Ignition again !!
 

I have been thinking of fitting a 123 dizzy for a while, but as i finally got the Amazon ( 1.8 ) running well again after resetting the points i did not see it as top of my list...until today.
Even if i don't use the car i always try to start it once a week and run it up and down the drive. Started fine today, drove it out of the garage as it warmed up choke fully off and it was running fine.
Then all of a sudden it went very very lumpy, it was ticking over but once i touched the throttle it felt terrible like firing on 2 or 3.
Drove it back in the garage, changed the the coil, checked all the leads, points gap and condition and connections, but no better, removed air filter and could see down the Zenith carb, no sign of flooding or leaks and fuel filter looks clean...stumped!
The all of a sudden it returned to normal. Revving clean and lovely tick over.
An hour later I decided to try it on the road again started fine, and it pulled away clean, did a run of about 25 miles and it felt perfect until I got about half a mile from the house and i had to pull over as the fault returned.
Kept the engine running, lifted the bonnet again did a visual check, pushed all the plug leads etc but still no better, then all of a sudden it returned back to normal, got back it and drove the last half mile up two steep hills with no problem at all.....I'm totally at a lose on where to start as again it sounds and runs fine....
Any ideas remembering this fault comes and goes very very quick...

I had a similar problem several years ago, which turned out to be a new condenser that was duff. Put an old one on and it was fine.

Be prepared to carry a few spares in your tool kit. This is the reason I changed to 123 in my PV and 144. Don't regret it for one second.

Thanks , I think your so right, ill be ordering a 123 next week as im getting fed up with the ignition as it is. I don't think the modern points and condensers are as good these days, seem to be forever resetting and changing bits. I want to enjoy driving the car not wondering when its next going to play up.
Will get a Bosch coil to match.

The odds of your coil being duff are low. If yours is the one connected by armor cable then that needs to be modified. Change dizy first and see how it goes..

Bracpan;

I agree with Arcturus, but to a lesser extent...it does sound like an Ign issue, and those darned Condensers (china's finest!) are known for this kind of failure, so before replacing the entire Distrib for hundreds of dollars, try simply replacing the Condenser for $10! An if you are not yet familiar with the famous Armored Ign Sys on vintage Volvos, Arcturus is absolutely correct about the one-piece assembly. See also: https://www.sw-em.com/Volvo%20Igniti...rmored%20Cable

Of course, make certain the Points Bolt penetrating the Dist Housing is not loose and/or contacting the Dist body...that would be the simplest fix! See: https://www.sw-em.com/Volvo%20Igniti...ition%20System

Good Hunting!

http://www.distributordoctor.com/ for quality products:~ Bob

On a side note, if you have an inline fuel filter, check that or replace to be certain. I have seen similar issues caused by partially blocked filters which seem like ignition problems. A partial blockage can temporarily starve the carb of fuel leading to rough running.

He only deals with LUCAS ignition systems ...

Many thanks for all your help and advice and will go through them all over the next few days :regular_smile: