Electronic ignition conversion

[ben711200]

Hi Guys,

I know there are some on here who prefer to stick with points and condensor and there's nothing wrong with that provided you're happy adjusting them from time to time and you manage to obtain reasonable quality parts. I'm not really one of those people.

Can anyone recommend a brand of electronic ignition module? I guess they either work or they don't so there isn't much in it but when Accuspark kits cost £30 and Luminition Magnetronic ones cost nearer £100 I can't help but wonder what the difference is.

I also notice that Accuspark sell complete new (presumably recon) distributors with the electronic gubbins for about £50, which sounds very cheap. If I pull my existing Lucas DM2 distributor out and find it has a wibbly shaft (fnarr), then is it maybe worth taking the opportunity to upgrade to a 25D or 45D?

I'm mostly aiming for reliable consistency. Performance is never really going to be too much of a concern ;D

[ianboyd]

I have used a few of the accuspark electronic distributors, and have found them to work well, they are new and not reconditioned, they run negative earth though, so if your car is positive earth, you need to convert it

[ben711200]

already sorted on that front

[stinkwheel]

Maplins Velleman build it yourself kits about 12 quid, simple elec ignition for peanuts

[Dez]

see, ive got an issue here this thread may help with. ive got a bosch electronic dizzy for a fiat twin cam, but no amplifier for it, and the only one i can find for sale is over 100 quid.

how interchangeable are they? or could i 'build' one with maplins bits?

or, looking at it another way, i presume i could just chuck the bosch inducer coil setup and fit a complete 30 quid accuspark for pretty much any 4cyl engine in there instead?

[MrSpeedy]

I've fitted a 'Powerspark' Hall effect module to the Vitesse, and it runs soooooo much better than on the points and condensor. Best £30ish quid spent

[jrevillug]

Jun 22, 2012 13:43:36 GMT Dez said:

see, ive got an issue here this thread may help with. ive got a bosch electronic dizzy for a fiat twin cam, but no amplifier for it, and the only one I can find for sale is over 100 quid.

how interchangeable are they?

Very - you just need to know which type yours is: whether Variable Reluctor/Reluctance (VR) or Hall effect. Then you just need the appropriate amplifier module.

IIRC, the Pug 205 GTI uses a VR type, and Golfs/Polos use the Hall effect type - however, it's been a while since I looked at either so I could have that the wrong way round...

Mioght be best to grab the dizzy-to-module loom from a scrapper too, as the dizzy wires seem to be axial shielded stuff most of the time.

Stinkwheel - that's just an amplifier that uses the points to switch it. Stops you needing a condensor, and does stop the contacts eroding, but the gap (and timing) will still alter due to the heel wearing down.

[stinkwheel]

Jun 22, 2012 13:43:36 GMT Dez said:

see, ive got an issue here this thread may help with. ive got a bosch electronic dizzy for a fiat twin cam, but no amplifier for it, and the only one I can find for sale is over 100 quid.

how interchangeable are they? or could I 'build' one with maplins bits?

or, looking at it another way, I presume I could just chuck the bosch inducer coil setup and fit a complete 30 quid accuspark for pretty much any 4cyl engine in there instead?

You could build one for it out of honda C90 step - thru amplifiers. Ive seen that a few times, google it, quite simples.

[stinkwheel]

that's just an amplifier that uses the points to switch it. Stops you needing a condensor, and does stop the contacts eroding, but the gap (and timing) will still alter due to the heel wearing down.

Very true, but by the same token with the points being just an LT switch and the heel having a small smear of grease when fitted, they should last 15k without adjustment

[Dez]

i just rang accuspark to see what they could do for me- MEGA HELPFUL!!

phone was answered by a pretty knowledgable woman, really knew their product range/fitments well who knew exactly what i was after doing, and was happy to help even though I'm cobbling together a setup out of old wibblepoo and trying to make it fit, but couldnt say which kit would be closest to what i needed.
so she said 'why not come down the warehouse with your dizzy and rummage through our stock til you find whats most suitable- the kits are only cheap (£30-ish) but we want you to make sure you get exactly what youre after.'

sounds like a good idea to me. customer service that is.

[ben711200]

This has confirmed it for me. I'll give Accuspark a bell if Natwest allows me access to my wages on Monday

I've had a quick look under the dizzy cap and was presnted with this today. Mmmm, shiny sprinkles




A quick wiggle also suggests more play than I'd like in most directions too so a new dizzy is going to be the way to go I think, especially since it will essentially cost £20. Sort of. It does mean changing from the current DM2 to either a 25D or 45D though. And they list two different 45Ds for Triumphs so that's a choice of three.. Gut instinct is to go for 45D listed for Spitfires. I'm assuming the advance curve isn't wildly different. I'm open to influence in other directions though.

[composimmonite]

Pertronix systems are supposed to be good.

paul H

[ChasR]

What car is it going on?

Regarding electric ignition, I fitted the Britpart conversion to an old MGB of mine, and it did make for more consistent running and taking the gamble out of replacing the points (as you say, getting points and condensers that work these days is becoming increasingly difficult.

[ben711200]

It's going in a Standard 10. The engine is the same as an early Herald. The points fitted currently are in good condition but it appears to be an area where improvement can be made and for relatively small outlay when you consider I will be needing to buy some of the bits that would be included with the new dizzy anyway

[composimmonite]

A lot of the points / condensors, including Lucas items, that are applicable for "classic" cars such as Morris Minor, Herald, etc are actually made in India. Failure rate is high and I've even had duff items straight out of the packaging ! This is a well known problem and no answer other than make sure you always keep a spare set, ot two, with you. I'd say conversion to a system which uses an optical or magnetic trigger is therefore going to be more reliable than any electronics that retains the points.

Paul H

[ben711200]

Some googling and studying of charts of Lucas distributors suggests that a Spitfire dizzy advances 7.5 degrees less than a 948 Herald one. Does that sound correct?

[jrevillug]

I think accuspark can probably tune a dizzy advance curve to suit the application - I'd stick with as close to standard as possible.

[ben711200]

Thanks James. Thought (and was hoping!) that to be the case. I'll give them a bell on Monday.