Yet Another Distributor Question

[DavidAPease]

Hi, all,

This question goes back to one I asked on the forum way back in 2005, and we never really found an answer for.

I just took my '66 230SL (automatic) to a mechanic who hasn't worked on it before.  He was somewhat flummoxed to see a distributor with the number 0 231 185 008.  It appears to be a vacuum advance distributor, but according to our Technical Manual my engine (no. 12-003868) was built well after the switchover to vacuum retard.  (https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Electrical/Distributor#SL230)

I've attached a (poor) photo of my throttle body which, according to the photos on this page in our Technical Manual https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Fuel/Throttle#Body, looks more like the vacuum attachment for a vacuum retard system.  (However, the Benz Dr. has pointed out that there were several different throttle bodies used, so I don't know if that's definitive.)

So my bottom-line question is this:  My cars seems to have good power, runs smoothly, etc.  Is it possible to mate a vacuum advance distributor to a vacuum retard throttle body and have it work well?  (Or is there something else I am misunderstanding?)

      Thanks for any insights,

             -David

[DavidAPease]

So I've just confirmed with the mechanic that my throttle body is indeed a vacuum retard (which is correct for my engine), but my distributor is vacuum advance.  This seems to explain some of the idling problems I've been having.

I am about to post a Want-To-Buy for the correct distributor (051).

          -David

[Benz Dr.]

Switching throttle bodies will make your engine run like dog doo. Vacuum retard is ported at the bottom of the TB and VA is at the top.

[DavidAPease]

Thank you, Dan.

It seems that the distributor rather than the throttle body got switched some time in my car's life.  It will get un-switched soon.

        - David

[MarkCan]

So I've just confirmed with the mechanic that my throttle body is indeed a vacuum retard (which is correct for my engine), but my distributor is vacuum advance.  This seems to explain some of the idling problems I've been having.

I am about to post a Want-To-Buy for the correct distributor (051).

          -David

David,
What is your distributor part number?
I’ve rebuilt one recently for the 66 230 and it’s a vacuum retardant.
Bosch 0 231 116 047. This unit was correct for some 230 towards the end of production as well as some early 250. Performance was very similar to the 051 unit with minor differences in lower rpm range (idle).

[DavidAPease]

Hi, Mark,

I've already bought an 051 distributor from Dirk Balter, and it is installed and running well.  (My old, incorrect one ran surprisingly well, too!)

Thanks for the offer.

            -David

[dirkbalter]

David,
Happy to hear it.