Thread: V8 Camshaft

Originally Posted by aussiebushman

As suggested, I'll check the vacuum advance first and then will check if the weights are jammed but I do not want to pull apart my distributor until I know what I am likely to find.

I got a description from Stuart that the broken part mentioned by his customer was like a "helicopter blade" He named the part a "cutter", but it seems the more common name is "stabbing wheel." I did some more searching and found this article on a Volvo website and the picture certainly looks right. Mine may or may not be a "hall effect" type and I won't know until I take it apart - not something I'm anxious to do

See about half way down the article describing "hall effect" distributors - https://www.volvoclub.org.uk/faq/ElectricalIgnition.html#DoesMyCarHaveaHallorRPMSen sor

The article says the hall effect sensors were discontinued for Volvos in the late 80's but certainly may be the type used on Range Rovers up to early 90s (or changed to this type later): Replacement parts may still be available on the Internet if I can identify the right one

Unless your distributor has an aftermarket electronic ignition kit fitted, there will be no "cutter" or Hall effect pickup unit. The best thing to do with an aftermarket conversion is to dump it and fit a D1 type distributor as described by LRJim below. These have a simple magnetic pickup and a "reluctor" wheel and have an external electronic module. The module can be removed and upgraded to a Bosch 024 module on a remote heat sink away from the engine.

That's what I fitted to my V8 County and what is currently fitted to my Stage One V8.

Never had an issue with it in either one.