Which distributor would you trust for a 4AGE?

Apparently the "new" distributor that I paid a shop to install a few years ago is leaking internally on the 86 MR2, so it's time to do the job myself. So it's shopping time and ideally I'd like to spend considerably less than the $400+ for an OEM unit. That said, I haven't had the best luck with certain RockAuto parts so I figured I'd get the hive-mind's experience with reman'd vs. new budget dizzys.

Anyone know the difference between Cardone A1 and Cardone Select? New vs. reman seems awfully close in price.

Rockauto - A-1 CARDONE Part # 31757 $167

Rockauto - CARDONE SELECT Part # 84757 (new) $190

Rockauto - AUTOLINE Part # D9020 (reman Nippon Denso) $237

Rockauto - WORLD POWER SYSTEMS Part # DST757 (new) $238

Carquest New $298

Napa Reman $194

Napa New $305

reman Nippon Denso, duh!

Or better yet, none. Distributors have caused me a great deal of trouble, personally. The one on the 4AGE I've had rebuilt and swapped into my AE92 took the car down due to a heat-demagnetized internal trigger wheel (not kidding). After I got new seals and bearings put in and painstakingly painted the heat shield for it of course.

You'll have to switch your 4AGE to an alternate ignition system (and along with it, probably an alternate ECU) eventually...how much are you willing to spend to put it off?

I just need to get the car back into DD duty so I can sell the van, so in turn we can buy the car my wife really wants. I really don't see myself completely overhauling the ignition system right now.

Thanks for input though. I'm kinda sketchy about reman parts, but thought that the Nippon Denso might be the right choice anyway.

Matt B wrote: Apparently the "new" distributor that I paid a shop to install a few years ago is leaking internally on the 86 MR2,

The kit you are looking for is from twos-r-us - http://twosrus.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=28

the procedure - http://www.mr2oc.com/showthread.php?t=260817

Have you looked at the used market on ebay? If it is just to get it running. Also would a used OEM be better than a rebuild?

I am curious as to why this is happening. When we raced MR2's we never had a distributor issue.

dean1484 wrote: Have you looked at the used market on ebay? If it is just to get it running. Also would a used OEM be better than a rebuild? I am curious as to why this is happening. When we raced MR2's we never had a distributor issue.

4A-series distributors are easy to accidentally ruin (in such a way that they keep blowing new leaks) while trying to change out the seals and bearings, I know that much. I'd actually recommend rebuilding an OEM unit yourself over ordering a reman'ed one to eliminate the possibility.

oldeskewltoy wrote:

Matt B wrote: Apparently the "new" distributor that I paid a shop to install a few years ago is leaking internally on the 86 MR2,

The kit you are looking for is from twos-r-us - http://twosrus.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=28 the procedure - http://www.mr2oc.com/showthread.php?t=260817

+1 for the seal kit.

When you install it and you find you cannot set the timing properly, just pull out the distributor and turn it 180º. Yes, you can install them backward. My FX16 came that way. That was an easy fix.

I actually have the seal kit and tried to have my (new) mechanic do the install back when I had the clutch done. He told me it wouldn't do any good since it was leaking internally. I trust the guy, but I'm planning on installing that first just to verify. If he's right and it doesn't work I'd like to know which dizzy to pull the trigger on.

I don't really want to bother with the used market. I don't have the time or patience at this point to deal with messaging back and forth with someone parting out a car, installing it, and then hoping it's still good.

edit - I just realized Dean suggested ebay. That would probably be easier than the regular mr2oc parts peeps. Still not sure if I want to take the risk though. Lately I have precious few moments to work on the car(s).

All good ideas though! Thanks for everyone's input.

Of course it's leaking internally. That is why the kit comes with the internal seal.

In reply to trucke: Hehe, fair enough. Like I said, I'm planning on trying the kit first in case my guy missed something.

If anybody has any actual input on the dizzys listed, that'd be greeeeeaaaaat.

In for opinions on listed.

My friend helped me rebuild mine with the Twos R Us seal kit, he'd done it many times before, it replaces the internal seals and bearing. It no longer leaks. But interested to know what people have to say on rebuilds anyway.

I'd only go OEM or rebuilt OEM.