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Posted by: TimMartin Jan 16 2003, 06:07 PM

So my early 6 engine currently has a old crane optical ignition system. The thing is I don't like points (who does) but the opticial system isn't very well made. It feels cheap, and all in all, I'd really like to get rid of my distributor.

Is Electromotive the only other option out there?
Is it worth the money?
Is it hard to set up?
Do you put the sensor on the crank pully or the flywheel?

Thoughts?

.tim

Posted by: Brad Roberts Jan 16 2003, 06:12 PM

Tim,

The crank trigger setups from Electromotive use a toothed plate that mounts on the front pulley. Most of the knock off systems use the same thing. Mike Mueller will pipe in and give us the hyperlink to a company who just released a new crank triggered system that should work great. It is programmable. We run the Electromotive on 2 of our race cars. One is twin plug and the other is single plug. They work very well. The new system uses the same GM coil packs that Electromotive uses (inexpensive).

Clewitt makes some very nice stuff and sells complete crank triggered kits.

B

Posted by: Brad Roberts Jan 16 2003, 06:14 PM

Like this:

Posted by: Mueller Jan 16 2003, 06:18 PM

Hey B....

my spincter was burning so I figured you were talking about me
oh wait, that was lunch............


Sorry to disapoint you, but the system I sent you was another of those DIY projects (not that there is anything wrong with that)

http://www.bgsoflex.com/mjl/mjl_edis.html

oh, and it uses Ford (say it isn't so !!!) parts....still cheap and reliable...it even has a limp home mode (10°).....

Posted by: Gint Jan 16 2003, 09:58 PM

Posted by: HotRod Jan 16 2003, 10:02 PM

Ok, so what about us guys running 4s? I talked to the Electromotive guys out in Manassas and they don't have a trigger ring for 914s, what do some of you guys do?

Posted by: Mueller Jan 16 2003, 11:25 PM

This guy installed an Electromotive unit on his /4http://members.rennlist.com/mlitherland/914const.html#newengine

Posted by: seanery Jan 16 2003, 11:32 PM

Richard is a nice guy and really knows his stuff.
Here's a link to his web page: http://www.clewett.com

I bet he has a solution for just about anything 914.

Posted by: seanery Jan 16 2003, 11:33 PM

Hey guys, how is this guy so low in this car?
http://www.clewett.com/photos/deford01.jpg

Is he small or what?
Man, in my car I'd be way, way taller than he is.

Posted by: Mueller Jan 16 2003, 11:34 PM

I agree, Richard is a nice guy...when i was helping Brad on his tube car I had questions about the Electromotive unit and Richard gladly anserwed all the questions I had without even asking if the unit was bought from him.

Posted by: Brad Roberts Jan 17 2003, 04:33 AM

HotRod,

We mount our seats straight to the floor and cut out the cross brace that runs across the tunnel. I only use FIA approved seats and seat brackets.

Last time I spoke to Clewitt, he didnt have anything for the 914 4, but wanted to work with me on developing something. I'll see him at the Dunkel brothers swap meet in a few weeks. I'll ask him again.. he might have something now.

B

Posted by: mskala Jan 17 2003, 09:37 AM

Tim,
I can throw away that dist with the crane for you. Just send it to me.
Mark S.
'70 914-6

Posted by: brant Jan 17 2003, 09:56 AM

hotrod,

there are plenty of 4's out there with electromotive.
In colorado I know of 6 or so done this way.
Mine looked somewhat like the above picture.
one of the builders out here AJRS... (zuffenhaulen)... sets these up. He will charge about 150labor for the machine work, but I don't know how you'd do it long distance. not a bolt in thing without pulling the motor, and at least partial disassembly of the front.

brant

Posted by: Mueller Jan 17 2003, 01:49 PM

I don't like that location at all for the pickup....or should I say I don't like the lack of access without tearing apart half the motor

Posted by: brant Jan 17 2003, 02:01 PM

mr. mueller,

I also have it on good authority....
(top secret)...

that a pickup can be hiden and run through the distributor... and with fake plug wires.. it can look like an electromotive fired car still runs on a distributor..

I can honestly say I didn't do this... It would not be legal in come classes to remove the distributor.. but I have heard that a few cars are done this way to cheat....

a close eye to the plug wires would expose it though...
brant

Posted by: Mueller Jan 17 2003, 02:08 PM

If I wanted to, I could hide my EFI as well or even slicker, shove all the components into the stock ECU box....but no big deal to me if anyone knows I have it......

My biggest problem is that some of the mods I want to do to my car would put me in the classes with the fire-breathing monsters yet I do not want to run flares so my tires will be well undersized...

No real big deal....I'm building this car for fun and for the one or two times a year I do auto-x or time trail, it'll be fun

Posted by: J P Stein Jan 17 2003, 02:49 PM

It's pretty tough to beat an MSD setup (IMO).
I doubt the Electromotive offers any performance advantage over the MSD. On the contrary, the Electro.
set up doesn't provide as much spark as the MSD.

The latest things from MDS provide about all the features
of the EM set up at less than half the price.....unless your going twin plug, then the MSD becomes more expensive (near as I can figure).....mostly
due to the dizzy requirements.

Posted by: Mueller Jan 17 2003, 03:00 PM

If'n I'm correct.....MSD now gives you the option to run without a dizzy at a pretty decent price (about 1/2 to 2/3's the price of the basic Electromotive)

Crankfired as well and software tweakable.........

I'm all for the cheap DIY stuff