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Thu Nov 15, 2012 7:49 pm

I frequently get questions about the parts numbers from visitors on this site and this posting is hopefully going to clear some of the confusion up. Feel free to add any pertinent information and or ask questions pertaining to the data and discusion herein.

From 1964 until the late 1970's Bosch used a parts numbering sytem that looks something like this: 0 231 137 011. The 0 231 denoted "distributor". The second set of numbers tells you what type of distributor it is. The third set of numbrs gives a clue to the specific application or version of distributor you are looking at.

The 0 231 is the Bosch number in the mid 1960's and is code for "distributor". Therefore from 1965 until the 1970's all distributors start with 0 231. The next set of numbers denotes the kind of points plate that is found on the distributor. In the picture above you will find the big cap wide bodied cast iron distributors. These points plates are identified by the numbers 139- on the box, you won't find it on the plate itself. The middle set of numbers shows the mid 64 to 1967 points plate that has the brass pin for mounting the points. This points plate style number is 147. the bottom points plate does not use the brass pin and now there is simply a hole for the points to mount in. This plate number is 137. I do not know why the numbers are not in sequence but Bosch made distributors for many automotive makers so it could be that this design was actually developed before 1964 but not installed on VW's until 1967.

These three points plates were used on distributors used on VW's in the 1960's which was a time when vacuum only distributors were in common usage.

I will cover the later vacuum and mechanical advance distributors and the earlier mechancial only distributors tomorrow. The weights arrangement determines the middle part numbers on these distributors.

Fri Nov 16, 2012 10:39 pm

I've decided to go with the earlier distributor assemblies first. they were closer to hand and there are fewer versions. The earlier Bosch distributors did not use a parts number. They used letter designations instead. I am certain that the letters are representing German words and are a logical designation. For example, the letter "R" are sometimes found on the ID plate denotes "noise supressing rotor". The rotor has a resistor installed in it's contact arm. More research is needed to determine the meaning of the V and J however. My guess is that the V stands for mechancial advance while the U represents vacuum advance. The J might simply be a version number as I do have a VI 4 BR 8 distributor that aoppears identical to the VJ.

The top weights assenmbly and points plate are VJU in the pic below. These were used on the early cast iron vacuum + mechanical advance beetle as well as other makes. The points plate is actually a double assembly. The bottom plate screws into the distributor housing and the top points plate is able to rotate with a ball bearing allowing the spark to be advanced. The actual weights assembly is very similar to the mechanical assembly below it in the pic. none of the parts are interchangeable though, they may fit they will not function at least not the way the Bosch factory intended. There are numbers on the weights which may confuse. The beetle weights are stamped 383 which should not be confused with the 383 distributor also used on early VW and Porsche. This number might be a weight designation? More research is required.

The bottom assembly is the mechancial only VJ. The points plate is a simpler design since it is stationary. Again the weights assembly between the VJ and the VJU are similar in design. These same assemblies with different weights and springs are used on the 010 and 019 which have the middle points part number of 129 as in 0 231 129 010 or 019. So this points plate continued on into usage later in the 1960's with only slight variation.

Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:12 am

tasb wrote:

So no photo of the 137 type breaker plate with the ground strap "pigtail" ending soldered to the condensor mounting nut intead of a loop? :wink:

I always thought that was kind of lame on Bosch's part - you seldom see them hold up over the years.
I think I got this one off of eBay... was surprised as to how well it had held up - probably the nicest used one I've seen.

Sat Nov 17, 2012 11:56 am

Yeah, resoldering the ground leads has become standard practice. Here is a pic of a very interesting weights assembly.

The top assembly is out of a 1964 Type III S model- I have robbed the springs from it. It was a one year one model only assembly according to oldvolkshome. Except here we have in the foreground the weights assembly out of the 113 905 205 AL. These were used in at least 1971 possibly other years on Europeans manual transmission beetles. The designs are the same. Its safe to say that the distributor middle numbers are:

ZV/JCU 4 R 3 113 905 205 AL (0 231 146 101)
ZV/JCU = 146

The C probably implies the dual weights assembly in the old Bosch parts numberiing system.

Sat Nov 17, 2012 1:20 pm

tasb wrote:
The bottom assembly is the mechancial only VJ. The points plate is a simpler design since it is stationary. Again the weights assembly between the VJ and the VJU are similar in design. These same assemblies with different weights and springs are used on the 010 and 019 which have the middle points part number of 129 as in 0 231 129 010 or 019. So this points plate continued on into usage later in the 1960's with only slight variation.

The "129" does not denote the contact plate.

Same contact plate.

But the middle number is 110.

That model is for a Alfa. The same contact plate is also used on Bosch distributor for other makes of cars.

I do agree that the 231 denotes it's a distributor. The 1st digit is not always a 0, Some Bosch parts made in Brazil have a 9. For example the Bosch 050 for the Type 4. Bosch ignition parts begin with a "1".

There is a pattern to the way they numbered their parts, similar to VW. But they changed the numbering a few times. Originally they were alphanumeric as in the VJ4BR8. Then they were 10 digits as the 0231 129 019. And not they are 5 digit with a 2 digit group and 3 digit part number such as 01 016. The "01" indicates points, "02" is condenser, "03" distributor cap, "04" rotor, "09" ignition wires and "00" ignition coil.

Sat Nov 17, 2012 2:04 pm

Early Porsche 911 6 cylinder.

Volvo (look at the last 3 digits)

Sat Nov 17, 2012 2:19 pm

Yes, I put the plate in the pic to help identify the VW distributors that it correlates with. Most people don't go much further than the points plate with their distributor. Bosch used that points plate on quite a few distributors and many makes. The 129 identifies the weights assembly.

And that 009 distributor might be the one I was thinking about in a different thread, thanks for posting it.

Sun Nov 18, 2012 5:48 pm

After 1970 Bosch started moving back to dual advance distributors. The points plate remained essentialy the same for nearly a decade. the weights assembly went through many changes however. The first assembly is actually an throwback to an earlier time- note the low number= 115. The design is very close to the BR 8's (019, 010).

The 115 design was used on the first autostick beetles in 1968 and 1969.
113 905 205P and 113 905 205 AA.

The next design is actually another example of the dual weights design first used in 1964 with the type III 1500 S model. This plate was used on the 1971 through 1973 manual transmission beetle. 113 905 205 AD, AE,AH, AJ
AN, and 211 905 205 Q which was used on the bus. The middle part number for this assembly is 167. As in 0 231 167 XXX.

Sun Nov 18, 2012 6:00 pm

By the mid 70's the bus started getting heavier and along with larger displacement engines came bus specific distributors. This advance assembly was used from 1976 until 1979. The assembly # 168

.

Sun Nov 18, 2012 6:16 pm

This is weights assembly # 176. It was used on the beetle distributors from 1974 until 1979. It has a slightly different weights plate design and different weights than the 168 assembly.

043 905 205 C, D, H, J
and
021 905 205 B, AC