Daytona Dinoplex

Hey Johnson good to see you on here...I will ask Jimmy and see if can measure his.

 

For what I've been able to establish, transition from AEC 101 (large) to AEC 103 (small) probably took place some time in mid-to-late 1971 (or so ?), perhaps somewhere in the 14xxx range of production sequence.
In today's judging guide-lines, some consider the cut-off point being between year models of 1971 (large box) and 1972 (small box), but I believe it has more to do with manufacturing date. For example, I have a car in the shop that was first sold in spring of 1972, registered as 1971 year model (built in Dec. 1971), yet it clearly came with 103 (small) boxes.
If your car still retains its original inner fenders, you might be able to find the mounting holes and/or the riveted "nut-inserts" (or perhaps their rivet holes ?), which would assist to determine the size of the boxes used originally.
I hope this helps.
Timo

 

chris, what is the sn? post pix of car.
ed

 

I remember 14159 having big boxes, 14211 small boxes. May be no definitive cutoff as Ferrari used a lot of whatever was at hand

 

Exactly, just like any other car manufacturer.

 

14635

 

14211 should be bit too early for the AEC 103. The larger 101s use the Marelli BZR205A coils and the 101s wouldn't fit in Daytona Spyders. The Coupes had the fiberglass fender panels with a "shelf" that fit the AEC 101 ignition boxes. The Spyders were steel and hand formed and barely had enough room for the much smaller "Fiat" AEC 101 style ignition boxes which is why you see them positioned differently on the Spyders as they had to move them around so you can close the hood. You'll see them with the BAE200A and later, around 16569, the BAE203As (better high rpm performance). I've seen more than one Spyder hood frame damaged when someone moved one, or the other, Dinoplex to match the other side and then attempt to close the hood without checking to see if it would work. The dent in the hood frame tells the story. In the Daytona Spare Parts Book they list the VIN of the switch from the larger AEC 101 to the smaller AEC 103. I don't have it in front of me. From observation though, I've seen many 1971 Coupes with the larger AEC 101 and BZR205A coils after that cut-off date (around 143xx (01?) or something like that in the book). Obviously if the car hasn't been modified, and it is an original USA car, the holes on the shelf will tell the story. As mentioned above, all the USA Spyders will have the AEC 103s. One advantage of the larger AEC 101s is that you can fit an entire MSD ignition in there.