Let's talk about coil pack ignition, a grassroots CSOB build? Options

[ahdoman]

Here's the deal; I started a thread over on the PP / 911 site on possibly using coil pack ignition instead of the traditional distributor and wires. In keeping with the 911 wine and cheese tradition it's gone high dollar, twin plug, race motor setups. (I should have known better than to try to get "shade tree mechanic" info from the "executive" class).

So, here's where I am so far and I'm hoping some of you can fill in the info here. Since most of you are on a budget like me I thought I'd get some more realistic answers over here.

There are several manufacturers of coils that fit on the top of the plugs (Audi, VW, Kawasaki, Denso, etc.). These are really cool because they also fit down into the sheet metal of the 4's but in my case the valve covers and headsof the /6. It also means the elimination of plug wires and puts a nice strong spark right at the plug. What I am trying to understand is the other parts that are needed to complete a system. I know there are some good manufacturers of pre-fabed solutions out there but they are $$$$$$$$$$ and still require plug wires to be run from a central coil pack location.

Here's a couple of questions;

1) I realize that the individual coil packs will need to be triggered. What are the options to doing this and how are they wired?
2) What kind of a "brain" needs to be involved with a system like this? What does it need to do?

Here's an example of the type of coil pack I'm looking at...



And here's an example installed...



See how neat that is? I realize wires will still need to be run but they can be much smaller since they no longer need to carry the voltage from the coil.

[ClayPerrine]

I actually ran a GM waste spark ignition on a 2.0L motor for a while. It works great even without an ECU to advance the spark, as the default advance curve is really close to the advance curve of an 050 distributor.

I eventually hooked it to a GM Fuel injection computer, and it worked great too. But the whole system died when I had a starter stick and chew up the flywheel that I used for a trigger wheel.

You could do exactly the same thing using a 6 cylinder ignition module for a GM car. It would be cheap, as there are a LOT of them in wrecking yards. But if I were going to do it again, I would use a trigger wheel on the pulley end of the crank rather than modding the flywheel.

[SirAndy]

I would use a trigger wheel on the pulley end of the crank

We had one of those disintegrate at redline on the 911 racecar.

It's amazing how much carnage such a small part will leave behind if you spin it fast enough right before takeoff ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) Andy