Distributor

[Propshaft]

Just had car on rolling road engineer said everything good but advised me to have 123 distributor fitted I have at present luminition don’t fancy spending£350 on one is there a cheaper alternative I will only be doing 4000k miles per year

[Lingen]

Needless expense in my opinion. Why is it needed if "Everything is good"?
The electronic system on my Stag cost under £50 and has been there for 12 years and your sort of mileage.At that price you buy two, and keep the spare one in the glove locker!

[Philip Wardle]

Did the engineer give any explanation other than his opinion that it might be a good idea" For example, does the existing distrubutor have excessive wear? Lumenition ignition is generally well regarded on the forum, they don't need to be replaced or changed for anything else if they're working - and they are generally long-lived other than the reliability of the connector which is easily replaced with a better one. Very pleaed with mine anyway.

[Goldstar]

I’d get a second opinion. As above unless it is worn why change it? If it is worn find a good 2nd hand one for under £100 and swap it over. The only benefit of the 123 that I can see is the ability to set an advance curves which I think would be wasted on the stag.

[wilf]

Or... send yours off to the Distributor Doctor for overhaul.

But, frankly, if it is running well, it ain't broke, so don't fix it. My Lumenition is well over 12 years old and going strong (though I do carry a spare lol).

[Propshaft]

The engineer said there was pinking on high revs (5000rpm) told me to change plug leads and run on premium petrol

[Propshaft]

Just to add don’t think I will ever want to get up to 5k revs

[Goldstar]

Sounds like a tiny bit too much advance - retard by a couple of degrees and you’ll be fine.

[richardthestag]

The engineer said there was pinking on high revs (5000rpm) told me to change plug leads and run on premium petrol

the hairs on your neck don't stand up until you get over 5k rpm.

Try run on premium fuels, cheaper than a 123 setup that you will need to pay a rolling road to set up for you which may or may not be any better than a well set up oe stag distributor.. just saying

edited to add https://youtu.be/Y9jTkGAv9cc?feature=shared&t=33

ignore commentary from my good friends mrs who was getting a ride up Kop Hill, it had just rained and we were strongly advised to back off when we got under the trees. Given that I was still in 3rd gear manual but no overdrive selected and with a 3.45 diff chances are that it was indeed around 70mph when I lifted. redlined first and second. great fun. the no 1 reason why I will probably never sell the car, I just love driving it. shame business gets in the way and prevents me enjoying it

[jbuckl]

Recently rebuilt a distributor.

Actually and bizarrely I only re-used the gear and thrust washer.

All other items were either used or new.

news is that £350 isn’t a lot if the shaft and weights , baseplates and vacuum capsule are unserviceable, along with a broken body casting….

A used dizzy is about £100 or so… but how much is good to go again.

even all the screws cost about £20 now!

building up a used dizzy with necessary new bits can be a bit spendy these days.

[Propshaft]

Been there many times with the neck hairs standing in many different open topped cars but my age is such that I along with the wife just enjoy the more relaxed way of motoring