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1979 mgb distributor

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1979 mgb distributor
#1
Tradereds Ed Osborne
Greer, SC, USA   USA
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Getting into this 79 model and it appears the p.o. had installed what looks like a 25D dizzy. I purchased cap and rotor but see they won't begin to fit correctly. Is the any value addind reasons for swapping in an older style disttibutor? Thanks for input.

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Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#2
JuancarlosMGB Avatar
JuancarlosMGB Juan Carlos Perez Velasquez
Madrid, Madrid, Spain   ESP
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1974 MG MGB "Carol"
The 25D distributor is more reliable than the later electronic one; besides you can find all the parts you need for a 25D system. By the contrary, getting some parts for a later system could be somewhat difficult and more expensive (the electronic amplifier, for instance).

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Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#3
Crownvicjohn Avatar
Crownvicjohn Silver Member John P
Wolcott, CT, USA   USA
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1980 MG MGB Limited Edition (LE) "The Roadster"
2011 Ford Crown Victoria "The Vic"
If you asked for a cap and rotor for a 1979 B they would have given you parts for a 45D. That might be why they won't fit your 25D. If you do a search on distributors on the MGB & GT forums you will find a lot of opinions to read. I'm 2 and a half years into my B and I still don't know what I want for a distributor. Most of all have fun with it. That's what you got it for right?

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Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#4
Tradereds Ed Osborne
Greer, SC, USA   USA
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Thanks for the info and yes the parts are for a 45 model dizzy, from the feedback I have gotten the p.o. must have put the older 25D in for better reliability. Half the battle is figuring out what someone else has done...the other half is spending what you need on the project wit out your wife finding out...! =:-)=

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Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#5
isimpson Avatar
isimpson Ian Simpson
Sherwood Park, AB, Canada   CAN
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1928 Ford Model A
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
1975 MG MGB "Poppa's Red Car"
In reply to # 2857504 by Tradereds Thanks for the info and yes the parts are for a 45 model dizzy, from the feedback I have gotten the p.o. must have put the older 25D in for better reliability. Half the battle is figuring out what someone else has done...the other half is spending what you need on the project wit out your wife finding out...! =:-)=

Found a solution to the wife problem. Let her buy her own car and then match her dollar for dollar on the spend.

Ian

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Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#6
ltcouchphd Avatar
ltcouchphd Thom C
Boise, ID, USA   USA
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1980 MG MGB Limited Edition (LE) "Trix"
For God's sake don't let her put Hello Kitty seat covers in your MG! I had to tell my SO they were stolen by car jackers.


T


As my momma used to say to me "if you are so smart why aint you rich?".

Semper ubi sub ubi

1980 MGB-LE Daily Driver (a work in progress)
ZS Carb
Pertronix ignition
Vintage Air electric heater valve
Mgccars 110 amp alternator
Non-OD Transmission
really really really bad paint job

1971 MGB Bedouin
Newly rebuilt motor w/ Weber DGV carb
New Clutch
New Brakes
New Clutch hydraulics

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Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#7
Tradereds Ed Osborne
Greer, SC, USA   USA
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No hello kitty, no daisy's on the hood!!! Ordered correct parts from Moss and will try to wake this thing up before I tear it down.

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Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#8
Gerry Avatar
Gerry Gerry Masterman
Prairieville, LA, USA   USA
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Back in the day it was not uncommon to swap dizzies with earlier versions when the electronic ignition went south. That combined with the fact that there were some versions of late versions of either 25D or 45D that needed different caps and rotors. I don't remember the details, just remember reading about it somewhere. Best bet would be to contact Jeff S(can't begin to spell it;o)for your distributor needs

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about 6 years and 9 months later...
Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#9
Rodster2445 Avatar
Rodster2445 Rodney Horn
Henderson, KY, USA   USA
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Hey Rod here. I bought a couple of mgb's . One for parts and one to fix. I perfer electronic ignition and the 79 has had at some point had the point's distributor installed. I saw the Pertronix ignition system and you can get the electronic dist or just the conversion kit. I have play in my dist. shaft. The conversion kit says that wont affect it however im not wanting to spend almost as much . Anyone used this system and can I ?get some recomendations

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Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#10
carlos2112 Avatar
carlos2112 Carl Fr
Blaine, MN, USA   USA
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1972 MG MGB GT
In reply to # 4400541 by Rodster2445 Hey Rod here. I bought a couple of mgb's . One for parts and one to fix. I perfer electronic ignition and the 79 has had at some point had the point's distributor installed. I saw the Pertronix ignition system and you can get the electronic dist or just the conversion kit. I have play in my dist. shaft. The conversion kit says that wont affect it however im not wanting to spend almost as much . Anyone used this system and can I ?get some recomendations

