Electronic Ignition, who's running what, with what engine? Options

[tnorthern]

I know a lot of guys are running electronic ignition in their cars but what are they running 'em with...

Right now I have a stock 2.0 rebuilt about 2k miles and 6years ago. I want to switch to electronic ignition with the ability to upgrade as I put more money into the motor.

Ultimately I would like to maintain Sunday drive reliabity while boosting horse power in the long run, most likely with a bigger type 4 engine. Resale value is not a huge issue for me since I have no real plans to sell the car in the future...

THIS time I am asking for advice so let the opinions fly (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[Mueller]

stock 2.0??

your options are:

replace points with pertronix or crane electronic trigger...no HP gain, just no need to set point gap and dwell, some people report smoother running engines...do a search on these, some people love thier pertronix, others think they are junk

a new or hotter coil*

new wires, stock or megabux types are available

then you can add a CDI box (mallory or MSD or whoever you want), this supposed* to help at idle and low rpms

any of these items are reversable so it will not affect the car being stock or not later on down the road......

*I have no real world experiance with these boxes

if you go with a bigger motor, then more than likely you'll not be able to run the stock FI, then you can do crankfire or install a MSD or Mallory distributor

[Trekkor]

Ran Pertronix with the stock 2.0 FOUR.
Easy install, smoother starting and smoother top end.
No complaints. No maintenance.

On the SIX, MSD 6AL. This DRAMATICALLY improves starting and idle, as well as the whole power band while adding a programable rev limiter. A must for a carbed engine, I believe.
Adding Pertronix tomorrow to improve it further.

Coil mods to follow (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif)

KT

[Mueller]

QUOTE

Coil mods to follow

Trek...I don't know if the Pertronics recommends a specific Ohm coil or not, but I'd double check the instructions just in case. On the Mallory Unilites (breaker point replacement module similar to the Pertronics), they want a specific ohm range, they say it'll help protect the module.

MSD sells specific coils for thier "systems", $28 at Summit Racing (MSD-8202), they also have a "high vibration" coil as well (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

I like to keep the same brand components together as much as possible....

[Aaron Cox]

mallory unilote 1.4 to 3 ohm coil

pertronix has a how to pick a coil guide on thier website. tells you what ohmage you need......

[Trekkor]

Thanks guys, (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)
I'll start with my Blue coil for now. ( bringing a spare )

I'll research before I buy.

KT

[ConeDodger]

Hey T! Glad to see you asking the questions and getting the answers.

I believe that no real horsepower or torque can be gained with ignition changes. But you can benefit from a more complete burn. Where this might help is on idle and starting as have already been mentioned but also if you were to change your cam or somehow increase your supply of fuel and air.

I still think the biggest bang for your buck is at the tail end of that car. BACKDATE YOUR EXHAUST. Sorry, did I say that really loud?

Next, if your not afraid to pull the motor go with Euro pistons.

These two things alone are about 5 HP each. You can actually feel 5 HP. No louder noise, its real....

Sorry I didn't see you at the RR Autocross this last weekend. You might have gotten to see my wife and sister-in-law flash me... I missed it. Probably good since I was driving the course!!!

Rob

[Dave_Darling]

QUOTE (Aaron Cox @ Apr 19 2005, 09:08 PM)

mallory unilote 1.4 to 3 ohm coil

Will not work with D-jetronic fuel injection, unless you want to try Mueller's approach and "work some electronic wizardry"...

--DD

[Aaron Cox]

QUOTE (Dave_Darling @ Apr 20 2005, 12:25 PM)

QUOTE (Aaron Cox @ Apr 19 2005, 09:08 PM) mallory unilote 1.4 to 3 ohm coil Will not work with D-jetronic fuel injection, unless you want to try Mueller's approach and "work some electronic wizardry"... --DD

not the point of my argument...

i was alluding to the fact that different systems require different coils.

Thx

[Mueller]

QUOTE (Dave_Darling @ Apr 20 2005, 12:25 PM)

QUOTE (Aaron Cox @ Apr 19 2005, 09:08 PM) mallory unilote 1.4 to 3 ohm coil Will not work with D-jetronic fuel injection, unless you want to try Mueller's approach and "work some electronic wizardry"... --DD

Dave,

Mallory sells the "Unilite" trigger module seperately if one wanted to use that instead of the pertronics in a stock dizzy to further complicate things (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)

Since my car is getting the Link fuel/ignition computer I'm going to need a test subject with a 1.7 or 2.0 for the newest revision of trigger points...and suckers, I mean subjects (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/laugh.gif)

[ArtechnikA]

QUOTE (trekkor @ Apr 20 2005, 12:21 AM)

I'll research before I buy.

