Condensers for 1500cc engines

[Richard the old one]

I went into Partco today to purchase some Unipart Green 20- 50 oil and while I was there I thought that I would get the other items that I needed to undertake a 6000 mile service on my Daughters 1500HL as this would save having to trouble Malcolm. <br>
<br>
I did not know the Unipart number for the condenser so the young man looked it up on their system. He did make the comment while doing this that the car was old than he was. The system came up with Unipart GSC2300 but when I got home it I discovered that it would not fit unless I did a modification as the black lead that goes to the HT coil was at about 7 inches far was too short. On the Lucas condenser part number DCB112, that I have used in the past the lead is about 17 inches long.<br>
<br>
PS when I was in Halford last week I noted that they have stopped selling points and condensers so parts are getting harder to obtain.<br>


<p></p><i></i>

[DailySprinter]

I have found the quality of condensers is falling also, I think they are tending to be chinese. I had one fail completely on a Rolls Royce, nearly blew the exhaust off.<br>
<br>
I have now converted all of my cars to electronic ignition, I run a fleet of vintage cars for weddings. This has improved the running of them all. Sometimes I cheat and change Dizzy's, For example, my Austin FX3 2.2litre or old london taxi runs with an Austin Maestro 1.3 dizzy. <br>
<br>
I would recommed changing to electronic and keeping a set of points and condensers as an emergency back up.

<p></p><i></i>

[tinweevil]

Me too. I serviced the mrs mini in August, about four weeks ago is started to misfire and got progressivly worse over a fortnight until it was undrivable. Long story short - the condenser had packed up. After putting a new one on (unipart this time) it's clear that the one that died was never right from the day I put it on.<br>
<br>
In preparation for sorting this out I bought next years service kit. The points have gone back as they are no use, the pivot isn't made correctly and binds so the points don't close. This is the 2nd set I've had like that for the mini.<br>
<br>
This is the price you pay for service items being silly cheap.<br>
<br>
Tinweevil

<p>1978 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/704">Dolomite Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1972 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/754">Spitfire IV</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1968 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/705">GT6 II</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1973 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/755">Dolomite Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
39 anorak points on the Nicholas scale<br>
</p><i></i>

[Matt Cotton]

Hi Richard.<br>
<br>
I have recently fitted an electronic ignition kit and can really notice the benefit.<br>
Having chatted to Reg at a show he recommended the Aldon Ignitor <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.aldonauto.co.uk/">www.aldona ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br>
It was very easy to fit although required quite a bit of adjustment to the distributor in order to get the timing right. Malc kindly 'strobed' it for me one weekend and its now running very well.<br>
It all fits inside the dissy cap so no extra boxes etc. Costs around £70, and worth it I feel. As mentioned, keep the points etc in the boot just in case! I think they are generally reliable though!

<p></p><i></i>

[tinweevil]

Indeed. <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.aldonauto.co.uk">Aldon</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> online £117.92 for ignitor and flame thrower delivered. <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.vintageperformance.com">Vintage Performance</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> $120.65 delivered, converts to £70.17 at <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.xe.com/ucc">xe</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
<br>
If I've got the right parts of course (1500 / spitfire etc): <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.aldonauto.co.uk/shop/product ... <!--EZCODE LINK END--> and <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.aldonauto.co.uk/shop/product ... <!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
<br>
I doubt paypal / creditcard will give an exchange rate as good as the one XE use but it's still gonna be one helluva saving.<br>
<br>
Tinweevil

<p>1978 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/704">Dolomite Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1972 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/754">Spitfire IV</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1968 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/705">GT6 II</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
1973 <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.triumphowners.com/755">Dolomite Sprint</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
39 anorak points on the Nicholas scale<br>
</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... nweevil</A> at: 17/11/05 8:35 pm<br></i>

[KWM338R]

you guys should look for the pertonix ignitor in the USA. same thing as the aldon, even uses the same number, you maybe able to get it cheaper with exchange rate etc.<br>
<br>
cheers<br>
<br>
Mark

<p></p><i></i>

[Richard the old one]

Would you believe it I have just come back from the USA. I was in Rochester New York state for 18 days visiting my daughter and son in law.<br>
<br>
Mark can you provide me with detail of the part number please.<br>
<br>
I raised this topic as I wanted to warn other owners of the problem and to let Malcolm know just in case he was holding any of the Unipart items as club stock.<br>
<br>
I have found that provided I change the points every 6000 mile I have no problems but I accept by fitting electronic ignition I would save myself this task.<br>
<br>
I also obtained a couple of months ago at our local monthly triumph owners get to gether the electronic distributor from a later BL car. A Lucas 65DM4I which I was told just needed the drive to be changed over to make it suitable for a 1500cc engine. I can not remember from which car it came. I have managed to change the drive over with one from an old distributor that I had. It was not quite a simple as just knocking the pins out as the holes did not exactly line up. The holding factors are the fact that the distrutor did not come with a connecting electrical socket or the clamp ring. I was surprise to find out that the clamp ring is not the same size as the one used on the dolomite. The dolomite clamp ring needs to be filed out but I have not got around to that yet. When it comes to the electrical connector I still have to source the socket and will need to find out what connects to the three pins. <br>
<br>
Has anyone attempted this modification and if so does it work well. I was wondering about the suitability of the advance / retard curve.

<p></p><i></i>

[DailySprinter]

As to using other Dizzy's try the Austin Maestro, Metro 1275 electronic distributor. It should work fine, but you may have to alter the drive a little. I found it fitted in the block of my old 1949 Austin taxi no problem. Bet the vacuum & advances are similar last one I got from a scrappy was £2

<p></p><i></i>

[MalcGE]

Ahah, the classic catalogue failing. Some where along the line with part number supercessions the X-ref has gone a little bit adrift. The correct condenser 'long lead' is GSC2303. As 'our' cars get older the parts get dropped from more and more listings as volume drops off.<br>
<br>
Long lead condenser originally GSC118, then GSC2118 then GSC2303 and the only 'fast lookup' for that string of X-Ref's is Malc's head<br>
<br>
Parts is the game and Malc is the name <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p></p><i></i>

[Richard the old one]

I can see that I should have come to you in the first place Malcolm.<br>
<br>
Many thanks for the info<br>
<br>


<p></p><i></i>

[MalcGE]

I also meant to say that the 'short lead' condenser will work OK as the bais unit is std. I was never really sure quite why the just didn't have a longer 'slate grey and white' lead in the loom <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START : --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ohwell.gif ALT=":"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

<p></p><i></i>

[Reg]

If it is any help,Pertronix has an outlet in Camberley Surrey..if you want to cut out the p&p.

<p></p><i></i>