Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Good evening,

My engine has been returned from one of the major uk twin cam engine remanufactures and I noticed it is fitted with a 45DM4 distributor. Is there any advantage to this dizzy, or should I replace it with a 23 or 25 version? The engine is '66 SE spec fitted, I believe with sprint cams.

Annoying I have purchased an electric ignition module for a 25D4 which will not fit a 45DM (this is how I noticed I had the wrong distributor.......)

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Cheers.

If your original distributor was fitted when you delivered the engine to the company, I'd be telling them you want it back.....

I am afraid I did not check what dizzy was fitted before the engine was taken for refurbishment, and I did not run it. However, they are a very respected, and expensive, remanufacture, so I guess they know what they are doing. It looks new or refurbished and was fitted with a new set of points.

Has anybody else fitted a 45DM4 distributer?

It can certainly be done, as long as the springs, weights and advance limit are appropriate for the state of tune of your engine. I think your dizzy is for an MGB, but if the rebuilder properly modified/adjusted this distributor, it is quite acceptable and parts are widely available.

I bought a spare engine for my Lotus 22 Formula Jr about a year ago. Although the engine did not come w/ a distributor installed, it did come w/ a small box of new spare parts. Part of the spares was a new distributor cap for a 43/45 type distributor, 3 or 4 new red rotors and a new Pertronics ignition system and a new Pertronics rev limiter.

I plan to keep the rev limiter, but would like to trade the 43/45 particular parts for the same for type 23 or 25, since that is what I use on the FJ or also my street Elan.

You didn't mention where you are located and as shipping would be too expensive if you're on the other side of the pond.

Roger