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Electronic Ignition - 1979

Old 08-21-11, 09:33 PM
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Electronic Ignition - 1979

I have a 1979 rx7 engine 12a and I just picked up two distributers from a local junk yard. I read the naritive on how to install one in my rx7 but the ones I have do not match the ones in the article. One has a number on it which is 8341 T5T 60272 (9y21) and has a harness with a plug on the end. the other is numbered N249 T5T 60379 (4211) and has a conecting point that is in a slot in each side of the distributer 2 prongs in each one and each one goes to the magnetic pick ups. there is no unit attached to either of them which the link says to cut open and rewire the unit. The distributers were exposed to the weather for quite some time with no caps on them so the inside is rusted but they still turn and I hope to clean them up and make them function as they should. The vacume advance and trailing adjustments look just like the point setup used on my 79 rx7 so I was hopeing to swap them out when I cleaned up the electronic ones. I also grabbed the coils on the one that had them and they have the heavy black wires attached which the 79 does not. Could anyone help me out with the steps to convert one of these to work in my 79rx7? also the engine position got turned when I had the existing one out and all I could do to find the correct gear to put it in was to try each and start the engine repeating each step until I could get the timing marks to line up, is there a better way to do this if the engine is turned over after the distributor has been removed? Also any tips on cleaning up the insides of the junkyard distributors and lube the shafts? Thanks in advance but I have to be honest and let you know that I am not yet totally familer with some of the terminolgy used in this ignition so please be paitent with me. I do have a haines manual if that will help. Wally
Old 08-22-11, 07:17 PM
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http://www.mazspeed.com/ignitionswap.htm
for points ingnition
Not sure if this is the link your talking about, Helped me when I converted from points to electronic dist. As for the 2 distributors you described, I think the 2nd one is the one you want, it should have 2 little black boxes(ignitors) on each side one for T and one for L plugs, these connect to the coils. Also to time the dist correctly line up the main pulley to TDC and refer to the haynes manual for lining up the dist. I'm pretty sure it is covered in there. And finally, from how you described the distributors I would recommend getting a different one from another member or from Mazdatrix they sell used Electronic distributors w/ good tested ignitors. Hope this helps.
Old 08-23-11, 11:00 AM
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Distributors

Originally Posted by Opeth1stgen
http://www.mazspeed.com/ignitionswap.htm
for points ingnition
Not sure if this is the link your talking about, Helped me when I converted from points to electronic dist. As for the 2 distributors you described, I think the 2nd one is the one you want, it should have 2 little black boxes(ignitors) on each side one for T and one for L plugs, these connect to the coils. Also to time the dist correctly line up the main pulley to TDC and refer to the haynes manual for lining up the dist. I'm pretty sure it is covered in there. And finally, from how you described the distributors I would recommend getting a different one from another member or from Mazdatrix they sell used Electronic distributors w/ good tested ignitors. Hope this helps.
I have heard that you can find distributors for as low as 150.00. Mazdatrix price for a used one is 350.00. That is a little steep for me. are there any other places that sell one a bit cheeper that you may know of? Thanks for your help. BTW neither of the two that I bought have any of the little black boxes on then in fact neither have any external parts except the vacum diaphams on them. I did grab the coils and they have th black and white wires on them.

Last edited by wirelesswally; 08-23-11 at 11:02 AM. Reason: spelling
Old 08-23-11, 07:41 PM
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Sounds to me like somebody took the ignitors off the distributor before you got them, as they are a little expensive, which is why mazdatrix charges so much for there used dist. I'm sure you can repair/clean the one that you have and get 2 more ignitors, Atkins Rotary sells used ones for $60.
Old 08-25-11, 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Opeth1stgen
Sounds to me like somebody took the ignitors off the distributor before you got them, as they are a little expensive, which is why mazdatrix charges so much for there used dist. I'm sure you can repair/clean the one that you have and get 2 more ignitors, Atkins Rotary sells used ones for $60.
I ordered a distributor from mazdatrix today, Thanks
Old 08-30-11, 08:51 PM
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Electronic Distributor

Got my electronic distributer today from mazdatrix and it looked like it was just pulled of a mazda in the junkyard. It wasn't cleaned up looks like it was just pulled. I had alot of grease on it. Is this the way they com from there?
Old 09-02-11, 11:55 AM
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i've never bought used parts from them so i wouldn't know. if they claimed it was new, take pix and email them back. probably would call too. if it's not like the pix on the site, i'd still complain.
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