LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
Moderator: Smuz
LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
I recently swapped in a Samurai distributor into my LJ 81 and figured I would take a few pictures along the way. Credit to Smuz for originally posting about this swap, and many others that have successfully done it and shared their information. Looking around the forum I didn't see any pictures posted. This swap is EASY, and does away with the older original points style distributor found in LJ 80/81's. I re-used the original LJ cap, rotor, coil with ballast resistor, and spark plug wires. I did not hook up the vaccum advance on the Samurai distributor, Smuz did hook it up to a port on the intake manifold, but Canadian LJ's do not have that port.
What I used:
A complete Samurai distributor from a carbed Samurai, male wiring plug still attached
2 blade connectors
1 forked connector, or ring style
piece of wire about 10" long
heat shrink tubing for the connections
1. Cut off connector on end of brown wire and replace with blade connector, remove black wire attached to LJ distributor body.:
2. Remove LJ cap and notice rotor direction, then remove LJ distributor. Place a cup or rag under distributor when you remove it, a few tablespoons of oil will come out. (repair manual suggests replacing that oil in the distributor housing before re-installing distributor)
3. Slide Samurai distributor in, with rotor pointing same direction as before. *on mine I had to sand inside of distributor housing due to flaws in casting that made it difficult to insert Samurai distributor*
4. Insert blade connector from brown wire into brown wire side of Samurai male plug. Insert another blade connector with jumper wire to positive side of ballast resistor.
THATS IT! Fire it up and set the timing.
What I used:
A complete Samurai distributor from a carbed Samurai, male wiring plug still attached
2 blade connectors
1 forked connector, or ring style
piece of wire about 10" long
heat shrink tubing for the connections
1. Cut off connector on end of brown wire and replace with blade connector, remove black wire attached to LJ distributor body.:
2. Remove LJ cap and notice rotor direction, then remove LJ distributor. Place a cup or rag under distributor when you remove it, a few tablespoons of oil will come out. (repair manual suggests replacing that oil in the distributor housing before re-installing distributor)
3. Slide Samurai distributor in, with rotor pointing same direction as before. *on mine I had to sand inside of distributor housing due to flaws in casting that made it difficult to insert Samurai distributor*
4. Insert blade connector from brown wire into brown wire side of Samurai male plug. Insert another blade connector with jumper wire to positive side of ballast resistor.
THATS IT! Fire it up and set the timing.
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Revolving door of LJ's, currently down to one LJ 81
Re: LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
Thanks for posting this Ruby! ![Cool :cool:](./images/smilies/cool2.gif)
![Cool :cool:](./images/smilies/cool2.gif)
The only difference between an ordeal and an adventure is your attitude
Re: LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
you gonna make a lot of friends !!!!
THX for taking the time and share .
THX for taking the time and share .
Re: LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
![Cheers :beer:](./images/smilies/beer.gif)
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
Mark
Re: LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
that is awesome and those pics are a perfect way to show how it's done.
I did that swap to mine and it would actually run after this.
I did that swap to mine and it would actually run after this.
81 LJ80, 3500lbs winch, 1.0 HO, 1000cc's of pure power....brap...listen to her go
Mods 2 come
-Lockrite in the back, -spring over done right and complete,-cross over steering,-seats,-6000lbs +- winch on front,-3500lbs winch ,moved to back,-highlift jack
Mods 2 come
-Lockrite in the back, -spring over done right and complete,-cross over steering,-seats,-6000lbs +- winch on front,-3500lbs winch ,moved to back,-highlift jack
Re: LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
I had issues trying to get a Sammy distributor to fit into my F8aRuby wrote:*on mine I had to sand inside of distributor housing due to flaws in casting that made it difficult to insert Samurai distributor* [
maybe this was the issue
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
thanks for the inspiration to have another look at electronic ignition .
![Cheers :beer:](./images/smilies/beer.gif)
- Smuz
- Resident Curmudgeon
- Posts: 3445
- Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2003 7:53 pm
- Location: Kansas City (Lenexa)
Re: LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
Works good, don't it?
That was one of those moments when I said "why won't this work?" and just tried it.
A super sweet mod for an LJ80 that really makes a difference.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
That was one of those moments when I said "why won't this work?" and just tried it.
A super sweet mod for an LJ80 that really makes a difference.
The above is my opinion. It is subject (like all my opinions) to debate, disagreement, rude gestures, and loud raspberries.
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- LJ Enthusiast
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Sat May 14, 2011 1:20 pm
- Location: Saint John, New Brunswick
Re: LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
If I swap a Samurai distributor onto my LJ80, do I need a Samurai coil as well? I think my coil is getting weak.
I'd like to do this swap eventually, when I can find a distributor, but don't want to buy two coils.
Ron
I'd like to do this swap eventually, when I can find a distributor, but don't want to buy two coils.
Ron
Re: LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
No, you do not need to swap the coil. In fact, I expect the coils are the same part number for both models.
The only difference between an ordeal and an adventure is your attitude
-
- LJ Enthusiast
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Sat May 14, 2011 1:20 pm
- Location: Saint John, New Brunswick
Re: LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
Same coil, but without the ballast resistor? I assume the ballast resistor is no longer required, once there's no points involved.stevec wrote:No, you do not need to swap the coil. In fact, I expect the coils are the same part number for both models.
Ron
Re: LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
Indeed.
Remove the ballast resistor.
Remove the ballast resistor.
Re: LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
Hi, I tried this with one of the eBay replacement distributors and had no spark , I was using a modern resin ballasted coil and am going to try old coil minus resistor today .
Re: LJ 80 Samurai distributor swap
I did mine after breaking down in a snow storm, the old system didn't like humidity. I only changed the dist and left the original coil.
81 LJ80, 3500lbs winch, 1.0 HO, 1000cc's of pure power....brap...listen to her go
Mods 2 come
-Lockrite in the back, -spring over done right and complete,-cross over steering,-seats,-6000lbs +- winch on front,-3500lbs winch ,moved to back,-highlift jack
Mods 2 come
-Lockrite in the back, -spring over done right and complete,-cross over steering,-seats,-6000lbs +- winch on front,-3500lbs winch ,moved to back,-highlift jack