[T3] Distributor clips

[Soren Jacobsen]

On May 2, 2014, at 6:19 PM, Jim Adney <jadney at vwtype3.org> wrote:

> On 2 May 2014 at 17:14, Soren Jacobsen wrote:
> 
>> My question is if anyone who's had more experience with these aluminum
>> distributors has come up with a better way to keep the clips from
>> falling out. 
> 
> The attachment of the early alum bodied dist clips is really quite 
> fragile. The later alum dists came with a completely different design 
> that is quite rugged.

Ah, really?  For aluminum bodied T3 distributors, I've only got examples of the various models used through 1965 to 1967 (excluding a late 1965 -- if anyone has a 205E sitting around that they don't want, let me know).  After you mentioned the difference between early/late aluminum clip styles, I found an image of a 205L and it looks to me like they went back to the same sort of design that the early cast iron models used.  Nice to see you late model folks don't have to deal with this nonsense.

> I think I made hinge pins from exact sized piano wire (available at 
> hobby shops) and peened those pins in place.  I expect that to be 
> much more durable than the original concept. I got the replacement 
> clip from an early Type 1 alum dist that I was willing to strip.  

Good idea!

For sacrificial distributors, I know that the 1965 Bug 40HP distributors (ZV/JU4R3) have the same clips.  I've only got one of those that I'm willing to sacrifice, though, so I'm hoping I can find some others that will work.

Soren