1978 Fuel Distributor
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1978 Fuel Distributor
Hello all, this is my first cry for help to the forum. I searched already for a solution to my specific situation but couldn't find a post.
I have removed the fuel distributor. Removed from the distributor all thirteen torx bolts but the halves will not part. I have the correct Salvox kit to replace all O rings and diaphragm.
Has anybody here already done this job? If so, would appreciate tips on what to do next.
The reason I'm doing this is that the car was running OK until after a visit to a local independent Porsche shop recently. I've spent over $9k there in the last few months - and wanted to have a go at something myself. Those of you at the Marble Falls meet may know that my car certainly didn't hang around on the drive day!
It used to take a while to warm up, as if it might stall but once idled for two or three minutes, would run great. Driving back from Cars and Coffee last month, I almost called a tow truck since the car would bog down under acceleration. Going up hill, would barely manage walking speed but once on level ground, I found I could gently accelerate and keep up with traffic.
As for right now, how the heck do the two halves of the distributor come apart? Pics if available are most welcome.
I have removed the fuel distributor. Removed from the distributor all thirteen torx bolts but the halves will not part. I have the correct Salvox kit to replace all O rings and diaphragm.
Has anybody here already done this job? If so, would appreciate tips on what to do next.
The reason I'm doing this is that the car was running OK until after a visit to a local independent Porsche shop recently. I've spent over $9k there in the last few months - and wanted to have a go at something myself. Those of you at the Marble Falls meet may know that my car certainly didn't hang around on the drive day!
It used to take a while to warm up, as if it might stall but once idled for two or three minutes, would run great. Driving back from Cars and Coffee last month, I almost called a tow truck since the car would bog down under acceleration. Going up hill, would barely manage walking speed but once on level ground, I found I could gently accelerate and keep up with traffic.
As for right now, how the heck do the two halves of the distributor come apart? Pics if available are most welcome.
#3
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Tip #:
OPEN THE DISTRIBUTOR UPSIDE-DOWN AND CAREFULLY MATCH THE SPRINGS AND WASHERS TO THE HOLES!
The "washers" are really shims to compensate for the irregularities in the holes and springs. There are 8x8x8-1 or 511 ways to get it wrong. Put back 4 banjo bolts so it'll stand firmly when upside-down.
Use a sharp razor knife to carefully pry the halves apart.
There are directions on-line for doing this for 928 and general FD rebuilding.
Tip #2: Be very careful about getting the 8 interior o-rings on and are still on when pressing the halves together. When it's partial together, spy in with a flashlight and see that all 8 look about the same.
OPEN THE DISTRIBUTOR UPSIDE-DOWN AND CAREFULLY MATCH THE SPRINGS AND WASHERS TO THE HOLES!
The "washers" are really shims to compensate for the irregularities in the holes and springs. There are 8x8x8-1 or 511 ways to get it wrong. Put back 4 banjo bolts so it'll stand firmly when upside-down.
Use a sharp razor knife to carefully pry the halves apart.
There are directions on-line for doing this for 928 and general FD rebuilding.
Tip #2: Be very careful about getting the 8 interior o-rings on and are still on when pressing the halves together. When it's partial together, spy in with a flashlight and see that all 8 look about the same.
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Glen,
Thanks for your tips. I have just replaced four of the banjo bolts. Will resume this project tomorrow, paying particular attention to replace the springs and shims to their original locations. Per instructions from Salvox, I will not mess with any screw settings! I have to admit to being really nervous about this procedure though...
Thanks for your tips. I have just replaced four of the banjo bolts. Will resume this project tomorrow, paying particular attention to replace the springs and shims to their original locations. Per instructions from Salvox, I will not mess with any screw settings! I have to admit to being really nervous about this procedure though...
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Mark,
Welcome to central Texas. We have a pretty good group of owners here in the Austin / Round Rock area. We meet the second Saturday of every month for lunch - today as a matter of fact at Bone Daddys on 183 in North Austin.
I have a CIS car with 179K on her and never had the FD apart. Lots of other things in the CIS to look at. Do you have a fuel pressure gauge set? have you tested pressures? What shop did you use, TPWS?
I sent you an IM with my contact information.
Welcome to central Texas. We have a pretty good group of owners here in the Austin / Round Rock area. We meet the second Saturday of every month for lunch - today as a matter of fact at Bone Daddys on 183 in North Austin.
I have a CIS car with 179K on her and never had the FD apart. Lots of other things in the CIS to look at. Do you have a fuel pressure gauge set? have you tested pressures? What shop did you use, TPWS?
I sent you an IM with my contact information.
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Good luck with this. I had a heck of an experience with mine. Do not lose the shim washers under the springs....that was my error., but, after 5 disassembles, I find the rebuild of these quite easy now.
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Thank you all for your posts offering advice. I didn't disassemble the distributor but carefully re-installed it. The car now runs exactly as it did before, i.e. takes a couple mins to idle properly, runs great when cold yet stutters under gas when warm and manages maybe 30mph tops with ridiculously slow acceleration. Since the mixture was set up by the shop in Austin without using anything to check the exhaust emissions, I will need to have the car hauled to them on a breakdown truck. It could be coincidence that the car ran fine at high speeds before they ever touched it (it had other previous owner issues that needed attending to) but I don't know that. All I know is that before the shop, it would take a couple minutes to warm up then idle really high but run well. Since the owner of this shop guarantees his work, that will be my first stop.
BTW... I love the design of the Ferrari 400. Considered getting one in Germany a few years ago while they were still cheap...
Sorry I missed the meet up at Bone Daddy's - will be there next month for sure!
BTW... I love the design of the Ferrari 400. Considered getting one in Germany a few years ago while they were still cheap...
Sorry I missed the meet up at Bone Daddy's - will be there next month for sure!
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You likely have a control pressure regulator problem also called the "warmup regulator" it sets the mixture ALL THE TIME ! And as it goes South you can barely drive the car Back when I sold millions of dollars of 928 parts the rebuilder of fuel distributors had said that nearly 1/2 of the cores sent in as exchange ........had no problem !
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James,
I've been thinking that too. I also bought he WUR rebuild kit but haven't touched it yet. Need now to find a how-to on THAT!
Back when you sold millions of dollars of 928 parts, was ethanol in the fuel? I'm wondering how the incidences of bad running older cars may be linked to this...
I've been thinking that too. I also bought he WUR rebuild kit but haven't touched it yet. Need now to find a how-to on THAT!
Back when you sold millions of dollars of 928 parts, was ethanol in the fuel? I'm wondering how the incidences of bad running older cars may be linked to this...
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Looks like the source of the poor warm-running issue has been pinpointed. The attached pic shows my notes from today's pressure test from the WUR. The elecrical connector and vacuum lines were left in place. Pretty much no diffrence from cold start to warm running pressures except a slight rise from revving the engine a little after 5 minutes.
Thanks so much to all who replied; your nuggets of wisdom have helped me to understand something about this amazing K-Jetronic system. Special thanks and big kudos to Jim Willman who has lent me his fuel pressure tester for an indefinite but I hope short period. I see a Warm Up Regulator build in my near future, especially since I have the Salvox kit already.
Again, thanks SO MUCH guys. What an amazing 928 community we have on Rennlist!
Thanks so much to all who replied; your nuggets of wisdom have helped me to understand something about this amazing K-Jetronic system. Special thanks and big kudos to Jim Willman who has lent me his fuel pressure tester for an indefinite but I hope short period. I see a Warm Up Regulator build in my near future, especially since I have the Salvox kit already.
Again, thanks SO MUCH guys. What an amazing 928 community we have on Rennlist!