Which disty do I get? I'm trying to get the core but it seems to be out a while. Stock everything carb (feedback I assume). I called the dealer and they quoted me $600:eek: Napa $310 for a ND and $204 hitachi.

 

I know you can swap them out but I have to get this thing to pass emissions. What would you do?

 

So the problem began all of a sudden when there was no spark during cranking the tack would just stay dead. Thats all I know. It wouldn't be anything else would it? Boy I would like to drive this thing!!

Edited June 13, 200916 yr by Yo'J

Test the coil and make sure there's power to it while cranking.

 

It would be a Hitachi distributor - all Brat's are 4WD and that's the determining factor.

 

GD

If the PO put a ND distributor in, could that be a determining factor in its failure?

If the PO put a ND distributor in' date=' could that be a determining factor in its failure?[/quote']

 

In some cases running the ND distributor with the Hitachi coil could cause ignitor failure. The resistance of the coil needs to match with the ignitor - this *shouldn't* be the case, but the distributor ignitors in these car's are not very forgiving and don't do well with really hot coils.

 

It also could have just failed because it was time. Although I haven't personally experienced an ignitor failure other's on here have. It is comparitively rare though when run with the correct coil, properly gapped plugs and good wires. Frankly it should never fail if the system is maintained. Too large a gap or high resistance wires will cause a bigger load on the coil and ignitor. Won't run worth a crap either.

 

GD

 

I copied this pic from another post..

 

On the Hitachi disty, you can see the "C" shaped piece that's held in with 2 screws. There's a magnet under there.

 

I had that magnet shatter for some reason, and it killed the BRAT, no spark.

I think, but not sure, it was a nippon denso distributor. I bought the brat the week it failed and the PO took it to try to warranty it to no avail.

I know that all the 87 (last of the Cardbed) EA82s all used the Denso disty.

 

I would not just assume that it should have the Hitachi.

 

Does the Coil have a blue top? that would be the Denso coil, and if so, then you should stick with the Denso.

 

If the coil has a black top, then it is 99% likely a Hitachi, and you should find a Hitachi Disty.

 

 

Either way, you can remove the Electronic guts from an EA82 disty and drop them into the EA81 disty body.

Its a denso coil, I just checked. It looks like there was a resistor there thats been removed. Should that be in place with the denso?

 

Its cheaper to get the whole hitachi coil, disty,cap and rotor than a remaned denso disty. Wires and plugs might put it over the price, but whats the rest to replace in the whole system?

I know that all the 87 (last of the Cardbed) EA82s all used the Denso disty.

 

I would not just assume that it should have the Hitachi.

 

EA81's are different. ALL 4WD's got the Hitachi, ALL 2WD's got the ND. Even the FSM differentiates between "4WD" and "2WD" distributors - they don't mention the brand, but that is of course obvious from the tear-down procedures and pictures. I also know this from raw experience - hundreds of trips to the junk yards - there aren't many absolutes but one of them is that every single Brat made for the US market came stock with a Hitachi distributor.

 

Does the Coil have a blue top? that would be the Denso coil, and if so, then you should stick with the Denso.

 

If the coil has a black top, then it is 99% likely a Hitachi, and you should find a Hitachi Disty.

 

That is true, but I would caution that ONLY a resistance test of the windings with a DMM will tell you for sure if the coil is compatible. Hitachi made coils for the SPFI, MPFI, and Turbo cars - all with different resistance values. Brand means little here - each manufacturer made a whole range of coils.

 

Either way, you can remove the Electronic guts from an EA82 disty and drop them into the EA81 disty body.

 

For the carb distributors you can do that, yes. All the forms of fuel injection were different though.

 

GD

Its a denso coil' date=' I just checked. It looks like there was a resistor there thats been removed. Should that be in place with the denso?[/quote']

 

It's not a resistor - it's a capacitor for absorbing radio noise. It's not neccesary for proper operation but without it you will get a lot of static on the AM radio band.

 

Its cheaper to get the whole hitachi coil' date=' disty,cap and rotor than a remaned denso disty. Wires and plugs might put it over the price, but whats the rest to replace in the whole system?[/quote']

 

The Hitachi unit's are more reliable and easier to find parts for - the shaft bushings tollerate a lot more wear than the ND's do (in the EA81's - EA82's used a different housing and don't seem to exhibit this problem).

 

GD

Thanks!