QUOTE

MSD sells specific coils for thier "systems", $28 at Summit Racing (MSD-8202), they also have a "high vibration" coil as well

the thing about the "high-vibration" model is that it is the ONLY coil-shaped pulse transformer they make that is approved for mounting in aby other position than VERTICAL, SECONDARY TERMINAL UP.

if you have your coil mounted in the standard SIX location, you'll want one for this reason. i bought one to go with my last MSD-6AL and while the spark box is landfill (and good riddance) i do keep the coil as a spare, although i don't think the Crane LX-92 pulse transformer is likely to fail any time soon.

if you like the stock look, the Hi-Vibe is the way to go. i don't care about the look, hence the LX-92. MSD also has some blocky looking pulse transformers, but i donno anything about them.

oh - and to answer the question in the thread title -

Crane XR700 optical points replacement, HI-6 spark box with programmable retard module, Crane LX-92 pulse transformer on a stock 2,2 911E engine. but i'll use all the same stuff when the 2,8 goes in ... heh, heh, heh ...

[HarveyH]

2056, cam (don't know which, PO's choice from a custon grind shop), 40 IDF's, stock 74 2L distributor, Pretronix, Crane HI-6, Crane PS-91 coil, and NGK platinum plugs @ 0.045".

Harvey

[Mueller]

QUOTE (HarveyH @ Apr 21 2005, 04:55 AM)

2056, cam (don't know which, PO's choice from a custon grind shop), 40 IDF's, stock 74 2L distributor, Pretronix, Crane HI-6, Crane PS-91 coil, and NGK platinum plugs @ 0.045". Harvey

QUOTE

stock 74 2L distributor

a 1.8 dizzy or a new MSD or Mallory would be better suited to the carbed motor....better advance........

[fiid]

I have a solution to the D-jet with mallory dizzy problem in the works.

I am running (running - HAH!) Ford EDIS with megasquirt on my subaru engine. it's 100% tuneable and hackable, but you need l33t 5k1llz to get it running. Fitting the EDIS trigger wheel to a TIV engine is tricky as well.

[SGB]

I had Pertronix in a .050 for years & years. One less variable (points) to wonder about...
Last year got the Mallory Unilite. Man, what a difference. Tunability with advance springs helped top end performance, and new dizzy itself showed me how erratic the old Bosch had become. SS heat exchangers also helped noticably....

[nebreitling]

tnorthern: go for a crane xr700 or a pertonix. i prefer the crane, but either will do the trick. the engine will probably run smoother, stay in tune longer, and require less maintenance.

[HarveyH]

Mike Mueller said:

QUOTE

a 1.8 dizzy or a new MSD or Mallory would be better suited to the carbed motor....better advance........

I know, but the PO put in a 009, and he gave me the stock distributor when I bought the car. I figured the stock unit was a lot better than the 009, and a lot cheaper than a used 1.8 or a Mallory (CSOBOEPA). My carbs have vacuum ports and I've hooked that up too. Noticeable improvement going from the 009 to the stock unit, and improvement again when I connect the vac line.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smash.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smash.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smash.gif)
Harvey

[tnorthern]

Thanks for all the input guys, I think I am going to go with the Crane xr700 since I have a pertronix on my boat. Why not try something different? If I decide to swap to Carbs later in my quest for more power I would need to go to a Unitlite or similar correct?

[tnorthern]

QUOTE

Sorry I didn't see you at the RR Autocross this last weekend.

Yeah I am sorry I missed you, I went on Saturday, but got there late. My brake squeal that I had been posting about on the PP boards reared again and there was no way I was going to try to AX

I met a couple of the guys from the board (trekkor and mcmark) and they were super cool as expected. My dad and I were laughing our ass off at nebreitling ripping the time ladies because they clearly were a little slow on figuring out the times... Once I get my car running right I will for sure be out there!

Oh yeah, I plan on doing the exhaust but I have way too many hobbies and the 914 can only get a portion of my hobby fund... Maybe I won't buy a new wakeboard this year... that saves $400

[Mueller]

QUOTE

If I decide to swap to Carbs later in my quest for more power I would need to go to a Unitlite or similar correct?

You don't "have" to get a new distributor, but if you want to maximize the potential of the engine, then yes, it would be a good idea.

If Fiids circuit works as planned, you can get an MSD or Mallory distributor right away.
My design worked, but it's not as robust and easy to install as it should be.....