(G) Vaccum Advance Unit Question

Well I've now got an Uno 60s as a donor car. This has the old 1116cc engine; runs really well but the clutch is well on the way out. Sounds a shame but I'll be nicking the parts I need off it then scrapping the old beast.

The question I have is the vaccum advance unit from the 1116cc compatible with the 999cc Fire engine. The unit is good on the 1116 but defective on the 999. They look the same for what I can see. Can I swap them over?

Ha!
A Donor Car - already! Are you really coping OK or has owning an Uno affected you seriously? Or should we ask Mrs. Pottleflump that question?

I have done exactly what you are thinking of - the 1116cc vacuum advance will fit, but the pipe comes off at a different angle (so the rubber pipe may be too short). It works inasmuch as that it's better than having a vacuum leak, BUT the specified amount of advance is different (at least, according to Haynes). According to the Uno handbook, it's the same (!) 12 degrees, though that could always be an error. I think, for the 10 pounds someone quoted, I'd fit a new one.

So, you have ONE donor car... for which parts exactly? Next thing, you will have a really-tidy-but-not-SORNed-or-something 45 Mk2 with a blown transmission, a horribly rusty Uno Turbo Mk1 needing a re-shell, a tidy Mk2 Uno Turbo with a cracked block, and a smart-looking 5-dr 70SX with rust in only one door but a frontal impact. At least, that's probably the typical Uno model range these days - each sold separately - collect the whole set!

-Alex

Sad isn't it!

Maybe I should just put my hand in my pocket and buy the part for £10. Wanted to recoup some of my investment.

Well I got it from a chap down the road, couldn't resist. Wanted a new tailgate, headlamp, wing, grill, rear bumper to try and get rid of a few dents. Wanted a nice bonnet and this one looked good until I noticed the rust bubbles at the front, might clean up ok...

I'm going to try and get the parts of quickly before the wife gets upset at having a couple of "wrecks" dumped in the back garden.

Out front got a nice 54 plate Alfa 156, a 2000 model Citreon Saxo, a 2000 model Suzuki SV650 Motorbike and now 2 old and very tired Fiat Unos in the back Garden!

Mad.

In short, YES! The parts are interchangeable, and I think I remember the only difference being the pipe coming out at a different angle like Alex mentioned.

If you have the Eper CD you could always check the part numbers. I have a feeling they are the same

And I did the exact same swap on my old blue Uno 45 FIRE, and it ran perfectly ok with a 1301cc vacuum advance unit

Good - thanks for that Chas, usually better to trust real experience rather than the 'Book of Lies'...

-Alex

Having finally loosened my throttle cable a couple of weeks ago (yer Alex, I know), similar symptoms return .

Today, I decided to investigate in the works car park. I found I have a leaky Vacuum Advance Diaphragm . I’ve just ordered one from Shop4Parts, so it should be here by Monday .

The thing I’m unsure if I need to remove the distributor to switch the part . I guess I’m being lazy by asking . I have a spare distributor, but it’s in bits at the moment, with no vac. Advance unit – was shot when I got .

Regards All,
Louie Bee.

I removed my one to fit. Found it a little tricky and it just made it easier - mark the position before removing. I didn't but it wasn't at all difficult to refit correctly all the same. Oh and the vaccum advance seems to work from the distributor off the 1116cc engine.

Cheers thepottleflump

I've changed them without removing the distributor

It reminds me of a line in the Haynes 128 manual: "Experienced FIAT mechanics do not remove the bonnet, even when taking out the engine, but for someone less experienced with the car, it is easier to remove it"

Of course, the bonnet on the 128 opened forwards! Unlike the Uno, which opens backwards (and therefore gives better access).

-Alex

I noticed a rattling noise coming from my distributor the other day when my car was running, is this the vaccum advance unit?

Probably not as the vacuum advance unit is basically stationary. More likely to be a cracked rotor arm or perhaps centrifugal advance spring fallen off (less common). The springs are supposed to have a certain amount of slack. Thinking about it, it could also be the oil slinger collar if it's a block-mounted distributor. Take it off sometime and check for broken parts.

-Alex