Distributor rotation ???? E21 320i

[trangieboy]

The rotor button in the dizzy in my `77 E21 parts car rotates clockwise.Is this the same as a 2002 ? real OEM lists the same part numbers up to 7/77 as the earlier cars.Maybe it`s after 7/77 that the dizzy rotates the opposite direction ? My parts car has the early mechanical type EFI and a points dizzy.

Mal.

[DB]

I understand that M10s after September 1980 or there abouts that had the anticlockwise distributor.

[Gil]

You'd also have to use a 320i cam if using a 320i distributor. You can swap shaft parts AFAIK to get around this, but you have to make sure the shaft turns in the correct direction, otherwise oil will be drawn up and out of the distributor. Some have used the 320i dizzy to get the electronic ignition(later models). I thought all E21 dizzies turn in the same direction?

Gil

73 02

[Bill_Riblett]

Gil, 77-79 E21 320i engines are basically like 75-6 2002 engines except that they have CIS fuel injection. The cams are the same and the distributors work the same. One exception is that there is no provision to run a mechanical fuel pump.

The 80-83 E21 engines have different cams and distributors that run the opposite direction.

[Harv]

Basicly it's the 1.8l M10 that spinst the dizzy the other way.

John

[trangieboy]

Thanks for the info guys.I will try my full mechanical ti dizzy in the engine one of these days and see if that makes any difference.The dizzy in the e21 seems to get too much advance at mid revs and wants to ping,retarding it so that it no longer pings kills the low end.Maybe the advance springs are weak ??

Mal.