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The Bosch blue coil came onto the market when VWs were still 6-volts. The extra coils improved the output spark and better starting and fuel economy were claimed. It was a common solution for the indifferent starting of 6-volt Type 3s in damp, misty weather. The 12-volt Type 3s were not such a problem, and don't generally need the more powerful coil, but it may overcome other ignition problems. I get good mileage on my Squareback with the original coil. Dave. UK VW Type 3&4 Club. -----Original Message----- From: jadney@vwtype3.org <jadney@vwtype3.org> To: type3@vwtype3.org <type3@vwtype3.org> Date: 19 August 1998 22:52 Subject: Re: [T3] Distributors, Mech/Vac Advance vs. 009 > The car in question: 72 Sqbk, 1600 cc 72 engine, dual WEBER carbs > w/stock linkage Current distributor: from a 76 Bus. Centrifugal/Vac. > combination advance. > > I'm looking to get a distributor more adequately designed for my T3, > and I'm at a bit of an impasse. I've been thinking of getting a > Bosch combination centrifugal/vacuum advance dist. (68-9 type 3 FI > distributor 311 905 205 L to be exact) but I just read an article > about the 009 dist. where it said that alot of people switched to > the 009 because the stock distributors didnt work properly with > their dual Weber carb setups. Any testimonials out there? It was my understanding that the 009 dist was derived from an early bus dist which people found worked well (had a steep all-mech adv curve) instead of the all vac adv dist that was the common stock part at the time (mid to late 60s.) The vac adv dist didn't work at all because there was either NO vac pickoff, or nothing suitable, on all the commonly available aftermarket carbs of that day. > Theoretically, I like the vac. advance because of the economy but I > certainly dont want to buy anything that I'm going to find out > doesn't work down the road, and I guess for simplicity's sake I'd > like to know, why NOT just get a 009? How much economy do I lose? > What makes a 009 not as good as the one I'm thinking of getting. The > 009 is so popular I have mixed feelings about it: 1) its so popular, > it must work 2) OTOH, popularity doesnt mean quality or value [in > most applications in life, popularity means neither] 3) The 009 > seems simple, and oftentimes simple is best. The economy is probably 3-5 mpg. The other advantage is that you don't have to shop around for someone who knows which cap, rotor, points, and condenser to sell you for your 009. There is a real advantage to just being able to buy the right parts for a 72 sqbk. In addition, the OE dists have very good advance curves. If you look at the Bill Fisher book you will find that the only dist with a better (steeper) curve than the two "special" dists they tested was a type 3 FI dist. Yes, the type 3 dists are expensive. Bosch has prices in the hundreds of dollars. Of course they don't sell them to a mass market. > And what the heck is this Bosch blue coil about anyway? All the VW > rags scream about the 009/Bosch blue coil ignition like its the best > thing since sliced bread; and the cost of both would be less than > the cost of the 311 905 205 L. Don't waste your money. The OE coil has enough guts to work way past your engine's redline. > Finally, say I get the 009. What do I do about the hoses that are > currentl hooked up from the vac advance to the carbs? Sure I > disconnect them, but do I plug up the vac. connection on the carbs? Plug them up. Jim - Jim Adney temporarily away from home ------------------------------------------------------------------- List info at http://www.vwtype3.org/list or mailto:help@vwtype3.org