Thanks Scouts,

The present cap is blue but does not say Lucas, has aluminum terminals and not copper - I am getting a Lucas (advertised as Lucas but I do not trust that anymore). The fit is square so I suspect the one-side routs on the terminal posts inside were caused by a rotor (not this one) when the engine was started by the previous owner with the cap not squarely held down by the clips.

The distributor seems to have been replaced not too long ago. Helical gear contact is tight, no play in it. (by the way, this gear drive was somethng new to me as I have been used to an off-set slot into which the distributor shaft offset ridge fits).

The rotor contactor is a black no-name, and appears good but I am going to replace it.

 

I may be out of line here but wouldn't it be easier to work from the basics of internal combustion then work forward to the over complicated Rover ign?
Meaning while realize the goal is to fix the actual problem it may be easier to temporarily mock up a simplified ign and work forward from there.

If it were mine I'd get a separate coil (either internal or external resistance I don't know on those trucks), wire my own 12v power and give the distributor the negative. When it starts you can eliminate possible problems (like fuel and the timing chain you where worried about) and start to narrow down the culprit. Rather than testing the entire ignition system in place which obviously has a real malfunction.

Is there an advantage or need to running the system as designed? I mean this engine is a 60 year old design. It ran on a regular old coil and distributor before. Why not again? HEI sounds like a nice alternative. It would eliminate all the components you are having trouble with. You could leave all the components in place for now. I know it can be a matter of pride and determination to fix what's there. I'd rather have a running truck and be able to revisit the original ignition problem at my leisure.

 

Thank you Shift, this obviously would be the best solution I believe as I have lost all faith in Lucas electronics. What I have been unsure about is that it seems the main ECU will then not receive inputs from the ignition amplifier module? Maybe it will via the ignition coil? Maybe it will be irrelevant?

Tell you what - I'll be happy any which way I can get it to start and run.

Now, that old Packard/Buick block should have the same distributor drive mechanism as the present arrangement? A points-timed, capacitor/condensor activated system?

Let me look up what HEI is. High energy ignition?

 

Yea. I had a Ford truck once that I could not get to run to save my life. After finally breaking down and taking to a shop they had it for a month. Could not figure it out. These guys specialized in classic vehicles. I replaced everything. Ignition switch. Solenoid. Starter. Distributor. Plugs. Wires. Coil. Nothing would keep it running. It would sputter and stall. No power. Compress test. Timing chain. I was about to yank the heads.
The shop eventually just swapped it to an HEI. it ran perfect. Later I figured out the coil wire has an internal resistor. Giving the coil just 9 volts. I replaced the wire to the coil thinking it was just a regular wire. Duh.

I don't know if the ECU would care about getting ignition signals. I don't see how that would be advantageous to it as far as design goes but hey...it is a Land Rover. That would be a problem for a more Rover experienced guy.

 

"I found a guy in England who has a few brand new (read "old but unused"), distributors with modern condenser and points."

In the mean time my Discovery is a dead weight. The non-electronic ignition distributor will only arrive after I have left the USA for the home country in ten days' time for two months.

It will be stored and so the diff lock will be lock-rusted in its present position and there will be a mass of polluted soil underneath it when I return, I suppose.

Back in my other home land I'll be taking the Mitsubishi and my elder son on a hunting trip and forget about starting problems and expensive parts franchises.

A sincere thank you to all who have contributed to assist me in treating the Lucas virus, much appreciated.