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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - 123 Distributor

My rolling road run at MiniSport revealed a duff distributor..seriously worn and iffy advance/retard..... .it is 25 years old, so no surprises there.

I'm running an SD1 Vitesse engine and he distributor is a 35DM8 with amplifier behind the coil.

I made the mistake of checking the new price from Rimmers.....so I can forget that.

123 have recently added the Rover V8 to the range of tunable distributors, I know that they have had good reviews from 4 cylinder owners, but wondered if anyone had tried one on a V8 yet.

Presumably I would scrap the coil and amplifier...yes they are also 25 years old.

A replacement gear drive will also be required, is there just one type, I recall that the SD1 had both male and female dog drives to the oil pump, can't remember which mine is .
M Barnfather

Mike

I am aware of this on ebay 330147159803, as I am looking for a spare just in case.

Only 10 minutes from me.

Liam
Liam H

Liam, that's the one I have , I'm watching it, but probably still need to change the coil, and the amp presumably is also past it's sell-by date.

Have a look at the 123ignition site, they have an impressive video of the dizzy in action.
M Barnfather

I think with the 20+ year old technology we have we are always on a hiding to nothing. I'm not going to bid on this BTW. Mine is fine and you sound like you need one bad!

I can collect it for you if you like, and you can get it from me if you are going to Harrogate, although Chester le Street is right slap bang on the A1.

Liam
Liam H

Seriously tempted....a cheap & cheerful solution...but as you say 20+_year old technology...I think that the bullet must be bitten, particularly as MiniSport appear to be 123 agents, and Rob their rolling road guru is a really nice guy...likes classic cars and a challenge so we fall squarely into that category.

I made 151.5 WHP, (calculated 197.5 at the flywheel), and 199ft/lb torque, but the graph was very wavery, and it only managed 5430rpm,, so quite a bit of room for improvement hopefully.


Thanks for the offer if I succumb I wilol let you know.


<Mike
M Barnfather

Mike.

I bought a 35DLM8 recently from this firm, Harvey Taylor they specialise in Range Rover Parts, Speak to Ian Wilson on 01332 740411. or Mob.07763 403864

The distributor was complete and in good condition with a working vacuum can, he also threw in the connector from the amp on the side of the distributor to the coil and I paid about £40.00 + postage

When I checked on Rimmers site the vacumm can was more than £40.00.

They are also very good value for any other Rover engine parts. A complete Hot wire injection system from a late 3.9 for £200.00 wish I'd found them a while ago.

Kevin.
Kevin Jackson.

Kripes Kevin, that was a good price, and so is the hotwire system...I'm still inclined to go down the 123 route as the distributor can be fine tuned to the engine....decisions....decisions !
M Barnfather

Mike,

I had a look at the 123 site and looked at the available curves and even the most extreme one (F) seems to fall way short of what I have been advised by both Real Steel and Doug Smith at MG Motorsport.

They both recommend 10 degrees at 1000RPM and all in 34 degrees at 3500RPM. The 123 has a much lasier curve and does not give full advance of 32 degrees until 4800RPM which is close I believe to the standard curve, unless I'm missing something.

What spec is you engine? the recommendations I got relate to a 3.5 engine Stage 1 heads Viper Hurricane cam 9.75/1 compression Edelbrock 500cfm and performer inlet manifold and RV8 exhaust manifolds.

I was thinking of getting the distributor I recently bought recurved to the settings suggested which even if I have to pay £70.00 for still makes it a good deal.

Kevin.
Kevin Jackson

Took the plunge and ordered one from Southern Carburettors (MGOC do not stock them yet).

The website lists loads of different settings , my engine is an SD1 Vitesse with hotwire injection, bored out shortened trumpets, and throttle, and RV8 headers.

I intend to set it up with efi setting, then take it to Rob at MiniSport for him to set it up on their rolling road.
M Barnfather

Mike,

Will look forward to hearing the results.

Kevin.
Kevin Jackson

This thread was discussed between 15/07/2007 and 17/07/2007

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