What I have is a 12a out of an 83 that is replacing my seized 12a in the 84. I want to replace the 83 dizzy with the 84 dizzy. Before reading the archive I thought that the 83 was a points style while the 84 was not, however after reading I learned that 79 was the cutoff for points style. So my 83 dizzy and 84 dizzy internally should be the same. My electrical connection on the outside of the dizzy however is different between the two. On the 83 the plugs connect on the side (horizontally) of the dizzy ( both electric connections are on the same side facing the passenger side of the engine bay ) while the 84 plugs in from the top (vertically). So my questions are: Can I swap the dizzys? What do I do about the differences in connections? How do I determine if the 83 is "points"? (was a rebuild but unsure of from what company) I am just trying to make use of the parts I have to put one solid trouble free setup together while I tear down the seized motor that will eventually be built up to withstand my abuse.

 

I can't answer your 83/84 question, but I can answer the one regarding points:

If the dizzy has 2 black plastic ignitors attached to the outside, it is electronic & 81 or newer.

If you remove the cap and rotor, and the aluminum cover under the rotor, and you see two coils and a 4-pointed reluctor wheel, the dizzy is electronic.

If you see two mechanical contact sets operated by a cam in the middle, it's a "points" dizzy. The contacts are the 'points.'

 

I would say, use the dizzy that came with the motor for now. Later, after it is running right, you can swap them out if you still want to.

Both of them (if the years stated are correct) are electronic, so there should be no real advantage to swapping them out unless one is really worn out or something.



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thanks guys, i know now both dizzys are electronic. kentetsu, i was going to use the dizzy in the 83 but the plug in on the side is not the same as the 84. both are in fine condition but i know the one from the 84 is working fine and the connections match up. i would think that if both are electric it should be no different which goes in.

 

I swapped a distributor from an 83 into my 85 GS as the PO had cut the pickup wires when doing DLIDFIS. The swap was easy and the connections were exactly the same. No issues at all after I replaced a bad trailing J-109.

 

Yeah, that has me been wondering.

The only difference between first gen dizzys are the SA's to the FB's...

SA Ignitors are the same, FB's are on the dizzy.

79 are points
80 is electonic

SA = J-105's
FB = J-109's


79----------------------80---------------------------81-85
Points/105_______Electric/105__________Electric/109

 

Well now I am wondering again. I am not at home currently but when I do I will take a good look at both dizzy's and take a couple pics for you all to review. I KNOW the electrical connectors on the side of the dizzy are different between the two. Both motors were rebuilds, my 84 from Atkins and the 83 unsure of.

 

Maybe the distributor in your 83 is not the original distributor. I don't have a 1980 distributor to look at so I can't check it out.

 

An 80 dizzy doesn't have a connector or ignitors actually on the dizzy... the pickup coils inside the dizzy have a permament sheilded cable, about 2 feet long, which connects to an ignitor box on the left fenderwell. Only year with that setup.

Pics:

You can see the long blackcable hanging down in the back. No ignitors.



Connector at the end:




80 Remote ignitor box, left shock tower, next to the battery:

 

A little off the subject but..........Man, that is a BEAUTIFUL engine compartment! Great detail work, DivinDriver.

 

Now that I re-read the first post, It sounds like one distributor is missing an ignitor.

 

AGREED!! Very nice!

 

I suppose I am not sure of the ignitors that are mentioned, as far as what they look like and what to look for. I'm sure if I was looking at it I would know, but not untill tomorrow. I did wonder if maybe the plastic connector on the side of the dizzy is missing, causing me to suspect some differences between the two. Thanks all for the help, I will let you know what I find out. It is not an 80 dizzy for sure.

 

You are correct!! I just figured out what everyone is refering to with "ignitors"!!!! I am missing the ignitors on the side of the 83. Same dizzys!!! So I will be sticking the 84 dizzy in!

 

Good deal. After reading your posts a couple of times, I figured that had to be what was going on. Glad you got it all figured out.

 

Thanks DivinDriver for the quick lesson on the 1980 ignition setup. I wasn't aware of the differences since I have never owned a 1980 model. I learn something new every time I visit this forum.

 

If the dizzy with no igniters is an 80, dump it and use the other one. The 80 dizzys
don't put out as good an ignition signal as the 81-85 dizzys. My TLDFIS thread has
the details if your curious.

 

It sounds like you're all set, but if you end up needing a different dizzy let me know (I've got a couple sitting on the shelf)...

 

so far so good, but thanks for the "just in case"!!! Waiting on gaskets and such for completion. A week or so and she will be zooming thru the streets again!!!! I may be hitting you up for the ignition trick everyone is raving about after I get her on the road.