1980-82 Bobcat 632 electronic distributor

Help Support SkidSteer Forum:

mcbputter

New member
Joined
Oct 19, 2017
Messages
1
Hello to all, I'm new to the forum and know I'll enjoy all the information that is out there regarding my old machine. Let me start by saying that I know just enough about engines to by dangerous, in other words not a lot! but I do have a team of buddies that are somewhat knowledgeable. I have a Bobcat 632 that I believe is a 1982 but could be a 1980 or 1981. It has a Ford 1.6 liter engine that I have seen in this forum is most likely an Escort engine, maybe a Pinto? I want to switch over to an electronic distributor and I actually order a Pertronix from Summit Racing but I order the wrong one. I need a vacuum advance and this has a mechanical advance. Just got off the phone with them and they are going to do some research and get back to me. The existing distributor has the vacuum advance on the side and I'm assuming I will need to put in a new electronic distributor with the same set up. Has anyone changed their machines to electronic? If so what is the best way or what did you use. Thanks! Mark
 

Hotrod1830

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2010
Messages
513
http://www.hot-spark.com
I used one of these on my old 632. Cant remember the part number though. You should be able to get a part number off the distributor and look on there site for the right one
I actually used one on my old Case 18330 as well. Didnt have any trouble out of either one.
 

spitzair

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 17, 2009
Messages
168
I jusf did my 732 which has the same engine. There were 2 styles of distributor used on this engine: one has a black cap and one has a brown cap. The one with the black cap has all the ignition guts (points, condenser) inside under the cap, the brown cap distributor is a smaller diameter and has the condenser mounted on the outside of the distributor. You can get an electronic ignition module for either one but they are not interchangeable. I have the black cap distributor on my engine and I initially ordered the wrong one because I ordered one for an industrial 4 cylinder engine and of course it didn't fit. The one that fit my engine was a Pertronix 1241LS and it was extremely easy to install, made a huge world of difference! It just bolts on with 2 little screws in about 15 minutes, plus you can easily reinstall your old point and condensor parts if this thing were to fail. You don't need to do anything with the advance on this thing, it keeps all those parts from the original distributor. So far I'm very pleased with mine! Let me know if you have any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.
 

Atilathehun99

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 17, 2011
Messages
111
I jusf did my 732 which has the same engine. There were 2 styles of distributor used on this engine: one has a black cap and one has a brown cap. The one with the black cap has all the ignition guts (points, condenser) inside under the cap, the brown cap distributor is a smaller diameter and has the condenser mounted on the outside of the distributor. You can get an electronic ignition module for either one but they are not interchangeable. I have the black cap distributor on my engine and I initially ordered the wrong one because I ordered one for an industrial 4 cylinder engine and of course it didn't fit. The one that fit my engine was a Pertronix 1241LS and it was extremely easy to install, made a huge world of difference! It just bolts on with 2 little screws in about 15 minutes, plus you can easily reinstall your old point and condensor parts if this thing were to fail. You don't need to do anything with the advance on this thing, it keeps all those parts from the original distributor. So far I'm very pleased with mine! Let me know if you have any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.
I'd like to convert my 722 which has the same engine. Mine is the brown cap distributor (Bosch?) with vac advance. After reading the aboves I'm still confused as to whether Petronix makes a EI unit that works w/ a vac advanced distributor? Also can I still use my existing coil or do I have to upgrade to Flame Thrower coil that they recommend?
 

spitzair

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 17, 2009
Messages
168
I'd like to convert my 722 which has the same engine. Mine is the brown cap distributor (Bosch?) with vac advance. After reading the aboves I'm still confused as to whether Petronix makes a EI unit that works w/ a vac advanced distributor? Also can I still use my existing coil or do I have to upgrade to Flame Thrower coil that they recommend?
As far as I know they do make one for that model distributor, but what their part number is I don't know. If you have your distributor part number you can put it into their website and it will spit out the correct pertronix part number. I'm using the original Bobcat coil on my machine, works perfectly fine.
 
Joined
Apr 4, 2019
Messages
6
I jusf did my 732 which has the same engine. There were 2 styles of distributor used on this engine: one has a black cap and one has a brown cap. The one with the black cap has all the ignition guts (points, condenser) inside under the cap, the brown cap distributor is a smaller diameter and has the condenser mounted on the outside of the distributor. You can get an electronic ignition module for either one but they are not interchangeable. I have the black cap distributor on my engine and I initially ordered the wrong one because I ordered one for an industrial 4 cylinder engine and of course it didn't fit. The one that fit my engine was a Pertronix 1241LS and it was extremely easy to install, made a huge world of difference! It just bolts on with 2 little screws in about 15 minutes, plus you can easily reinstall your old point and condensor parts if this thing were to fail. You don't need to do anything with the advance on this thing, it keeps all those parts from the original distributor. So far I'm very pleased with mine! Let me know if you have any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.
I know this post was from a couple years ago but I would like to install the electronic ignition on my 732, I was told it is a pinto engine. I have the brown distributor with condenser mounted above the distributor. Does anyone know the part number for the brown cap? Thank you
 

Latest posts

Top