner says that the distributor needs replaced because of bad bushings. He says it causes the oil, gas and voltage readings to read wrong. Would a distributor cause this or what?

I would have to say that the peoblem is the alternator, not the distributor. Usually when the disty bushings wear out the car will stall while turning and the tachometer will jump around erratically.

He did mention the tach read irregularly also.

He did mention the tach read irregularly also.

 

"irregularly," huh? subtle humour there, i like it

He believes replacing the distributor can fix all of this. I am wondering if anyone else has heard anything similar to this.

Happens a lot - I've had to rebuild a couple with bad bushings. Usually causes tach jumping, and severe cases can cause power loss.

 

The electrical stuff sounds like the alternator - could be both. I've never noticed bad bushings causing any of that stuff. These guys do a really good rebuild for abouy $30 - $50:

 

http://www.philbingroup.com/

 

GD

As much alternator trouble as I had with my hatch I should start to recognize the signs immediately. I hope it doesnt have as many electrical problems as the hatch did. I have a local fellar who does my starter/alternator rebuilds for around $10. (Good Ole' Boy System at it's finest). How about would I change out the disty?

Pull it out and slide the new one in. Just make note of the rotor position. There's two wires to the coil - should be easy.

 

GD

My hatch will serve as my new parts car. Will the disty be the same with it being EA-81 and all?

All 82 and newer EA81's use the same type of disty. There are two brands - Nippon-Denso (ND), and Hitachi. 4WD's had the Hitachi, and 2WD's had the ND. They are interchangeable so long as the correct coil is used also (same brand).

 

GD

All 82 and newer EA81's use the same type of disty. There are two brands - Nippon-Denso (ND), and Hitachi. 4WD's had the Hitachi, and 2WD's had the ND. They are interchangeable so long as the correct coil is used also (same brand).

 

GD

 

Hatch is 2wd, that could serve as a problem. I might run it by the mechanic tomorrow and see what he says. Appreciate all the help GD.

Just swap both at the same time.

 

GD

The 2wd disty has a more desirable advance curve, so you'll be better off with the 2wd units.

 

What's the difference in the 2wd and 4wd coils(hitachi vs nd)??

Resistance values?

 

Replacing the alternator and distributor should take at most 20 minutes, not bad really.

The 2wd disty has a more desirable advance curve, so you'll be better off with the 2wd units.

 

100% incorrect. That's been a wives tale floating around here for years. I've debunked that one more times than I care to remember. FSM shows one advance curve for all distributors. People may have come up with this by the seat of their pants trying to explain why an ND "feels snappier". It's because the ND coil provides a hotter spark. But a properly tuned Hitachi works just as well. The ND is prefereable for it's fitment with the choke on the Weber DGV.

 

What's the difference in the 2wd and 4wd coils(hitachi vs nd)??

Resistance values?

 

Yeah - secondary coil resistance is supposed to match the ignitor in the disty. I would use either in a real pinch, but you do risk damaging the ignitor module or shortening it's life. Same situation with using aftermarket coil's.

 

GD

Thanks for the info GD, it makes sense.