what distributor to use

[5teve]

hey guys, this s**ks not having knowledge in this department!!
ive got an 1995 mk3 adz engine going into my 1980 mk1 gld, ive spoken to a few about the distributor option!
at the moment it hasn't been touched and still got the original distributor thats running electronically, ive also picked up a distributor that runs off vacuum to compare. i spoke to a bloke at auto1 about the distributor that runs electronically and he said it doesnt need a cpu to operate and the webber i choose to install will have no issues and wouldnt need much to do with the wiring. i also spoke to my dads mechanic which really hasnt got knowledge in the german automotive and from what he can recall if i install the mk3 distributor it will need the loom and might need a cpu and recommended me to get a dizzy running off vacuum..... :/
im really confused and need some answers!

what extras would i need if i leave the mk3 dizzy thats running electronically, what extras would i need if i get a mk3 webber (ive only got the mk3 inlet manifold)?
OR
should i install a dizzy that runns off vacuum and get a webber that adapts to the inlet manifold or get a whole new manifold to suit a mk1 webber?

need someone whos come across this conversion!!

really frustrated some parts might sound bazzar sorry!
steve

[Peter Jones]

The MK3 dizzy doesn't have any advance capabilities built in. You can use it without an ECU but it won't work very well unless you use an electronic ignition system that can do the advance.

MSD make some products with programmable advance curves that would work with the MK3 dizzy like the Midget DIS2.

Otherwise any old 1600 dizzy with points and a vacuum can will work OK.

Some of the 1800 MK1s with the GX motor had an electronic dizzy with built in advance that works well and uses commonly available ignition modules.

The 1600/1800 MK1 dizzys can be modified to work without vacuum and advance purely on RPM by a company like Scorcher.

Cheapest/easiest way to get it up and running will be a 1600 MK1 dizzy on points with vacuum. Once you've got that working you can look at more exotic solutions.

[Dub Toffee]

It's also not that hard to install a kit to convert 1600 Dizz to electronic.
It basically replaces the points, worked great for me all those years ago!
Then you never have to set the points again just the timing.

Something like this
Volkswagen Golf MK1 Powerspark Electronic Ignition Kit JFUR4 Volkswagen Golf MK1 Powerspark Electronic Ignition Kit JFUR4 [K9X] - £28.79 : Electronic Ignition, Home of the Powerspark electronic ignition and electronic distributor

[willwho]

Have been looking for something like this! Thanks dub toffee didn't realise a solution would be so cheap!

[Peter Jones]

Yep, those modules work well. We've got one in our Red MK1 inside a 1600 dizzy on an ADZ1800.

Those modules are also available from Wolfsburg Automotive in Geelong for about the same price.

A lot of the aircooled specialists would have them too the same module is used in the 009 dizzys popular with the aircooled crowd.

[tassie_euro_mk1]

I use a now dizzy in my 2.0l ADY block. Got a spacer and mk3 dizzy gear from techtonicstuning. I also have a powerspark ignition replacement. Works really well

[Dub Toffee]

Good work Pete I didn't know where to get one in Aus,
Ignition can be simple oh how I hated changeing points

[5teve]

Relief!! Now I can go ahead with the process! I think I'll be purchasing an electronic ignition system!
And also what sort of engine coil would be adaptable?

[blinkx]

what would be the best dissy set up for a 1.8?

Cheers Matt

[Peter Jones]

what would be the best dissy set up for a 1.8?

Cheers Matt

I think we'll need a little more information to answer that.

The sky's the limit with ignition systems you have have anything from the simple Kettering system the car came with through to multi coil, multi plug magneto driven systems.

The information above would be a good start for most MK1 1800 installs.