I’ve got another question, this one relating to the distributor. On the Speedster (22) it is equipped with a distributor of unknown make. It apparently has a centrifugal advance mechanism as the normal advance rod/lever is staked to the block.
The numbers stamped on the body are (908) followed by JF4 followed by an arrow 
Below this is 0 231 179 009 and below that is 061. The rotor rotates clockwise.

Does anyone know who the manufacturer/vendor might be. While the engine seems to run quite well, I wonder if this centrifugal advance is as good as the manual? Manually looks to have more travel/range?

I’ve included three photos: The first two are two different views. The third shows the base/shaft, where the PO ground some of the shaft off to get it to fit next to the fan pulley adjustment bolt. On my 21 Runabout, it has a Texas T distributor where the shaft is purposely open to allow this fitting. This probably indicates that the 22 (in the pics) is of an earlier version?

Rod

009. V Dub

If the rotor is turning clockwise, it would appear that you are firing the engine later, when you advance the spark, unless there is a toggle that is not shown. This may not be the ideal distributor for your engine.

Its a Bosch 009 with a Pertronix electronic ignition very similar to the Texas T Parts distributor,i would do to their website Texastparts.com and download the instructions for it.I run this system in my 26 coupe and it works great,my car had broken magnets,a cracked flywheel,a mag ring that had severak coils unwound and no timer ,coils or box.mag system $800. distributor $335. me $0.00 so it was a no brainer to get it on the road.
Rick

The stock VW centrifugal advance mechanism requires something like 2000+ RPM to advance it, so unless springs have been removed, I'd suggest you make the adv/ret manual.
-Keith

Looks like it may be a Performance T Parts distributor. Here is that missing linkage mentioned above: http://modeltengine.com/InfoPage.htm

I've removed one of the two springs in a modern Bosch disturbutor. It brings the advance curve down to more T-like engine speeds. Still, I believe a flathead requires more degrees advance than the OHV engines the Bosch were designed for.

The disturbutor in the Porsche 914, for example, gives 25 degrees advance at 3,000 rpm. The 009 gives only 15 degrees, IIRC, not near enough for a T. I have one in my scrap pile.

I have an old Allen Disturbutor machine, and have done quite a bit of testing with it, but it's been some time. I run a 914 disturbutor with Pertronix on the Fronty. I really should put the vacuum advance back in it, to save gas.

rdr

Here's a TTP distributor for comparison.

Thanks Tim,
That (the pic) looks real close to the linkage on mine, I'm just missing the one piece and the PO had the whole mechanism in a fixed position. I'll try Texas T to see if they have the linkage.

Thanks to all who offered help, great forum here!

Rod

Here's a couple of photos:

You have an easy fix there. take out the bottom two bolts. put a thick washer between the two plates and re-install the middle bolt through it. Then run a rod from the bottom hole on the back plate to your spark rod. The engine in my photo was out of the car, but you can see where the spark rod would go. rig something up. It does not have to be fancy to work.