What's the 009 good for?
What's the 009 good for?
I don't plan on getting one, really just curious as to what application would it be appropriate to use a 009 for? Dual carbs? I'm new to vws and have read a bunch but I have yet to come across someone saying. "get a 009 that will fix it!"
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Glenn
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- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:20 pm
- First Name: Glenn
- Vehicle Year: 1974
- Model: Beetle
- Location: Long Island, New York, USA
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Re: What's the 009 good for?
They make good door stops.
The 009 was originally used on stationary industrial engines. They were cheap and easy replacements for when the original distributor failed. Mechanics would simply put in a $50 009 and send the customer on his way. People used them on dual carb engines thinking they were better than the stock and they sort of was. They were sold as "one size fits all" which they are not.
The 009 did work with dual carbs but not very well in stock applications. Most stock carbs need a distributor that has both mechanical and vacuum advance. Most dual carbs don't need vacuum and you want an "aggressive" advance to match the other upgrades most dual carb engines have. The Bosch 019 and 010 are mechanical only distributors from the 50s and each are better choices. Like I said, there is no "one size fits all" and the 019 works best with mild upgrades and the 010 with major upgrades.
While the 009 has a cast aluminum body the 019/010 has a cast iron both. The aluminum flexes at high rpm while the cast iron is stable. Also the internals if the 019/010 are just better made.
About 5 years ago Bosch stopped making the 009 so now all the new ones are aftermarket and made in China. They are crap, the parts are of low quality and the advance curve is all over the place. The term "009" has become generic for mechanical only but the new ones are nothing like the original German 009s.
The make a good door stop, that's about it.
The 009 was originally used on stationary industrial engines. They were cheap and easy replacements for when the original distributor failed. Mechanics would simply put in a $50 009 and send the customer on his way. People used them on dual carb engines thinking they were better than the stock and they sort of was. They were sold as "one size fits all" which they are not.
The 009 did work with dual carbs but not very well in stock applications. Most stock carbs need a distributor that has both mechanical and vacuum advance. Most dual carbs don't need vacuum and you want an "aggressive" advance to match the other upgrades most dual carb engines have. The Bosch 019 and 010 are mechanical only distributors from the 50s and each are better choices. Like I said, there is no "one size fits all" and the 019 works best with mild upgrades and the 010 with major upgrades.
While the 009 has a cast aluminum body the 019/010 has a cast iron both. The aluminum flexes at high rpm while the cast iron is stable. Also the internals if the 019/010 are just better made.
About 5 years ago Bosch stopped making the 009 so now all the new ones are aftermarket and made in China. They are crap, the parts are of low quality and the advance curve is all over the place. The term "009" has become generic for mechanical only but the new ones are nothing like the original German 009s.
The make a good door stop, that's about it.
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
When you mess with the bull, you get the horns.
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
When you mess with the bull, you get the horns.
Re: What's the 009 good for?
Door stops, gotcha. Thanks for the background info.