Electronic Ignition

[renault8&10]

For those who followed the thread a few months back regarding fitting Electronic ignition kits to Aussiefrog cars - I fitted my kit to the R10 tonight (1.4L with Ducellier ignition).

I ended up purchasing the Pertronix "Ignitor" kit with matching hi-performance Coil. Had to be shipped in from the states, but obtained with no dramas other than the wait for shipping. I have to say Pro-Quip in Melbourne were most helpful in sourcing the kit and expediting it up to me. I've had it since end October, but only just now got around to fitting it.

The kit was easy to install - much easier than expected. Required a slight modification to one of the existing points plates (which gets left in as a backstop to prevent the Module from moving as far as I can tell). I just need to put a dab of silicon on the wires exiting the distributor body (I used an exisitng grommet rather than the one supplied as the penetration was too large for the kit's grommet); just to make sure the external section of the wire doesn't get bumped and push it back into the coil and into the way of the rotor button and the job will be fully finished.

I took my time and was extra slow and careful and it took me less than 45 minutes from go to whoa (or whoa to go as the case may be).

Road tested the car and it is definitely running better and feels slightly more responsive although that may be due to fixing other issues during the course of the install.

Overall; definitely worth doing in my opinion; although as someone said in the threads previously, the cost adds up to a lot of sets of points. The total cost was 284.90 for the ignitor, and 120 for the coil giving $404.90.

Will give an update after the car has been tuned and done some more miles as opposed to just around the block.

 

[HONG KONG PUGGY]

For those who followed the thread a few months back regarding fitting Electronic ignition kits to Aussiefrog cars - I fitted my kit to the R10 tonight (1.4L with Ducellier ignition).

I ended up purchasing the Pertronix "Ignitor" kit with matching hi-performance Coil. Had to be shipped in from the states, but obtained with no dramas other than the wait for shipping. I have to say Pro-Quip in Melbourne were most helpful in sourcing the kit and expediting it up to me. I've had it since end October, but only just now got around to fitting it.

The kit was easy to install - much easier than expected. Required a slight modification to one of the existing points plates (which gets left in as a backstop to prevent the Module from moving as far as I can tell). I just need to put a dab of silicon on the wires exiting the distributor body (I used an exisitng grommet rather than the one supplied as the penetration was too large for the kit's grommet); just to make sure the external section of the wire doesn't get bumped and push it back into the coil and into the way of the rotor button and the job will be fully finished.

I took my time and was extra slow and careful and it took me less than 45 minutes from go to whoa (or whoa to go as the case may be).

Road tested the car and it is definitely running better and feels slightly more responsive although that may be due to fixing other issues during the course of the install.

Overall; definitely worth doing in my opinion; although as someone said in the threads previously, the cost adds up to a lot of sets of points. The total cost was 284.90 for the ignitor, and 120 for the coil giving $404.90.

Will give an update after the car has been tuned and done some more miles as opposed to just around the block.

Would be very interested in your findings renault8&10. I have an old Dick Smith elevtronic unit in the Virage I am driving, (originally built for an R17) and am having trouble with hot starts. It is difficult to start when left for a few minutes on warm days.......
I looked into the Pertronix and they looked very good from all reports.

Cheers, Chris

 

[RS2000]

I have also recently had Electronic Ignition fitted, in this case to my RS2000, with 2L pinto which runs twin webbers and a biggish cam among other things.

The main difference was drivability at below 2000rpm. With points sub 2000rpm was a no go zone, but it is quite happy to trundle along as low as 1200rpm now without too much fuss.

I can't comment on the difference at the top end yet as the tuning is not done yet, so any changes are not necessarily valid, dyno day coming soon (got to fit new extractors first). I am expecting approx. 105 - 110 kW at the flywheel BTW.

Matt M

 

[pugrambo]

I have also recently had Electronic Ignition fitted, in this case to my RS2000, with 2L pinto which runs twin webbers and a biggish cam among other things.

The main difference was drivability at below 2000rpm. With points sub 2000rpm was a no go zone, but it is quite happy to trundle along as low as 1200rpm now without too much fuss.

I can't comment on the difference at the top end yet as the tuning is not done yet, so any changes are not necessarily valid, dyno day coming soon (got to fit new extractors first). I am expecting approx. 105 - 110 kW at the flywheel BTW.

Matt M

not a bad improvement from the original 90hp they had
my poor old TI used to eat a mates RS2000 up and down macquarie pass
and he used to try and tell me a story that he could pull 230km/h out of it
i used to just laugh at him
they aren't a bad machine though

 

[RS2000]

Hahaha, 230 km/h, not with the 4 speed and 13s, top speed = about 160km/h before you run out of rpm.

I have a Siera 5 speed, and combined with the Bling Bling 17 inch Simmons it cruises at a lovely 2700rpm @ 100km/h in 5th, or a less relaxing 6000rpm @ 200km/h in 4th ( on a closed road only of course ).

Not a bad machine, I just have to make it handle like my 205

 

[pugrambo]

Hahaha, 230 km/h, not with the 4 speed and 13s, top speed = about 160km/h before you run out of rpm.

