Thread: Replacement dizzy for my V8

Get a Bosch conversion from performance ignition ,they make the scorcher brand dizzy.

Originally Posted by CBinAus

The vacuum has gone on my V8 (early 84 RRC) distributor and to be honest the whole unit looks a bit old and worn as it's put in some K's
Just after some advice on what make or model would be best (and easiest) to install (probably along with the coil which also looks a bit old)

Unless there is an abundance of shaft play (sideways), the unit is easily overhauled by yourself.
The vacuum advance units are available separately.
Internally, the distributor is unlikely to have any wear issues, unless the contact arms were never ever lubricated.

If you want an "upgrade" then the later reluctor coil units are more reliable - until the reluctor coil poops itself. (can happen - rare occurrence, but warning signs inconsistent and if it does occur, unlikely to have access to spares.)

Do a search here on the bee-utey ignition module relocation, and the shaft mod - to eliminate the damage done by a stuck rotor on the dizzy shaft - all it requires is an m3 / m4 tap and appropriate small metalthread.

There are complete brand new units available from Summit racing - and they are good units. Conversely, scorcher ignitions are(were?) made locally down in the eastern suburbs (vic) and also have a good reputation for quality.

All you need to remember is that this is not specific to the rover v8 - they are common to other engines in the buick family also, so you can obtain parts from OS - if you wish to go that route. e.g.: BUICK 3.5L/215 Buick V8 - distributor KEYWORD - Free Shipping on Orders Over $109 at Summit Racing


Personally, I'd plumb for the efi dizzy, as it eliminates points, enables you to run a high energy ignition (better consistent spark) and if you use a genuine lucas cap and rotor, the consumables last a very very long time. the BIM024 module relocation exercise and a later style coil are as reliable as a distributor-ignition gets. Yes, thery do have a failure mode - and it's always heat cycle related (excessive thermal cycling and poor thermal management)

I've had the reluctor coil fail on a long trip - without any warning signs, but given that was a 30 year old part, which was subject to absurd RRC engine bay temps for the first 23 years of it's life, hardly worth making an international incident over it.

Biggest issue with the RRC are the engine bay temps - the thermal cycling and the excessive ambient temps really do cause issues with the electricals - plus the electricals themselves are the work of the prince of darkness....

Ultimately, if I had my time over, I'd have gone to a standalone ignition driver and coil on rocker cover, and eliminate the distributor head. But it's an expensive conversion, requires some planning, some machining and isn't likely to reap any benefit unless you are going to do some serious offroading. - to which I'd also state, that the standard parts are more than adequate for that task, just a little circumspect regarding longevity or 'longterm reliability' - but possible to fabricobble a get you home solution if you got stuck in the middle of nowhere (easier to get a tow in my experience, despite apparent costs)

So unless you want to buy new, or have access to a late model ignition, I'd simply overhaul what you have - or buy the scorcher locally, they seem to always have one in stock.

Just so you know - if you specifically eliminate any other compatible GM engines, the price of the Davis dizzy jumps to approx $1Kaud. so make sure you do your searching thoroughly.

At that price, you can almost buy an entire donor disco - for parts.

about 3 years ago I purchased a complete ignition upgrade kit from RPI in the UK.
Included distributor, coil, adjustable FPR and A&R ignition amp, plus leads etc.
No need to buy whole kit, as they will supply just what you want.
In spite of the fact my engine was in need of a complete overhaul, since done this year.
I fitted the kit before rebuild and noticed a significant improvement overall.
No problems in 2 years of running so far, (was off the road for nearly a year for rebuild.)
They do kits for non hotwire systems also.

Full Optimax Upgrade Kit for Hotwire EFI - ECU Remap Ignition system and FPR

Originally Posted by loanrangie

Get a Bosch conversion from performance ignition ,they make the scorcher brand dizzy.

This!

I'd done this for my '79 wayyy back in the day. Stupid Lucas quality had any RV8 dizzy fail in short time, either wearing out or electrical failure and whatnot.

I got mine from Ignition Developments, wasn't horrendously expensive, but utterly reliable. All self contained, just wire to coil and plugs and off you go without any fear of failure ever again.

I still have one left over from one of my many V8s back in those days.
The hardest part of getting them for the RV8 was always supply of the gear drive, but now with more wrecked D1s and RRs, maybe dime a dozen.

Originally Posted by AK83

This!

I'd done this for my '79 wayyy back in the day. Stupid Lucas quality had any RV8 dizzy fail in short time, either wearing out or electrical failure and whatnot.

I got mine from Ignition Developments, wasn't horrendously expensive, but utterly reliable. All self contained, just wire to coil and plugs and off you go without any fear of failure ever again.

I still have one left over from one of my many V8s back in those days.
The hardest part of getting them for the RV8 was always supply of the gear drive, but now with more wrecked D1s and RRs, maybe dime a dozen.

I still have the scorcher dizzy from my dads 84 RRC that he put in it just after he bought it new then removed when he sold it, i put it in my 81 RRC and removed it when i sold it.
Kept it to put in the P76 4.4 that i have in my shed that was going into my old 85 RRC but moved onto a TDI D1 before i got the chance to do it.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

I still have the scorcher dizzy from my dads 84 RRC that he put in it just after he bought it new then removed when he sold it, i put it in my 81 RRC and removed it when i sold it.
Kept it to put in the P76 4.4 that i have in my shed that was going into my old 85 RRC but moved onto a TDI D1 before i got the chance to do it.

That's testament to the quality of the product - a true once in a lifetime purchase.

Originally Posted by Ronski

about 3 years ago I purchased a complete ignition upgrade kit from RPI in the UK.
Included distributor, coil, adjustable FPR and A&R ignition amp, plus leads etc.
No need to buy whole kit, as they will supply just what you want.
In spite of the fact my engine was in need of a complete overhaul, since done this year.
I fitted the kit before rebuild and noticed a significant improvement overall.
No problems in 2 years of running so far, (was off the road for nearly a year for rebuild.)
They do kits for non hotwire systems also.

Full Optimax Upgrade Kit for Hotwire EFI - ECU Remap Ignition system and FPR

Wow that is expensive I'd shove an old points dizzie back in there.... and keep motoring if I couldn't find the parts. Total cost ... probably the price of a set of points (as no-one wants them .... ).

The other option for a dizzy is GM HEI.

I posted a link years ago to a thread on (now defunct) Outer Limits about someone who had simply changed the driveshaft gear (from memory) to get it to work.

These days there are HEI dizzys from the US to suit Buick motors, some of which would be a direct fit.

You'd still have spark underwater with one of those.

DL