athenian

While cleaning the distributor cap, rotor and wires I noticed excessive dirt buildup inside two of the distributor wire caps...I took all of them off and now I don't remember the exact order in while they connect to the distributor cap.

Can someone provide me with the correct connection to the distr. cap???

What possible signs should I be looking for while probing around the plugs and distributor cap?? How often the wires, rotor and cap should be replaced??

Thanks for your time

Glenn Evans

Each post on the distributor has the cylinder number next to it (moulded onto a raised circular pad). The firing order is on your left hand camshaft housing. Cylinder numbering: No 1 is the front cylinder in the right hand bank; 2, 3 and 4 are behind it; No 5 is left front; 6, 7 and 8 are behind it.

Geniune leads are stainless steel (I'm told) and should last for many years. There is a 3 kohm resistor in the plug connector of each plug lead, and a 1 kohm resistor in the coil connector of the high tension lead.

The resistance of plug leads should be 3 kohms and the high tension lead 1 kohm. You should measure the resistance while flexing the lead. If the resistance is high, you can replace the plug connector separately. If the resistance varies when you flex the lead, replace the lead (use the existing plug connector/resistor if the resistance is OK).

You should also look at the leads, in the dark, while the engine is running. If you see arcing or spots in the leads, the insulation has had it and the lead(s) should be replaced.

IMHO, you don't need to replace the leads as a set, unless they all are defective. As far as I know, five of the plug leads on my '80 - which I've owned for over eight years - are originals, and still fine.

athenian

Thanks for the info, mate....I will follow your advise on the wires and I will replace only the ones that appear bad.

I will check the distributor more closely for those numbers...

Cheers

VK

athenian

Okay, I still can't find what I looking for yet.
Let me clarify..I don't have the distributor out of the car, just the cap and rotor are out for cleaning/inspection...There are no numbers under or on the distributor cap itself which indicate the cylider numbers...Probably the numbers are on the distributor like you say...I don't want to unscrew the distributor to find out the correct sequence.

In any case, I just need to connect the spark plug cables back on the distr. cap. What is the order of the cylinder number the cables are
connected on top the distributor cap???....(Assume that I'm standing in front of the car, hood opened, looking at the distributor which is located on my right side). Correct??

Facing the engine block, is cylider #1 on the left font side and # 5 on the right front???

Thanks again for your time.

Glenn Evans

Sorry for the confusion!! I realise now that I said that the numbers corresponding to each cylinder are on the distributor when I meant to say "distributor cap".

To provide continuity in this thread, my e-mail reply to VK is copied below.

23-Jul-01 4:31:26 AM, "Basilns ." <athenian@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Hello
>
>Thanks for your quick answer on the Rennlist Forum. I have an 83 car which
>I'm doing some work on it.
>
>However what I need I still can not find....I don't have the distributor out
>of the car, just the cap and rotor are out for cleaning...There are no
>numbers under or on the distributor cap itself...Probably the numbers are on
>the block...I don't want to unscrew the distributor to find out the
>sequence.

The numbers for each distributor cap post - on mine - are on the top of the cap itself. The firing order ("Zundfolge") is cast into the "top" face of BOTH of the camshaft
housings (think rocker covers; the "top" face is the one opposite to face which mounts to the head ie the face with "Porsche" on it). The firing order (also in your
owner's manual) is: 1-3-7-2-6-5-2-8.
>
>In any case, I just need you to trace your spark plug cables which connect
>on top of the distributor (distributor cap) and email me the order of the
>cylinder number the cables are
>connected on top the distributor cap....(Assume that I'm standing in front
>of the car, hood opened, looking at the distributor which is located on my
>right side). Correct??
>
>Facing the engine block, is cylider #1 on the left font side and # 5 on the
>right front???

Yes. #1 cylinder is on the CAR'S right hand side; on your left if you are standing at the front of the car, looking in.
The rotor rotates clockwise. The #1 post is immediately on the ANTI-CLOCKWISE side of the retaining screw/clip which is at the (car's) front of the distributor cap
when it is installed. There is a mark cut into the top of the distributor (the face against which the cap mounts) which indicates where the rotor points when #1 piston is at Top Dead Centre.
>
>Thanks for your time again...I'll post this to the forum as well just in
>case someone else has the same questions.
>
>Regards
>
>VK

I did not address when you should change the cap and rotor. Basically, if the terminals inside the cap show corrosion, if the the cap is cracked AT ALL (provides tracks
along which arcing will occur) or scratched on the inside; if the end terminal of the rotor is burnt, replace them.

Dan Bise

Depending on where his current distributor cap was sourced, he may well not have the numbers on the cap. My old distributor cap had no numbers, but the new Genuine Porsche item I replaced it with sure did.

If we can help with a picture or something, give us a shout.

Dan
'83S