International Lancia Forums

Sorry to bombard the forum with questions (if the replies weren't so helpful I wouldn't bother)!
There is actually a reason behind all this: my usual non-Lancia "daily driver" has given up the ghost, or at least reached the point where it's no longer economical to fix. This means that from a life of leisure doing only a couple of thousand miles per year my Lancia has been brutally put into service for a 90 mile per day commuting routine, so all those little niggles that could be attended to gradually when time permitted have now become more urgent, as I need to be able to rely on this car. So to my next question...!

I'd like to get out of the Flint Age and swop my points for an electronic ignition system. Since there seem to be at least three alternatives here, I'd be interested to hear what advice forum members can give on the various options. I have a block-mounted single-point Marelli distributor with the centrifugal advance mechanism on top. Don't have the model number in front of me but could get it if necessary. Oh, and the car is an 1800 coupe.

1. Use the Marelli system fitted to all (most?) Betas post-'79.
As I understand it, I would need the distributor from a '79+ car, as well as the ignition module and coil. Are there different variants of this system, or can I be fairly confident that any Beta system will work?
How does this compare to the aftermarket systems? Would all these components have to be second-hand? My car has relatively low mileage, so I'm wondering whether it's wise to swop my distributor for a second-hand one which is likely to be more worn.

2. Aftermarket magnetic pick-up conversion (Lumenition Magnetronic / Pertronix Ignitor etc.)
The advantage of these systems seems to be that they use the original distributor and have no separate ignition module outside the distributor unit. Not sure my existing Bosch blue coil would be compatible though.

3. Aftermarket optical pick-up system (Lumenition Optronic / Crane etc.)
Are these worth the extra money for a car that isn't going to be raced? More reliable, perhaps? They seem to be compatible with my original coil (although a higher performance coil is usually recommended).

Finally, I believe that my old Veglia rev counter may not work with some of these systems. Is that because of the coils they use?

Hoping to be an expert some day..
Andy

Andy,
I do a similar mileage in my Volumex every day... it's a real hardship!!

I have previously owned an HPE and a Spyder with the early Marelli points dizzy (both were 2 Litres) and converted them both to run the later type Bosch dizzy and ignition system. I'm not sure how this would work on an 1800 simply because there aren't many (if any?) left in the UK, but I would imagine that an 1800 face lift model was available and therefore the later type dizzy?
It's easy to do, it's cost efficient as there's plenty of them around plus the workshop manual covers the system so in my book it's a worthwhile exercise without forsaking originality (too much) or practicality.
It's also an awful lot easier to work on than those damn points.... hateful!

Dunno why I didn't think of Bosch. It would be much easier to find parts, and my owner's manual even lists a Bosch points distributor (JFR4 R) as an alternative to the Marelli. But...
As far as I know, the 1800 engine was dropped when the first face lift models were introduced (mid-1975?), so I doubt whether there was ever an 1800 model with electronic ignition. Does this mean that the distributors from later models (1300, 1600 & 2000) would not be suitable (different advance curves?)?. My understanding of distributors is limited, but I would imagine that the advance mechanisms (mechanical or vacuum) were calibrated differently for each engine size.

Andy

PS. Hamish, you saw through my feigned disappointment at HAVING to use this car constantly..!
At least I won't have to agonize about whether to store it for winter this year - ain't got no choice now.

Hi Andy
I've got a couple of complete Bosch electronic ignition systems, one is 1600 with vacuum advance as well as centrifugal the other is for 2000 which is centrifugal only.the curves for the dissys are the same, the vacuum is in addition but why the 1600 needs vac I dont know. All the electronic dissys have a max advance of 24 degrees, the points dissys go to 28 degs why the difference I don't know I would think that the 2000 setup was probably best. yours for 20 quid + post let me know if you are interested. I'm away quite a bit this weekend but I'll look out for any emails etc.when I can. I think I also have a coil - don't think the Bosch blue coil is suitable.

Betas are great commutermobiles I was travelling from south Hertfordshire to Bristol every day in my old '76 1600 coupe never missed a beat - until some drunk stuffed it up the rear on the M25 still drove it home afterwards. (few years ago now before I moved to Wales) Happy days!
If you need any more info I have some Lancia manuals not for all years Haynes is quite good for the older Betas.

I just checked they all end up with a maximum advance of 28 degrees the 1600 is checked with the vac disconnected.

Hi Andy:

I realize that my oddball U.S. variant Beta may not always be a good example of how the Euro spec cars will run, but I found the Marelli electronic distributor to be a major weakness on my fuel-injected car. What kept happening every two years or so was that the insulation on the pickup wire would burn through and then the wire would short out on the distributor body. The car would either stop entirely or starting cutting out very badly. Not a nice experience on the freeway and not very kind, I wouldn't think, to the timing belt. That component seriously compromised the reliability of the car. I swapped it with a Bosch distributor from a fuel injected X1/9. Probably not quite the right advance curve, but now she runs without uncertainty. I don't know if the Euro spec electronic Marelli is similar but if so, avoid it at all costs.

Hi Keith

I am looking to convert my points system on 77 2l coupe on to the electronic, can you please let me know if you have system for sale with all attachments, I would dearly appreciate assistance.
I have exhaust mounted distributor.

Reason is that I have to change burned points every 3-4 months, I nor auto electric could not find out why.

You can use my work email.


Regards
Peter

Hi
The Bosch electronic systems I have are auxiliary shaft driven - on side of block - not exhaust camshaft driven, I think the cam driven ones are all Marelli (for Betas) Marelli electronic distributors have a reputation for crumbling insulation on the sensor wires, my Y10 has suffered, although I had no problem with my Volumex. Some cars have a reputation for burning out points for obscure reasons, if the capacitor is OK try a different coil, this sometimes does the trick.

Thanks Keith

Mine is exhaust driven, if anyone have a spare elec. ignition setup, let me know.
I use Bosch GT 40 coil, I think that my points are burning because of that coil. I can't part myself with that coil since it really makes big difference in the car.


Regards
Peter

Hmmm,
Could be a problem here. If I'm right the exhaust cam driven dizzy is different on the US spec engines. If I recall it's mounted on top of the engine.
If it's of interest I'm selling off a complete VX camshaft in the carrier with dizzy attached. I don't think any UK cars came with the 'on top' style dizzy' or does anyone know better?