I have a Siera 5 speed, and combined with the Bling Bling 17 inch Simmons it cruises at a lovely 2700rpm @ 100km/h in 5th, or a less relaxing 6000rpm @ 200km/h in 4th ( on a closed road only of course ).

Not a bad machine, I just have to make it handle like my 205

yeah
he was always most upset as i rounded him up on the pass all time
he also used to say that he had a mark 1 escort that used to do similar speed
another laughing fit would hit me as i walked away from him lol

 

[Haakon]

Have to say that both my R10s were always well behaved on the stock ignition system. They always started first time every time, hot or cold, idled perfectly and lugged in lower revs as happiely as revving its head off everywhere (a more common condition :roflmao: ). Dont think I ever wore points out either. I just stripped, cleaned and reassembled the dissy when I was putting the car on the road and made sure it had good leads and plugs and timing.
Mind you, I certainly wasnt going to spend any money on ignition on a car I bought for $50 out of a paddock

 

[Stuey]

Must admit, my R12 runs beautifully since I rebuilt the distributor, which involved brazing the bob weight pivots and redrilling them. I reckon if you make sure the centrifugal advance is tip-top (including greasing), and make sure that the vacuum capsule is holding vacuum, it's a great system, mainly because the oiling of the shaft bushes seems to be so efficient. They don't seem to wear, and therefore you don't get the spark timing scattering of lesser distributors. Still, the accuracy of electronic systems will always give a bit of an improvement, and if you can justify the cost, go for it!

Stuey

 

[HONG KONG PUGGY]

Must admit, my R12 runs beautifully since I rebuilt the distributor, which involved brazing the bob weight pivots and redrilling them. I reckon if you make sure the centrifugal advance is tip-top (including greasing), and make sure that the vacuum capsule is holding vacuum, it's a great system, mainly because the oiling of the shaft bushes seems to be so efficient. They don't seem to wear, and therefore you don't get the spark timing scattering of lesser distributors. Still, the accuracy of electronic systems will always give a bit of an improvement, and if you can justify the cost, go for it!

Stuey

Stuey,
Ignition cost is all relative. Buy a kit. Build it yourself, then say I di it all...ego trip :roflmao:
Seriously, basic kit, $52.95 and programmable option for the same is $64.95. Jaycar website has all the details, e could even get a bulk deal if afew of us wanted one.( 47.45 and 58.50) I have read reviews on these kits and from all reports they are fairly relieble.
My old Dick Smith TAI kit is going well after 15= years (a few in storage). The hot start problem is intermitent.
Chris.

 

[Pugnut403]

I am thinking fo a Jaycar kit for the 403.
We have had an intersting ride with the electronic ignition on the Transit (standard '83 Falcon Bosch system). The first thing was the module stopped working, so we stuck in a secondhand module. That stopped working, so we fitted a new module. The next day the coil packed up, so a new coil was bought. A few days later it stopped and wouldn't go. Trouble was about 3mm of play in the distributor shaft. The toothed wheel had been eating the sensor!. Secondhand distributor was fitted, ran fine. A few days later it stopped again. Problem was dried out grease on the module earth
So now we have a good dissy, new module, new coil, we are waithing for something else to break, like the gearbox again ( I am getting good at changing gearboxes, when I put it back the other day it took me 45 minutes from start to finish).

 

[PeterT]

Stuey,
Ignition cost is all relative. Buy a kit. Build it yourself, then say I di it all...ego trip :roflmao:
Seriously, basic kit, $52.95 and programmable option for the same is $64.95. Jaycar website has all the details, e could even get a bulk deal if afew of us wanted one.( 47.45 and 58.50) I have read reviews on these kits and from all reports they are fairly relieble.
My old Dick Smith TAI kit is going well after 15= years (a few in storage). The hot start problem is intermitent.
Chris.

You can buy an M&W Ignitions CDI unit from approx. $130. They're Aussie made, great value and used by many of the V8 Supercars.
http://www.mwignitions.com/

 

[renault8&10]

PeterT,
Main advantage for me of the Pertronix kit over the M&W is that it is fully enclosed in the distributor and does not require a separate module "Box" to be located elsewhere in the engine bay. There are only two wires coming out of the dizzy to the coil in the kit I've got otherwise it looks std.

For the application (club rego R10), it made more sense. The M&W kit would certainly be better in a more perfromance/race orientated vehicle

I know of Mark Boxall and the M&W kit and it is a good piece of kit. Mark was also heavily involved in the early days of Haltech too I believe.

 

[PeterT]

PeterT,
Main advantage for me of the Pertronix kit over the M&W is that it is fully enclosed in the distributor and does not require a separate module "Box" to be located elsewhere in the engine bay. There are only two wires coming out of the dizzy to the coil in the kit I've got otherwise it looks std.

For the application (club rego R10), it made more sense. The M&W kit would certainly be better in a more perfromance/race orientated vehicle

I know of Mark Boxall and the M&W kit and it is a good piece of kit. Mark was also heavily involved in the early days of Haltech too I believe.

Yes, I agree, that would be better then. Owners of early Jags are using them too I believe for the same reason.

Mark was the co-inventor of the Haltech and still owns a share I believe. He had a patent on the use of the laptop to program an ECU but lost the court case. I had the pleasure of working with him on a project in the early '90s.