Yes, I fitted a Pertronix "Flamethrower" distributor and had significant wobble in the shaft after 500 miles. Piece of trash. Now I have a rebuilt, custom-curved 25D from Jeff S. It's the cat's meow. When I brought the Pertronix Flamethrower issue up with Jeff, he said he'd seen the same from others. His opinion was that the Chinese cast aluminum is pretty decent, so nothing wrong with that part of the Pertronix, but the bearings are garbage. He offered to re-bearing mine but I said forget it, just get me a good 25D.


After being cut for the 9th time, I stopped using Occam's Razor.

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Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#11
Rodster2445 Avatar
Rodster2445 Rodney Horn
Henderson, KY, USA   USA
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Thanks for the response to my question. Now i have another. I saw on ebay a 45d electronic ignition distributor that has a coil with it. I dont know if the 45d will interchange with the 25d setup. I ordered it and canceled the order after i got the protronix review from you. There is a True Spark 45d with Lucas coil being sold on Ebay. Is that a good replacement or should i try just to send my distributor off and have it rebuilt. Whats the consensus. I perfer electronic ignition over points. Is the True Spark just as poor quality as the Protronix? Should I just have the bushing replaced in my old distributor and put a Protronix stator and hall sensor type setup in? I am undecided and as most of us do not want to waste money by experimenting. Thanks Rod

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about 1 month and 5 hours later...
Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#12
Rodster2445 Avatar
Rodster2445 Rodney Horn
Henderson, KY, USA   USA
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In reply to # 4400849 by Rodster2445 Thanks for the response to my question. Now i have another. I saw on ebay a 45d electronic ignition distributor that has a coil with it. I dont know if the 45d will interchange with the 25d setup. I ordered it and canceled the order after i got the protronix review from you. There is a True Spark 45d with Lucas coil being sold on Ebay. Is that a good replacement or should i try just to send my distributor off and have it rebuilt. Whats the consensus. I perfer electronic ignition over points. Is the True Spark just as poor quality as the Protronix? Should I just have the bushing replaced in my old distributor and put a Protronix stator and hall sensor type setup in? I am undecided and as most of us do not want to waste money by experimenting. Thanks Rod

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Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#13
Rodster2445 Avatar
Rodster2445 Rodney Horn
Henderson, KY, USA   USA
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In reply to # 4400541 by Rodster2445 Hey Rod here. I bought a couple of mgb's . One for parts and one to fix. I perfer electronic ignition and the 79 has had at some point had the point's distributor installed. I saw the Pertronix ignition system and you can get the electronic dist or just the conversion kit. I have play in my dist. shaft. The conversion kit says that wont affect it however im not wanting to spend almost as much . Anyone used this system and can I ?get some recomendations

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Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#14
allanreeling Avatar
allanreeling Allan R
Randlay, Telford, Shropshire, UK   GBR
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1970 MG MGB V8 Conversion
1973 MG MGB GT V8
If you can find one, get a Lucas 45DM4 distributor and it's AB14 amplifier. The latter contains the cheapish and easily obtainable GM 4 pin module.
You get to use a low resistance coil which gives massive spark energy and the two together give decent dwell control.
They often come up on Ebay for reasonable money because people don't know what they have, or understand them and chuck them out.
Both my V8's use the 35DM8 (8 cylinder version of the 45DM4) with the AB14, and until the widespread adopting of ECU's, RR, Jaguar, Bentley as well as others, used the combination.
It's clever AND reliable, just needing a good grounding and a reasonable cool spot to sit!


soonerv8
Do it right, do it once!


Attachments:
A830079B-45A7-4EA6-A4B3-2F82180B6563.jpeg    56.1 KB
A830079B-45A7-4EA6-A4B3-2F82180B6563.jpeg

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Re: 1979 mgb distributor
#15
MGBGM1977 Avatar
MGBGM1977 Anthony Piper
Heaven in the woods, FL, USA   USA
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1974 MG MGB
1977 MG MGB V6 Conversion
You really don't even need the amplifier. Get the distributor, a GM 4pin module and a coil with less than 1 ohm. Mount the module to a chunk of aluminum with some heat paste and your set.


Attachments:
4Pin.jpg    22 KB
4Pin.jpg

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