Michael Dietsche wrote:
Mike,
Try a Mitsubushi alternator from a boneyard. Dodge colt or champ
will work, RX-7 also. Make sure the belt pulley matches the old
Lucas or be prepared to swap with a pulley that will.
There are a few that will be fine.
The ones I mentioned are small and require little to no mods other than
possibly a
new bracket to grap the unit and keep proper belt tension.
Good luck
Alan
> Thanks for the info Chris...I can't see a part # on the distributor,
> but it is a Lucas unit with points. I expected to find an electronic
> ignition type on my car from what I read about a '78 1500 Midget, so I
>
> figured someone must have replaced the distributor at some time,
> especially since it seems to butt into surrounding hardware in a way
> that suggests it doesn't belong. The car runs OK, but I have no
> experience to compare it to, so if the advance is not advantageous I
> wouldn't know. The distributor has a dial adjustment, which I assume
> is for fine tuning the advance. This dial is frozen/mangled. The
> distributor looks pretty beat up in other ways, though I haven't
> pulled it out yet to check its shaft. Anyway, given all of the
> above the distributor is on my list for likely replacement items. Any
>
> experience anyone has with aftermarket distributors for the 1500 would
>
> be appreciated.....
>
> On another subject, has anyone replaced the Lucas alternator with a
> higher-rated/easier-to-find American alternator? What's the Lucas'
> output anyway, about 30 amps? That seems low even for that car......I
>
> like to think I have enough capacity for thorough charging even when
> I'm driving with lights on and wipers running.
>
> ---Chris Kotting wrote:
> >
> > Sounds like your PO pulled the distributor and put it back in out of
>
> > position, probably the distributor drive as well. It can work that
> way,
> > but you end up with the vacuum advance in awkward positions.
> >
> > When you say that it's a non-standard Lucas. What are you basing
> that
> > conclusion on? The 1500 came with one of two variations on a Lucas
> > electronic system. Unfortunately, that system was pretty unreliable
>
> and
> > the first one (with the electronics in a box on the side) is no
> longer
> > made. You can get parts for the later unit, (with the electronics
> remote
> > from the dizzy), though.
> >
> > If you've got a Lucas distributor with points, your PO did the most
> common
> > form of repair for the earlier Lucas electronic unit. It may also
> have
> > been replaced with the later Lucas Electronic unit.
> >
> > If I can be of any help in sorting your Midget out, let me know.
> I've got
> > a pretty much original 1500 to compare to, and a fair bit of
> mechanical
> > knowledge. Before spending the $$$ to replace the distributor, I'd
> suggest
> > seeing what can be done with what's there.
> >
> > BTW: Yes the Mallory should work, if you want to go that way. When
> my Lucas
> > electronic unit quit, I just out in a Crane/Allison electronic unit.
>
> It's
> > been trouble-free.
> >
> > Let me know if I can be of any help.
> >
> > Chris Kotting
> > ckotting@iwaynet.net
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Michael Dietsche [SMTP:mdietsche@yahoo.com]
> > Sent: Thursday, December 04, 1997 5:45 PM
> > To: spridgets@autox.team.net
> > Subject: Distributor for 1500
> >
> > Can someone suggest an aftermarket distributor for the 1500? Does
> the
> > Mallory work? Some previous owner has installed a non-standard
> Lucas,
> > judging from the books I've looked at. Its vacuum advance is wedged
>
> > against the alternator........whoever it was performed many other
> > electrical "modifications" before apparently giving up and selling
> the
> > car. Anyway, I intend to rebuild/upgrade one system at a time, and
> > I'm curious about distributor options. Any thoughts/experiences
> would
> > be appreciated...
> >
> > Thanx -
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________
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>
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