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 Posted: Jun 26, 2017 10:39AM
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Thanks for the advice everyone. I asked at our hosts's event over the weekend and they didn't have any of the vacuum advance units in stock. I ordered the recommended one from Mini Spares. I'll report back when it arrives and I have a chance to install it.

Thanks!
Scott

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Scott | 1963 Austin Cooper | 2003 MINI Cooper S | 2018 MINI Cooper 4-door
 Posted: Jun 23, 2017 04:10AM
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US
I haven't spoken with Jeff for awhile. He does a very nice job on dizzys. I believe he is now rebuilding advance units. The last time we did speak he was not at all happy with Pertronics. I have a couple of 5 gallon buckets of old dizzys. I have been planning to send him a box of them to do. 

My current head ache has to do with a DM 2 dizzy. The vacuum does not work and the weights are stuck on their pins. No advance what so ever and he claims it was running fine just a little hot. The vacuum tube screws on to the dizzy. I believe the next generation is a 23 D and the tube attaches the same way just the body is made a little different. The next generation the vacuum tube connects with a rubber tube. That one is about $100. new. 

I also know you can disable the vacuum and the car will run fine. Is that the way it was designed and will it make a difference? I try very hard to put things back the way the started out. My driver has a 1360 Cooper S engine which came with a non vacuum dizzy ( which I have a small bucket of ) but now runs a vacuum dizzy. Most of my driving is between 1000 and 3000 RPM, I'm not sure what it is doing but it seems to keep doing it. With the late dizzies the vacuum screws right to the side and are quick and easy to change. Get one and have the car set up correctly, I think you will be pleased. Steve (CTR)

 Posted: Jun 23, 2017 02:48AM
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I hadn't thought about Jeff.  If he cannot provide the vacuum unit, he probably know who can.

Doug L.
 Posted: Jun 23, 2017 01:53AM
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another good resource is Jeff Schlemmer at Advance Distributors, he can set you up with whatever you need, and help you to decide which is best considering your tune (everything from re-curving a distributor to providing rotors and condensers that won't cause ignition problems after a tune up).

 Posted: Jun 22, 2017 06:41PM
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Hi Scott, I suppose the mechanics were kinda correct ...you don't *really* need one...  However, IMHO you certainly should have one - depending how the car is used.  The advance unit really only works at part throttle cruise.

My Mini lives in the country and spends most of its time cruising at between 50 and 70mph..  When I fitted the vac advance it gave an immediate 30% improvement in fuel consumption.  I didn't notice any difference at idle... and I can't say I really *noticed* any difference on the highway... the differences in throttle position are hardly perceptible but 30% is quite a few extra miles without filling up.

The actual unit I have was chosen on the dyno.. its actually a Ford unit... but is physically compatible with my Aldon Yellow distributor.  V advance units have a three number spec (that's usually stamped on the body).  The numbers tell you the vacuum level when advance starts, when it maxes out and the max advance provided.

Without the ability to customise your selection I would think that the MSpares advice is as good as you get.  If you have a 1275ish engine with a 45d dizzy then I would take their word...

Cheers, Ian

PS You could Email this guy [email protected] for advice if you feel you need more detail....

 Posted: Jun 22, 2017 05:41PM
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I recently had my Mini in to deal with an issue with the brakes and while they had it, they solved an ignition problem that I'd been meaning to deal with for a while. While they were at it, they set the timing and replaced the points. The mechanic discovered that the vacuum advance wasn't actually functioning so they plugged the carb, disconnected the line, and set everything up without it. When I asked about it, they told me that it wasn't really needed.

On inspection I can see that a) the port on the advance unit looks badly clogged, and b) there's actually a small hole in the unit that I had never noticed before. It has likely been there for a long time, so that completely explains why they weren't seeing any advance from it. There's no way it could have actually been holding any vacuum.

The car is running better than it has since I have owned it, but I'm left feeling like I'm probably missing something and it is probably a pretty cheap fix. I have 2 questions:

1) Based on everything I've read, it seems like I should have the vacuum advance working to smooth low idle and keep gas consumption down. (I do a lot of around-the-city driving, which seems like the profile of where this makes a difference.) Do I really need it?

2) Assuming that I should take care of it, how do I select a replacement advance unit? I've been through all the options that our host sells, including part numbers that are referenced but don't actually appear for sale, and I'm a little confused.

The engine is a non-S 1275 with twin HS2s of unknown origin that is most likely completely stock. The distributor is a Lucas 45d.

The description for this one references part #37H8379MS for use with the 1275. I can't find that with our host, but they appear to source these from Mini Spares, who has it here. Is this what I need? 

Can anyone help demystify this for me?

Thanks!
Scott

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Scott | 1963 Austin Cooper | 2003 MINI Cooper S | 2018 MINI Cooper 4-door