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.

[charliew]

What little I know about this is: e85 runs cooler but it takes more of it not just a little more, so the fuel supply will need to be addressed. Yes it will reduce the possibility of det but will you always be able to find e85? I am not sure but maybe there could be two fuel maps if the ms can be reflashed easily at the service station when e85 is not available. The nasioc guys seem to like it's benefits over aquamist applications for reducing det. The possibility of loosing the failsafe of the aquamist versus the e85 mods is the question I study. The stuff I read is mostly about turbo cars and not ac motors.

The experience I've had with optical devices in business machines was that trash can be a problem where hall devices will work in a dirty enviorment.

The idea of having one coil per plug is the ability of the coil to reinergize so much easier and putting it ontop of the plug eliminates the wire and connection probs between a coil through a dist to a plug. The heat of the ac motor on the coil might be a question.The problem with a dist is the spark scatter from the shaft and advance weights and point bounce and tolerance wear. If the signal is on the end of the crank it is much more precise.

[stownsen914]

Megasquirt can supposedly be set up to run COP (non-wasted spark). And there is a new version of MS coming later this year so they say that will drive COP and do sequential injection. I plan on running that on my 914/6 track car when it comes available.

Scott