Fed-up Posted October 2 Report Posted October 2 So, my husband is working on a 1986 Nissan D21 pickup, carbureted, electronic distributer. In 2022 he had modified to 4 spark plugs, and removed 1 of 2 coils, unplugged cpu, and installed points distributor. He thought a bad cpu was cause for burning up electronic distributors. It ran but never smooth. Now that points distributor is bad. We are trying to figure out if what he was trying to do by modifications is feasible or should we try to go back to original equipment. Is there a way to test the cpu? This truck has been at my house way too long! Quote
datzenmike Posted October 2 Report Posted October 2 The '86 had a CAS or cam/crank angle sensor rather than a 'distributor'. It would need the 'CPU' to work properly. I would get an earlier '83-'85 EI (electronic distributor) and the drive spindle* between it and the oil pump in it, and convert back to dual coils and 8 plugs. One of these... The CAS uses a splined drive spindle that won't fit the earlier distributors. Eight plugs is way better than running 4. With 4 the timing is around 3 degrees while 8 would be 10-12 degrees. It's unknown because the Z24 was never run with only 4 plugs. Quote
craneside Posted October 3 Report Posted October 3 Fed-up said: So, my husband is working on a 1986 Nissan D21 pickup, carbureted, electronic distributer. In 2022 he had modified to 4 spark plugs, and removed 1 of 2 coils, unplugged cpu, and installed points distributor. He thought a bad cpu was cause for burning up electronic distributors. It ran but never smooth. Now that points distributor is bad. We are trying to figure out if what he was trying to do by modifications is feasible or should we try to go back to original equipment. Is there a way to test the cpu? This truck has been at my house way too long! Going back to the original ignition setup sounds less painful than stacking another conversion onto one that never ran right. A bad CPU might not be the root of it if it was eating distributors before the points swap. Quote
datzenmike Posted October 3 Report Posted October 3 The D21 original set up for the Z24i was EFI with a crank angle sensor and 2 plugs per cylinder. If converted to carburetor and the CPU disconnected I'm not sure how the ignition advance is made possible without a points distributor. Likely the points distributor is only for four plugs and why it was changed from 8 to 4. An earlier '83-'85 Z24 distributor has the needed 8 plugs and two coils, one for the intake and one for the exhaust sides. Quote
Stinky Posted Saturday at 06:15 AM Report Posted Saturday at 06:15 AM I'm running a D21 w/an '83 distributor and Holley Snipper TBI. It runs well. Do what Datzen says....that is the best remedy. 4 plugs....no way Jose Quote
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