050 problems - how bad is the 009 on a 356?

Paul Knight · Post by **Paul Knight** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 2:36 pm

i recently fitted a brand new 050 (albeit a few years old) to a '55 1600cc motor and had nightmares with it. it simply failed to fire properly and was spitting back through the carbs and would only run by continual 'flapping' of the throttle. I was only fitting it while I overhauled the original dizzy and yes, it was installed, timed and wired correctly! Has anyone else had a similar experience? Just to be sure, I ran it up in a VW and it was exactly the same. Where should I be looking for the problem. I suppose it could be something as simple as the condenser but I thought I'd seek advice here, first!
To get me out of trouble, I've thrown in a 009 for now. It seems to run fine and revs clean now but I've heard they are bad news for the motors. Why is this? The only downside I have found is that to reach 32deg total advance I run a fair bit of idle advance and tick-over a bit faster although i'm sure i could tune this out. I haven't driven with it yet so I guess the problem might become clear quickly but I was wondering how others have got on.
oh, and finally. does anyone know a cheap place to get cap/leads/arm/condensor/points for the original dizzy??

many thanks!

ps - the engine might look messy but runs like a dream on the freshly rebuilt zeniths!

MdR · Post by **MdR** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 3:32 pm

Ohh a VW - I had one of those in the old days - did you know you can fit a Porsche engine straight in - it's only 4 bolts you know...

Sorry Paul, can't answer your question & am feeling frivilous

Did have an 050 on both my carbed 914/4s they ran really well.

Paul Knight · Post by **Paul Knight** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 4:09 pm

no probs - to be honest it wasn't all that tricky to fit. a bit of trimming here and a bit of fabrication there and it slipped right in! making an exhaust and hooking up the throttle linkage were the worst jobs - i just wanted something that looked 'in keeping' with the rest of the car which the rusty motor certainly does!

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:31 am

Couldn't get 009 to work on my '56 1600, but the 050 runs beautifully. It's smoothed out the rev range and levelled the tickover a treat. And thats with it still running 6v... It was explained to me that an 009 will affect no3 cylinder, making it run too hot. I didn't experience this personally but not wanting to blow its poor guts out, i fitted the 050 sharpish anyway.

Post by **Bootsy** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:34 am

cubist wrote:It was explained to me that an 009 will affect no3 cylinder, making it run too hot. I didn't experience this personally but not wanting to blow its poor guts out, i fitted the 050 sharpish anyway.

That's how I understood it.

When I fitted an 050 to my 912 it made a big difference to the way the engine ran. There's a post on here somewhere which lets you know the cheapest place to get hold of them

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:41 am

Couldn't get 009 to work on my '56 1600, but the 050 runs beautifully. It's smoothed out the rev range and levelled the tickover a treat. And thats with it still running 6v... It was explained to me that an 009 will affect no3 cylinder, making it run too hot. I didn't experience this personally but not wanting to blow its poor guts out, i fitted the 050 sharpish anyway.

Post by **Bootsy** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:48 am

There's an echo in here

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:58 am

How did it do that?

Paul Knight · Post by **Paul Knight** » Thu Dec 18, 2003 2:48 pm

cheers guys
decided to strip the 050 and try to find out the problem, i'll let u know how it goes!

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Wed Dec 24, 2003 11:29 am

if you get stuck I have the Harry pellow vids and they explain the process if not look on the 356 Reg in the USA site and I am sure it shows you how to do it there.

Mine ran a dream. when fitted changed the coil and it sparks up great.

They only way you can get the back fire is incorrect timing or the valves not set up correctly but i doubt.

Or the carbs are not set up correctly. I had this when I first got my car i got the carbs rebuilt and boy did it run........ :D :D

I have over 15 manuals and loads of other info if you get stuck PM me.

have a great x mass all......

Hoffman912 · Post by **Hoffman912** » Sat Jan 03, 2004 2:38 pm

what are you timing it at?

the 050, in a 356 or 912 engine should be timed at 33 degrees btdc, at 3000 rpm. (anywhere between 30-34 should do fine really)

if you time her right, she will run like a top. the 050 can be a bitch to time, b/c of where it has to be set at, so its best to get one of those fancy timing lights that can read where its at as far as degrees and rpm.

also, make sure the points are set right. i got sick of points, threw in a pertronix electronic ignition, and no problems. pertronix and 050 set up right will leave you a very very very happy porsche owner.