What's a USDM cross reference for a OBD0 SOHC ZC distributor? Will the Si distributor work? How do I identify the distributor that's on my engine?

Basically I just bought this car, it has a brand new distributor. It's maxed out at 14 degrees advance, but it's supposed to be 18+/-2 with room to spare. I had this happen when I tried a OBD1 Civic DX distributor on an OBD1 SOHC ZC motor in my EG.

The weird thing is that even with the ignition timing retarded 4 degrees, this motor runs great and gets 32mpg mostly city. Well sometimes it makes a popping noise in the exhaust. I checked the crank pulley and it's lined up to the chuck key. And yes I know how to do ignition timing properly if anyone asks.

Stupid search server is down but I want to order a new distributor tonight.

 

If you are MPFI, then yes use the 88-91 Si dizzy, D16A6, or use the 88-91 CRX HF dizzy, its identical to the Si dizzy.

If your still DPFI'ed use the DX dizzy, D15 dizzy's.

Remember the SOHC ZC is nothing more than a D16A6 with a *slightly* better cam.

 

10hp better cam

 

true

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DreamCatcher &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">10hp better cam</TD></TR></TABLE> No slightly better, our D16A6's dyno higher the factory rated crank horse power at the wheel so I think strongely that the USDM motor was underrated and the JDM motor is where it is at, but only by a couple of horsepower difference 3-5.

 

Wow good info. Thanks from an OBD0 noob.

So this is most likely a DPFI distributer? Any way for me to verify that so I can sell it off (it's only a few hundred miles used)? Is it a known fact that this distributer maxes out around 14 degrees advance when put on a D16A6?

 

well, if your running MPFI now you have a Si distributor, the DX (1.5L) distributor wont work with MPFI only DPFI.

But heres how to tell the DX and Si dizzys apart....

The Distributor has two plugs, 1 has 2 wires and the other has 5-7 wires...(the big plug)

Look at the big plug
DX (1.5L) Distributor has 5 wires
Si & HF have 7 wires.

not sure about the Adv. degree question sry man.

 

Well it's a 90 Civic Si, so it's MPFI. Damn I should have stated that from the beginning, for some reason I thought it was obvious.

So this can't be a DX distributor. What other distributor could it be for it to function but not be able to get enough advance?

 

well theres only 2 models of SOHC pre-OBD dizzys, Si and HF and theyre identical.
you have 1 of those. as for the Timing issue I would look elsewhere for the problem.

My DOHC ZC is at 17deg adv BTDC and the dizzy is directly in the center of the adjustment slots.

 

Bringing this back to life hopefully. I did a obd1 conversion on sohc zc and can't find a dizzy that fits any help would be greatly appreciated i put a dx dizzy on it bolts up but look like the cap is turned in wrong direction

 

Obd1 non vtec distributor is what i used