On_3 Posted April 2, 2009 Report Share Posted April 2, 2009 dont mean to be dumb... but whats a matchbox distributor... I get the factory dual points dizzy. my 521 is running like crap and i think its the dizzy but i dont kno how to mess with that points crap!!! i wanna to switch to electric. but will someone tell me where do i connect the two wires that come from the dizzy... Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 A points distributor has a 4 lobe cam that rotates and mechanically opens and closes a set of contacts to apply and remove voltage from a coil in order to produce a high voltage spark. Points distributors, (or dizzys) will wear out the contact points from arcing within 50-200 miles if the full 12 volts are used. To reduce arcing and prolong point life to around 5,000 miles a dropping resistor is used to limit the coil voltage. This also linits it's output voltage as well. An EI or electronic ignition distributor (dizzy) uses a turning rotor that moves a small magnetic field past a sensor that uses transistors and an amplifier to fire the coil. There are no moving parts to wear out with this system. Additionally the full 12 volts can be applied to a special coil and the output voltage is much improved. With virtually no moving parts nothing wears out and there is no maintainance other that replacing cap and rotor. Two EI dizzys were used by Nissan. The early ones, known as the 'remote igniter', were used in mid '70s California vehicles and in all '78 vehicles and had the electronic parts in a cigarette pack sized box mounted in the cab, usually under the dash. In '79 and through '84 all L series motors had the 'matchbox' dizzy, which had the electronics box shrunk to the size of a ... matchbox, and mounted on the side of the distributor. Both work the same but the matchbox is neater looking. Here is the remote igniter dizzy: (the box isn't shown) http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/datzenmike/EIdizzyremoteigniter.jpg[/img]"] This is the matchbox dizzy: http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/datzenmike/EIdizzymatchbox.jpg[/img]"] Here is the outside showing the little black 'matchbox' mounted on the side of it. http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/datzenmike/Eidizzy.jpg[/img]"] Quote Link to comment
LenRobertson Posted April 3, 2009 Report Share Posted April 3, 2009 Here is the classic article on care and feeding of the matchbox: http://web.archive.org/web/20050308082501/home.att.net/~jason510/Dizzy_FAQ.htm Earlier this week, a guy I know was having problems with his '77 620 (single-point distributor) running really bad. New points didn't help. So he stuck in a matchbox dizzy from another engine, and the problem seems to be solved. Although we had several inches of snow here yesterday, so he may not have road tested the truck very much. But he said in the shop it was running great. Len Quote Link to comment
On_3 Posted April 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2009 Thanks alot!! you guys have been helpful..... I got another question though.... when i accelerate, my truck bogs down before it picks up. after it picks up, it fine... could this be a carb problem? Quote Link to comment
hang_510 Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 ^... or a fuel filter. Quote Link to comment
On_3 Posted April 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2009 ^... or a fuel filter. yah but my site glass is filled with gas where it needs to be.... could it still be the filter you think? Quote Link to comment
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