28PICT - but what distributor

[brisbane6]

I have 1959 Australia-assembled RHD panel van bus with 1960 1200cc 40hp engine (specs based on engine serial number; presumably the original engine was replaced - perhaps a B@*t@%d recall? everything else on this bus is pretty well stock as found). The carburetor is a 28PICT. The distributor is a Bosch with body stampings "Made in Australia"; JUR4; 0231137009; 113905205K. I think it is a 1967 distributor (body is stamped 702).
Question(s): Is this a sensible carb/dist combination? If there a better distributor for the job? Is it ok to advance the static timing a little?
[Reason I ask is that I can't find this listed as a normal combination, and have found that there is a surprisingly noticeable improvement in performance by advancing the static timing a little; as far as I can see the 'book' setting for that year was 10degBTDC, however setting at 15degBTDC seems much better though subtly harder to start. There is little noticeable difference in 'pinking', it doesn't audibly pink with either BTDC setting, unless really uncomfortably lugging, and I usually run the cheapest available fuel in Australia which is sold as 91octane.]

[tasb]

The 702 is a February 1967 manufacture date. With the correct vacuum canister on that distributor I would not run it past 7-8 degress BTDC static. Otherwidse you are likely exceeding the 32 degrees advance limit.

Ideally that distributor is matched to a 30 PICT series Solex carburetor. There are some reports that the 113 K can be run with the 28 PICT.

the factory matches for a 28 PICT carburetor are the following distributors:

VW # All three of these use the same cam, tune up parts and vac can
ZV/JU 4 R 3
111 905 205 M
111 905 205 N
These distributors deliver approximately 20 degrees of vacuum advance so are static timed at 10 degrees BTDC.

ah, BTW welcome to TheSamba!
_________________
Roads Scholar &
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018

1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc

1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse

[brisbane6]

Thanks for that great and speedy reply - much appreciated. I set timing back to 10degBTDC but per your note I think now I had better put some more marks on the pulley and test it at say 3000 (?) rpm fast idle and see what the full advance is - thank you.

And will try and find a more correct distributor in the samba ads!

Slightly perhaps interesting note: when I took the distributor out to renew the points on the weekend, I was a little surprised to find the vac can had a lot of fuel in it, which I drained. But after re-start I found that draining it didn't seem to have made any difference to the running of the engine. Eventually it would have some effect I suppose. I am imagining that when I pumped the accelerator in the cold mornings (choke is not operational!) it might have been running down into the can!?! Anyway I have now re-routed the vacuum line to put a high point in it.

[brisbane6]

Are those distributors definitely correct for 28 pict (as opposed to say, 28 pict-1)?
Reason I ask is that the Parts manual http://oacdp.org/pdfs/5867s9.pdf seems to quote Bosch 315.905.205B for matching engine serial numbers (5xxxxxx) for 28pict.[/quote]

[tasb]

The 315 905 205 B is a service department replacement part for 1966-1967. The date range may indicate when the part was made available rather than the engine or carburetor matching points. I'll have to dig a couple out to verify.

The three distributors listed previously are all pretty much the same distributor with different part number stampings. Bosch changed their part numbering systems mid 1964. The ZV/JU 4 R 3 and the 111 905 205 M are essentially the same distributor. They were installed from March 1964 until April 1965. The 111 905 205 N was used after that for the remainder of model year 1965. I've yet to find any difference between the 111 M and the 111 N. I've worked with a few.
_________________
Roads Scholar &
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018

1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc

1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse

[BulliBill]

If you have fuel in the vacuum canister, your vacuum line from the carb to the canister need to be changed to a style (there are threads and photos on theSamba.com) that has an upward hump or a loop in the line to prevent fuel flowing down the older style vacuum line to the canister. There were VW tech bulletins for the dealerships to make this change to vehicles they found with your fuel-in-the-canister issue.

Bill Bowman
_________________
I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[BarryL]

[brisbane6]

[brisbane6]

[BarryL]

[tasb]

[mandraks]