Distributor Vacuum Advance/Retard

[philotterburn]

Hi to all, I am doing a LHD to RHD conversion on my series 2 4.2L FHC. It is a USA import with twin Stromberg carburettors & a non functional air conditioning unit. I have stripped off both items from my car & am fitting triple SU carburettors/manifold. I have removed the distributor & find it is model 41322B with vacuum RETARD as opposed to the UK spec. car which has model 41060A with vacuum ADVANCE. I read on the forum that the vacuum retard is associated with the USA emission control thermal device. When triple SU's are fitted is it better to change to the standard distributer with the vacuum advance connected to the carburettor inlet manifold? Thanks Phil

[PeterCrespin]

It is essential to use the S1 vac advance distributor with the triple carbs and vacuum port on the front carb (not manifold). Nice upgrade but many forget to include the dizzy change and only get part of the benefit. Of course you should use the S1 timing figure as your starting point also, although with modern fuels it is still best to time the car empirically or by strobe at full advance.

Pete

[fandeland]

There was a very complete article on this conversion a months ago in the e-type club magazine.
This is an essential upgrade in my view. I have a similar car than yours and I'm switching to a European XJ S1 setup for now. While rebuilding my engine, I'm making provision for an EDIS+mega jolt upgrade.

[philotterburn]

Thanks for the comments guys, I have found a correct distributor with advance vacuum in my box of spares I got from an auto jumble, I will fit this as I rebuild the car & see how it goes. Just recovered the dash board top this morning with Expand Vinyl from Woolies UK, the old vinyl had gone hard & split being a USA sunshine state car, made a pretty good job of it, now to cover the left & right side front dash with the supplied vinyl which has a more course grain than the top. Getting on well with conversion Thanks Phil