Air intake hose

[MBEpse]

I have recently bought a Pininfarina Spider Europa 1985.5 - There is a small hose that is connected to the engine air intake and just laying in the engine bay not connected to anything, after much searching I have discovered that this is meant to be connected to the vacuum advance on the distributor except there isn’t a vacuum advance module on the distributor?
Any clues if this set-up is correct and advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks Michael

[MBEpse]

Also, meant to say that the acceleration is erratic at low speed and struggles when going uphill??

[SteinOnkel]

"Any clues if this set-up is correct and advice would be much appreciated. "

Well, it's not correct in the sense that it isn't factory. But that doesn't mean it can't function.

Make sure the hose at the intake is plugged. If it's open, that could explain your symptoms.

[MBEpse]

Thanks for the info - maybe, I need to look at a new distributor, the tube is open so will plug it and see it that helps things. Thanks again, Michael

[Nut124]

Lack of vacuum advance in ignition hurts low speed torque and drivability.

[MBEpse]

Thanks for your help - it’s a nice day tomorrow so out for a drive and going to plug that hose and see if it makes any difference - Again thanks for the knowledge

[tima01864]

Which years did not have vacuum advance?

[18Fiatsandcounting]

Which years did not have vacuum advance?

1978 and earlier, but I hope someone will jump in and correct me if I've got this wrong. So, only the 2L engine had vacuum advance.

-Bryan

[Nut124]

Any engine will benefit from adding vac advance to ignition. It improves off idle torque, low speed performance.

I added it to my 1800 a few years back and it made a huge difference when driving in the neighborhood.

It does require a steady vacuum signal, preferably a common plenum intake. It can be done with IDFs but it takes some engineering to smooth out the vac signal. I have it now with dual IDFs and could share ideas.

[MBEpse]

Hi, I have been researching new distributors - has anyone installed or had experience with the ‘123ignition’ distributors?

[SteinOnkel]

Hi, I have been researching new distributors - has anyone installed or had experience with the ‘123ignition’ distributors?

They suck.

Just get the '79 dizzy from AR, a $15 GM HEICU and a heatsink. Works great.

[MBEpse]

Thanks for the honest reply!
I did speak to a company that sells these distributors and they wouldn’t recommend using on my car so will look at AR, Vic’s and some of the german sites for a ‘standard’ distributor with vacuum advance.
Thanks for the advice.

[maxm50]

Hey Steiny, what’s this GM “HEICU” and heat sink setup you speak of? Just curious...

[spider2081]

I have recently bought a Pininfarina Spider Europa 1985.5

I'm not so sure the 85.5 distributor used a vacuum advance. I also don't think any turbo charged engines used a vacuum advance. Hopefully someone with documentation or owns an 85.5 can confirm one way or the other. I think I recall someone mentioning the 85.5 used a unique distributor.

[MBEpse]

Thanks for the information - I will try a bit of research.