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Differences between 6.9 distributors

Started by raueda1, 14 March 2020, 11:31 AM

raueda1

As I prepare to reassemble my poor car I've got a chance to utilize the best out of the original and my parts car.  The distributor is a case in point.  I rebuilt the original per this thread https://forum.w116.org/mechanicals/6-9-distributor-fixes/msg139308/#msg139308.  Since I've got a spare I can examine each and put together the best of both.  I'd be looking at stuff like shaft play and wear on the internal bits, spring stretch etc.  But there are a couple issues & questions.

The original dist is presumably the euro model (P/N 0 237 404 004, TGFUD 8 ).  The unit from the parts car, a USA model, is identical.  However, at some point somebody here commented that the euro and USA units are not the same and that the cables are different colors too.  So, either that's wrong or maybe they changed things on later models (mine are out of 1976 and 1977 cars).  Can anybody comment?

Then, any ideas on identifying the best internal parts?  Of particular interest are the advance springs.  I don't know if they stretch over time and I don't have a spring test gauge (if that's what it's called). 

Is this a worthwhile exercise or am I overthinking it?  Hope everybody is managing their way through the corona chaos.  Thanks as always and cheers,
-Dave
Now:  1976 6.9 Euro, 2015 GL550
Before that:  1966 230S, 1964 220SE coupe, 1977 Carrera 3.0

rumb

Thread hijack in progress........

'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

raueda1

-Dave
Now:  1976 6.9 Euro, 2015 GL550
Before that:  1966 230S, 1964 220SE coupe, 1977 Carrera 3.0

UTn_boy

The U.S. and Euro distributors are different....they have different advance curves.  Then again, the Euro vs. U.S. engines also have different camshafts, pistons, compression ratios, warm up regulators.  All of that in mind, make sure you use the proper distributor for the engine you're using.  Yes, either will fit and allow the engine to run ok, but not at it's optimum best. 

If the U.S. parts car you have has the same distributor as your Euro versions then someone has swapped the distributor in one of them over the years.  Each should have a completely different part number.  When I get home I'll look to see what version you currently have. 

Years ago I tried putting a Euro distributor in a U.S. car for the fin of it.  The engine had no noticeable power increase, and it pre-detonated from half throttle onward.  I tried the same thing on a standard 450sel, and the same crappy results are all that happened. 
1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

TJ 450

I get the knocking/ detonation under load. I have cleaned and lubricated the advance mechanism to no avail.

It would also be interesting to know the specific part numbers and whether or not stretched springs are an issue.


Tim
1976 450SEL 6.9 1432
1969 300SEL 6.3 1394
2003 ML500

UTn_boy

Here is what the 1976 and 1977 literature says.  I'm assuming that the numbers are respective to the word order in which Mercedes uses.  It looks like you have the corect distributor in your Euro version.  I hope this picture is easily viewed.  Lately, when I take a picture in panoramic mode it comes out really small.  Not sure what's going on. 
1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

UTn_boy

Well, that past picture is absolutely illegible.  So since both books say the same thing here is a better picture of one of the pages. 

1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

raueda1

Well, for sure my euro engine is the 100.985 and had corresponding 237_404_004 distributor per chart (Euro, standard compression) when I got it.  I have good confidence that this is right and that the other one was stuck in the USA car for reasons we'll never know. Wonder why?  I did briefly drive the parts car and it seemed to run OK, but it was just low speed, city driving cause suspension was rock hard.   [Probably unrelated but interesting, after purchase the dealer installed a high altitude WUR in the USA car.  Sooner or later I'll get to playing with that.  There can't be many of those around.]

Anyway, this at least gives me confidence that I can closely evaluate them and take the best of both.  Thanks for the info!  A great help, as always.  Cheers,
-Dave
Now:  1976 6.9 Euro, 2015 GL550
Before that:  1966 230S, 1964 220SE coupe, 1977 Carrera 3.0

john erbe

I've always had a Euro distributor on my '78 domestic and runs fine and yes, as I was informed by a knowledgeable mechanic, they have a green lead. Domestics have black lead. Also of note, a couple of years back I took car to dealership for alignment and was told by shop foreman that there is/was a recall on the distributor. I assumed that he had just checked for recalls based on the VIN. Doubt he actually checked the distributor. I declined the free replacement not wanting to lose the advanced timing.