NWratsun Posted September 1, 2017 Report Share Posted September 1, 2017 Hey guys! So I just came across a 1980 datsun 510 wagon (a10) with the z20, I'm about to redo the distribution system when I noticed that it only has 4 wires but 8 spark plugs, 4 being on each side? Did I get the car with the wrong distributor? If so what kind of distributor should I run?? Thanks in advance for your help!! Quote Link to comment
KELMO Posted September 1, 2017 Report Share Posted September 1, 2017 If you have 8 spark plugs, then you need a Dist. cap with 8 leads. It is an intake plug and exhaust plug set up. Maybe someone just tossed the wrong cap on it. If you can see the side of the body of the dizzy, see if you can fine some #'s. Maybe we can tell what it is. The series of #'s I would be looking for would start 22100-xxxxx. 1 Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 2, 2017 Report Share Posted September 2, 2017 An '80 will have 4 plugs in the head. Obviously the head was replaced with an '81 Z20E head from an S110 200sx or Z22s head from a 720 ....or the engine was swapped and the old 4 lead distributor was kept. The 4 and 8 plug distributors are totally different. You would need an 8 lead distributor and two coils plus some wiring. Don't do anything, it will run exactly the same as the 4 plug head. The '80 HL510 distributor is 22100-W8801 but possibly... 22100-W8502 1 Quote Link to comment
distributorguy Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 It runs, right? Does it run well? There's no reason to have 2 plugs working in that head. Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 Just have to set the timing for the 4-plug version. It'd run a bit more efficient/cleaner with all 8 plugs firing, but that's about it. Some '80 Z20S engines had 8 plugs- for California emissions. But if it has the 4-plug distributor and only one coil, the head (or engine) got swapped at some point. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 It was designed to run with either. If you have the four plug distributor just use it on the intake side plugs. Make sure you time it for the four plug head probably 8 to 10 BTDC? The exhaust side plugs will get hot and may become ignition points so if you should find it pings a lot remove them and block with bolts with the same thread. Quote Link to comment
datsunaholic Posted September 9, 2017 Report Share Posted September 9, 2017 The book says 8 degrees +/- 2 deg. for the 4-plug head. 6 deg for the 8 plug. I ran 12 degrees on my '80, which is what the L20B ran. Quote Link to comment
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