Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

there's loads of "essays" about advance curves etc... BUT nothing regarding something which seems to have been ignored: the "weights" (centrifugal ones) and the internal springs. these have a correlation IMO - where's this vital information!!?? sandy (17 weights and stainless steel springs: higher tensile strength than normal mild steel!) PS .......................hope to see some useful comments PPS: does anybody here also like Dizzy Gillespie?

Doing a search for "lucas tuning manual" I found these pages, which may tell you all you want to know.

http://www.jcna.com/library/tech/tech0015.html
http://www.simonlacey.com/pages_new/con ... ebuild.htm

The only link to the actual PDF file that I could find requires registration & maybe payment; it was:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/137215689/Lucas-Tuning



Springs and weights are available from the "Distributor Doctor"

http://www.distributordoctor.com/distri ... eights.htm


<later>
Ah found a copy of the PDF in clear.
http://www.simonlacey.com/pages_new/con ... tuning.pdf

thanks bill - exactly the info i didnt find! sandy

I am about to fit a Pertronix distributor-the complete distributor was only $50 more than the cost of the Pertronix kit.
Does anybody know if the advance curve for these is the original curve? According to Miles Wilkins book I should not be using the original (early) distributor with a modified engine.

Well, the Pertronix distributor arrived and it does not fit! Although the ebay listing says "for Lotus Twin Cam" the invoice that arrived with the unit states "Ford X-Flow".
You guessed it the HT leads come out of the top.
I now have an ebay dispute under way.

hi david - i am currently selling a 43D4 with the pertronics unit WHICH DOES FIT!! brand new! it was runiing in my elan for 1hr!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401317323278? ... 1555.l2649
have a nice day sandy

Can you not use the cap off your old distie?

Thanks Sandy and Bill. The Pertronix distributor is slightly larger in diameter than the Lucas so the caps do not swap over-tried that! The ebay seller responded very quickly and says he is putting the correct cap in the mail to me today-so I will be fine when that arrives. So thanks Sandy but I do not need to buy yours.

Just my thoughts . . . YMMV . . . but after spending some time reading through the two distributor companys' pages below (one in USA and one in UK), I am left with the distinct impression that the way to go is not a cheap aftermarket generic "fits many models" distributor, but rather a very care rebuild/retune of the original.

Just considering the advance curve alone, there is no way a generic distributor is going to work well on a given car. Read the pages below, and then peruse the "curve worksheet" where details about the specific engine, cams, carbs, etc. are requested before the curve can be determined, and then check out the testimonials. Very compelling when taken all together.

http://advanceddistributors.com/wordpress1/services-2/

http://www.distributordoctor.com/process.html

Regards,

Randy

Randy - thats why i put my orig. 23D (with 17? or gr. weights) back in and am selling the 43D4 sandy