Crane XR700 installation question

[apexwc]

I just put a new Crane XR700 on my '78 yesterday and I have what I hope is an irrelevant question about the installation. The instructions for a Marelli (did I spell that right?) distributor call for removing and disassembling the distributor, installing the shutter and optical trigger, reassembling and reinstalling the distributor. Why would it be necessary to disassemble the distributor if everything gets installed on the points plate? Did they just want to see if people would do it? I didn't and it works fine.

Also, if I want to change the orientation of the dist. cap so that it points more toward the left front corner of the car instead of straight across to the left side of the car, is it just a matter of removing the clamp, pulling out the dist. and putting it back like I would want it? How would I keep the timing close while I do it? Can you tell I've never pulled a distributor before?

[lanciahf]

On some Marelli distributors the advance plate is on top instead of yours which is under the points area. Alfa Spiders and 79 to 85 Fiat spiders have top mounted advance plates.

Ralph

[apexwc]

Thanks, the directions and pictures didn't make that clear.

[tonyfromjersey]

How hard was the installation, and why did you do the crane xr700 over the 3000? This is on my list of winter projects, but it's actually at the top of the short list of things that will really get done.

Where did you get the kit from, I've seen it at IAP but also other places on the web cheaper.

Thanks,

Tony

[apexwc]

From other posts I've read I didn't see a real advantage of the 3000 over the 700. I just wanted something more reliable than points - one less thing to worry about maintaining. The installation was simple, took maybe 30 minutes. I mounted the box in front of the radiator on the right side to help keep it cool and it was a perfect fit. You want to get the kit that is universal for 4 cyl. imports. It comes with two feet for mounting the optical pickup and I think I used the longer of the two to get the right angle on the shutter.



I still need to clean up the wiring but cosmetics are the least of my worries right now! Any yes, I do have a replacement for that flex hose
Of course, the main reason I got the XR700 was because I found a brand new, unopened one on eBay for $65.

Almost forgot, Summit Racing and Amazon both have decent prices on both.

[tonyfromjersey]

Thanks for the pics and all that information. Did you replace the coil as well? My eBay search begins in earnest.

You wouldn't want to see the inside of my engine compartment, I'm still in the "make it run reliably" phase of operations. I will work on cleaning it up before springtime.

[apexwc]

My old coil (generic) seems to be working fine but I think I will replace it with either the Bosch or the Crane. Anyone have an opinion on which?

[lanciahf]

I just did a crane 700 kit for a fellow fiat owner. The coil recommend by crane, PS-40 kept burning up the ballast resistor so they are running the stock coil. Crane 700 requires a coil with a resistor and the crane 3000 requires a coil with no resistor.

Just a side note PerTronix makes a kit for fiats and it looks like a really clean install, no external control units. I never used one but it looks like a good alternative.

http://www.classicgarage.com/fi124x19peig.html

[apexwc]

That's pretty cool, I'd like to hear from anyone that's used that one. Same price, too.
The only reason I was considering the Crane coil is because that's what Crane recommends. I wonder why it kept burning up? I don't know how hot a coil is supposed to get under normal driving conditions - mine gets hot enough that you can touch it but it's too uncomfortable to hold your hand on it