1979 Bus - Emissions Inspection update

Post by **Amskeptic** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:59 am

Vdubtech wrote:
1979westie wrote:Points filed down
Why waste your time?? Spend the $3 and replace them.

Some of us are environmental and want to get the full service life out of them. I refile points and get a good 50,000 miles + out of a set.
Colin

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:13 am

Yeah u can get a surprisingly long life out of points. After filing of course. They really work as good as new and only takes a couple minutes.
Too bad the cap and rotor is so disposible. I usually replace them once a year, in the spring.

1979westie · Post by **1979westie** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 12:57 pm

Amskeptic wrote:

Some of us are environmental and want to get the full service life out of them. I refile points and get a good 50,000 miles + out of a set.

Colin taught me to file the points if not too bad. It may only be a few bucks saved, but why waste the money and an otherwise useable part?

Flower Child

Post by **Amskeptic** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:46 pm

hambone wrote:Yeah u can get a surprisingly long life out of points. After filing of course. They really work as good as new and only takes a couple minutes.
Too bad the cap and rotor is so disposible. I usually replace them once a year, in the spring.

I replace them at engine overhaul time only. . . except the rotor, it's an original rpm-limiting rotor that, after a half a million miles, has a pretty big dent where the distributor cap's brush has been pressing down on it since I was 19 years old, and it no longer has much brass on the working end of it, too much filing I guess.
Colin

1979westie · Post by **1979westie** » Wed May 06, 2009 6:52 pm

Round 2: Knockout!

I gave the bus a full service yesterday (oil, plugs, cap + rotor, points, reset the lifters, timing) and guess what. The bus passed with flying colors. My previous CO reading of 3.18 (3.00 is standard in NJ) is now a 2.70. It's amazing how sensitive these engines can be to simple tune ups (or lack thereof). It runs so much better, smoother, and more powerful. I'm going to make it a point to do more frequent maintenance. It's a fun way to kill a few hours and immensely satisfying.

Post by **Amskeptic** » Wed May 06, 2009 8:28 pm

1979westie wrote:Round 2: Knockout!

I gave the bus a full service yesterday (oil, plugs, cap + rotor, points, reset the lifters, timing) and guess what. The bus passed with flying colors. My previous CO reading of 3.18 (3.00 is standard in NJ) is now a 2.70. It's amazing how sensitive these engines can be to simple tune ups (or lack thereof). It runs so much better, smoother, and more powerful. I'm going to make it a point to do more frequent maintenance. It's a fun way to kill a few hours and immensely satisfying.

Congratz. VWs do repay you for your attentive ministrations.
Colin

Gypsie · Post by **Gypsie** » Fri May 08, 2009 2:41 pm

1979westie wrote:I'm going to make it a point to do more frequent maintenance. It's a fun way to kill a few hours and immensely satisfying.

....And the people said 'ohhhhhhm...."

airkooledchris · Post by **airkooledchris** » Fri May 22, 2009 10:25 pm

i had no idea you could get that kind of usage out of a set of points and rotor, that's just crazy. I go through points like they are going out of style, in comparison anyway.

dang.

im actually suprised to hear so many are still using them, as I figured everyone else already switched over to electronic ignition by now.

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Itinerant Air-Cooled

1979 Bus - Emissions Inspection update