Volvo B18 distributors
 

I understand various Bosch distributors were used on the B18 range of engines. My slightly tuned ( 10:1CR and K cam,KD SU needles) B18D is fitted with Bosch VJU 4BL 33 which is away for refurbishing with Ignition Car Parts. I have opted to have it converted to electronic ignition but with some reservations. Thinking if the electronics fail your buggered! So I was wondering if any owners have found an alternative ( copy) of the Bosch types used on the B18D so that I might purchase a spare ( with points) for emergency use. VJU 4BL 33 distributors seem very scarce these days and any that come up for sale demand a premium.

What’s involved with the conversion? Can you not just remove the trigger mechanism and re fit points?
The electric units are pretty robust, do you need to go to the trouble?

Yes I think you can revert back to points should it ever be necessary. There is a magnet fitted to central spindle of the distributor ( over the cam area). Not sure how easy that would be to remove! But I have read in the past that the Bosch distributors fitted to some VW / Early Porsche models are (almost!) identical to Volvo B18 ones. Cheap copies of the VW units are available from several outlets for around £50. If this is the case then a spare distributor is not a bad option.

Is the 'electronic refit' using one of the off the shelf switching modules such as the Pertronix? If so, I would be inclined to just purchase a second switching module to have around in case the first module should fail. If the module is like the Pertronix, replacement can be done in situ by removing one or two screws and theoretically the timing would be unchanged; but, you should always check.

Pertronix modules on this side of the Atlantic are around $100 US$. That said, reliability of the modules is such that it is likely going to be something else that leaves you dead on the side of the road. However, if having a back-up plan is what it takes to ease your mind I would just go for a replacement module (has the up-side that it takes less storage space than a complete distributor).

There is another part number on the distributor which makes it easier to identify

B18D, depending on what age, most like to have a 003 or 009 distributor. 003 or 009 should be the last 3 numbers on the part number found on the distributor body casing

The parts you need for those are not very interchangeable with other cars, so spare parts (points, capacitor etc) are not widely available. Brookhouse keep all those parts.

Set up properly, they work really, REALLY well. However, they're fiddly to set up; you HAVE TO assemble the insulating washers on the bolt in the correct sequence, or the thing won't even start!

Be alert that when ordering parts, including your electronic insert there - you order the correct parts for your distributor. Just saying the distributor has been replaced at some stage in the car's life for a distributor from a single carb car (ending 026) then the points face in the completely direction inside the dist!

As far as I'm concerned, if you have an 003 or 009 dist, then it's the best set up for your engine there.

I experimented with that - sadly the VW distributors don't fit in the slot! Though the points, condensor, cap etc are the same for some cars fitted with B20A with an 077 distributor. If you're lucky and that's the case, spare parts are widely available and cheap.

B20F pointless electronic distributor a good option I believe…

‘75 240 for sure; ‘74 140/1800ES can’t remember for sure.

Electronic ignition
 

I have restored 4 Amazons in the past 3 yrs and have fitted a 123 Ignition distributor to all of them, also a rebuilt VW Beetle engine. Its very simple literally plug and play with just two wires to connect. They are programmable to the exact engine type you have and the quality is like Rolex.

Maybe this is my best move to, bite the bullet and splash out on a programmable 123 distributor. For now I am living with my electonified original Bosch unit which was rebuilt by Ignition Car Parts at considerable expense. I am running in my rebuilt engine at the moment so not able to see how distributor performs in the higher rev range. Fingers crossed all will be good for now! Thanks to all who contributed to this thread.

For what it’s worth, my two cents would be to repeat what 142 Guy had to say. I haven’t had my Pertronix in very long but it’s so easy to deal with a versus points. While I do love the idea of points, after decades of dealing with them they really are a wear item that you don’t need. Once the Pertronix is installed there’s very little that can go wrong. Having said that, yes it can fail but compared to points? Not even a contest. As they say, it’s always the points!