In search of a Dist Vacuum Advance

[deejay1272]

After all this talk about blown vacuum advances (see Weber 32/36 on '85 thread) I confirmed what I suspected: blown vac advance canister. I knew that disconnecting my vacuum advance line didn't change my timing like the FSM says it should, but I was holding out hope for some odd reason. This also explains why I'm getting a decent, but not ideal, ~25-26 mpg per tank when I should be up near ~30 to 33 mpg with the feather foot that I am known for;)

Anyway - I saw that Rock Auto sells these things for ~$52 (not including shipping). Before I go and order one, does anyone have an operational used one that they're willing to sell to me? If so, shoot me a PM and we'll work out payment.

[Petros]

These distributors are used on a number of model of carburetated Toyotas (of the same vintage), I go through the Pull-a-part and check them all out, and take the ones that are good (the majority are not). They only charge about $1.50 each, but considering their age they usually to not last long. I am holding out hope that someone recently paid a dealer to put in a new factory vac advance and than wreck their car, so I can buy it for $1.50 when it ends up in Pull-a-Partr. No such luck after four years of looking, so far.

[takza]

Still say...grind the crimp off around the outside...use Goop or RTV along with light cloth to rebuild the diaphram...use expoxy to put the housing back together? Might even use oiled leather to make a diaphram? Haven't had one apart to see if this is feasible....they probably just crack in a certain area. Be the first in your neighborhood?

[Petros]

Takza,

that is an interesting idea I have been considering. After grinding off the flange, and patching the diaphragm, I think I would try putting 5 or six small screws around the perimeter of the housing so you can disassemble it and replace it at a future date. Make it into a serviceable part. You should be able to buy suitable diaphragm material at a well equipped auto parts store, or perhaps use bicycle inner tube.

I have seen these large circular clamps used to hold turbo chargers together, they look like large hose clamps but the band is "V" shaped in cross section. If we can find a suitable size of a similar clamp, than we have a way of making these diaphragms serviceable.

Perhaps this would be a good part time business for you unemployed or retired folks on this list.