Ea81 distributor issues
Ea81 distributor issues
Having de ja vu with my 82 coupe after lots of tuning ignition and problems with my 83 wagon a few years ago. misfire/hesitation, poor idle, knocking etc. Timing jumps from the factory spec 6 degrees to 10 at random.
All consumable ignition compnents that can be replaced have been. Ran like a dream for 2500 kms of my trip to mt isa, now quickly degenerating.
Quick swap to new points solved the problem for half a day. Third set of brand new points a day later changed nothing.
I suspect worn disty bushing, curios to know what others have done to fix them. Or if it could be something else.
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All consumable ignition compnents that can be replaced have been. Ran like a dream for 2500 kms of my trip to mt isa, now quickly degenerating.
Quick swap to new points solved the problem for half a day. Third set of brand new points a day later changed nothing.
I suspect worn disty bushing, curios to know what others have done to fix them. Or if it could be something else.
Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 2
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- steptoe
- Master Member
- Posts: 11582
- Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: 14 miles outside Gotham City
change points gap changes timing so if block wears down or the contacts pit you get a change and don't ask me which way, not done this in years. Though think if gap reduces timing retards rather than go the other way.
If your setting goes from 6 to 10 does it go back to 6 again. You also need to be mindful of the idle speed when checking - needs to be same to get correct readings.
Good excuse to go for electronic.
Old rule of thumb was if change points also change condensor to be on safe side
Are points contacts ashing up grey or maybe yellow ??
If your setting goes from 6 to 10 does it go back to 6 again. You also need to be mindful of the idle speed when checking - needs to be same to get correct readings.
Good excuse to go for electronic.
Old rule of thumb was if change points also change condensor to be on safe side
Are points contacts ashing up grey or maybe yellow ??
- Silverbullet
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2920
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:20 pm
- Location: Adelaide
Obvious question but did you disconnect and plug the vac advance line when checking the timing? Something I've forgotten before but wouldn't help your issue. Also does ignition coil fall under consumables? I had some very strange gremlins with misfiring, changed coil and all was fixed.
Will it ever end!?
-EA81 TWIN CARB!!!!
-L series 5 speed
-Custom paint job
-2" lift
-Full custom re-wire
-L series front end

-EA81 TWIN CARB!!!!
-L series 5 speed
-Custom paint job
-2" lift
-Full custom re-wire
-L series front end

Point are fouling up with grey shit. I haven't changed any condensers, i noticed there's 1 on the disty and 1 on the coil. Do both? So when i said all consumables i meant minus condensors and coil
Is a condenser a condensor, or are there different types/ratings?
Timing set at 800rpm, with vac advance blocked off.. Timing is erretically jumping around, back and forth between 6 and 10btdc, probably worse now. Hard to set now it jumps, i haven't changed the timing since it started doing that.
I have a dwell meter, what dwell angle should i be setting for? Only got points gap info.
Found fly guys choosing points over electronic and talking about 200 hours reliable flight without adjustment.
What coil should i buy? Gt40r and gt40 both chewed through point when i tried them on my wagon. Ended up going optical ignition on that car with succes. This machine is so unmolested though so i'd much prefer a stock looking solution.
Do the ea81 electronic dist wear bushes aswell? Put off sourcing second hand if it could also be worn. I am aware you can replace the module jigger in it.
Worn dist bushes seems a common problem, probsbly resulted in a few cars been sent to the wreckers.
Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 2

Timing set at 800rpm, with vac advance blocked off.. Timing is erretically jumping around, back and forth between 6 and 10btdc, probably worse now. Hard to set now it jumps, i haven't changed the timing since it started doing that.
I have a dwell meter, what dwell angle should i be setting for? Only got points gap info.
Found fly guys choosing points over electronic and talking about 200 hours reliable flight without adjustment.
What coil should i buy? Gt40r and gt40 both chewed through point when i tried them on my wagon. Ended up going optical ignition on that car with succes. This machine is so unmolested though so i'd much prefer a stock looking solution.
Do the ea81 electronic dist wear bushes aswell? Put off sourcing second hand if it could also be worn. I am aware you can replace the module jigger in it.
Worn dist bushes seems a common problem, probsbly resulted in a few cars been sent to the wreckers.
Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk 2
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Had another look over things. Almost 2mm play in points due to worn dist bushes. Was solid 3000km ago, just glad it got me to mt isa. Reman electronic unit coming in the mail, along with bosch coil that is a close match for the fact unit for the elect. dist.
Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk
Sent from my GT-I9100T using Tapatalk
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- Silverbullet
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2920
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:20 pm
- Location: Adelaide
If it's points based ignition with a ballast resistor (white block on the coil) you need the GT40R (R for resistor) if you're swapping to electronic I don't think they have a resistor so you just use the GT40.
Will it ever end!?
-EA81 TWIN CARB!!!!
-L series 5 speed
-Custom paint job
-2" lift
-Full custom re-wire
-L series front end

-EA81 TWIN CARB!!!!
-L series 5 speed
-Custom paint job
-2" lift
-Full custom re-wire
-L series front end

- El_Freddo
- Master Member
- Posts: 12626
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:00 am
- Location: Bridgewater Vic
- Contact:
Glad it got you to Mt Isa! The new electronic unit is a drop in set and forget? I hope this is the only issue you have with it! Cruisie and comfy ride otherwise?Venom wrote:Had another look over things. Almost 2mm play in points due to worn dist bushes. Was solid 3000km ago, just glad it got me to mt isa. Reman electronic unit coming in the mail, along with bosch coil that is a close match for the fact unit for the elect. dist.
Cheers
Bennie
The little coupe is a great cruiser. Ea81 seats are comfy.
Recieved a distributor in the mail. Electronic type number 429878110 stamped on it. Do these use the same rotor and cap as points type or is it different?
There are 2 terminals on the ignition module. I beleive these connect straight to the coil? 1 to +, 1 to -. But which on the module is +/-? Not labelled.
Any help appreciated.
Recieved a distributor in the mail. Electronic type number 429878110 stamped on it. Do these use the same rotor and cap as points type or is it different?
There are 2 terminals on the ignition module. I beleive these connect straight to the coil? 1 to +, 1 to -. But which on the module is +/-? Not labelled.
Any help appreciated.
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