Electronic ignition -advice appreciated.
With the weather breaking here and then, its given me a change to work on the car some more.
And what I wish to look into is replacing the ignition system to an electronic system, as I know the benefits this can provide.
I have looked around, and there just seems to be many different ways of doing it, some cheaper than others.
What should I be looking at if I was to put an electronic ignition system in my car?
And I am sure the more expensive options are worth the money, does anyone know what are the differences between the kits?
Thanks
Tom
I have used the Lumenition Magnetronic system on my Jube before. The kit cost me £75 from the MGOC, and was very benefical. It completely removed the old points system and replaced them with a small control unit and a rotor arm with magnets in. All was hidden to the eye within the the distributor and the wires from the control unit simply attached to the negative and positive terminals of the coil. All the instructions made it a real easy DIY fit and gave me a good 2-3 mpg gain. Plus it was maintainence free which is a good positive.
This was removed earlier this year as the distributor itself developed a fault and when taken for tuning, was diagnosed as being 'knackered'. I replaced the whole item with qhat my tuner recommened which as a 123 ignition. This is a complete distributor at £250 (eek) but this item is completely maintainence free and will never require being replaced or checked when fitted. Now my tuner fitted and set the item, so I have no knowledge on how to setup the item, but since fitted my fault was cured, and also the car feels much better to drive all the wya through the range. The item is customisable to the car in its setup, so a tuner can fully exploit the ignition to suit the cars needs.
Both the above are really good items, it just depends on your budget. I found the basic Lumenition system excellent to put together and gave excellent results, and also the 123 ignition. The 123 igniton is really for the seasoned tuner (which I aint!) where the Lumenition is more for new comers to ignition improvement
How much of a difference would you say there is between the Optronic and the 123?
As I don't want to have to swap them out in the future, would the 123 be better in the long term, or do the benefits only come from properly tuning it?
I run a Lumenition on the race Midget and that copes admirably with all the stress and vibration that we put it through. It starts on the button after weeks (occasionally months of inactivity) so can't really be faulted there either.
On the Jube I fitted an old LUCAS (yes I'm that daft) electronic ignition system and again that (touch wood) has worked fine, it was off an old BGT that we bought for bits and pieces! That also starts on the button and even did so after being sat out on the driver buried in snow for several weeks over this last winter.
I'll let you know how it fairs after this long enforced period off the road whilst we are doing the underside floor surgery.
A.
Ive also spotted the new 123/Tune distributor, but am having no luck finding anywhere that sells it.
The optronic system doesn't replace the distributor like the 123 does, and I think the Optronic system is the same price as the 123 system. The 123 distributor is fully tunable to your car. The MG Owners Club Parts and Accessories sell both. The Optronic for £225.95, the 123 without vacuum £254.15 and with £288.90. I was advised for without vacuum for my vehicle.
As I'm no real expert in setting up vehicles for running, I always use my local rolling road tuner to setup and advise on what to get for my car, as when he does the car runs so well. So with the 123 I won't touch it
There are lots of trick systems around at various prices but it depends on what you want. I have just bought a ket for the V8 from MG Breaker (Ebay) for £30. It all fitted neatly (except for a couple of small mods) under the dizzy cap and looked stock. Although I haven't taken it for a long run to test it has made a massive differnce to the starting/running.
Whyen I get around to doing charlottes's 1800 I will probably fit one og the ebay new electronic dizzies (only about £45-a vac advance unit would cost almost that) and they take the lucas cap/rotor arm so look totally standard and 12 month warrantee to boot.
Horses for coarses I guess
If I have Vac advance on my car, surely I will need to get the Vac advance version of the 123 for my car, I thought it was rather important to advance the timing?
If I could get it without a vac advance it would save me about 80 quid
Hi...Just had a look on eBay and found this unit. Lucas manufacture uses standard cap/looks standard c/w vac unit & 24 month warrantee (amazing for less than £50) or for an extra £12 there is a performance version.
THE ONLY POINT TO NOTE IS THAT IT NEEDS A NON BALLASTED COIL (EASY TO CHANGE THE WIRING OR, AS I DID) FIT A HI OUTPUT,BALLASTED COIL, FOR AN EXTRA £20 into the balla.
So for £70 your ignition system is brand new-bargain!!-i REMEMBER IN YEARS GONE BY CARS BEING WRITTEN OFF DUE TO THE VERY HIGH COSTS OF A NEW DISTRIBUTOR
IF THERE IS ENOUGH INTEREST I COULD TRY THE GUY FOR A SPECIAL CLUB PRICE BASED ON QUANTITY
If you want a hand to fit it then if you get the bits and pop up we can do it on a weekend (probably take a couple of hours)
here is the advert for the standard item http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LUCAS-type-45D-ELECTRONIC-distributor-MGB-/120522936182?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM
& the performance item http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PERFORMANCE-LUCAS-type-45D-electronic-distributor-MGB-/110453683917?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM
............................................................................
NEW Standard Electronic 45D Distributor
suited for MGB engines 1975 - 1981
comes NEW, complete and ready to fit no extra parts needed
Our products have a finish that is second to none with high qualty internal components and comes with a 24 month warranty and inside your new distributor is our own electronic module developed and tested by Simonbbc to replace the troublesome points system with a modern magnetic pick-up therefore we can offer a full 2 year warranty on the module
This is not just a distributor with just a conversion kit inside we calibrate each unit and therefore you get durable, quality parts that have been tested for use over 80,000 miles
Our electronic distributors even allow you to use a standard rotor arm unlike most of the other options available which mean you have to rely on a rotor arm that is prone to overheating
Don't rely on non standard rotor arms and conversion kits simply placed in a distributor
We pride ourselves on years worth of development and have quality parts built into the complete unit...
No more contact points
Improved performance
Improved durability
Improved fuel economy
Improved reliability in all weather
This units performance far exceeds other electronic distributors using standard coils
Up to 17% better fuel economy
Increased durability and performance with the POWERMAX rotor arm
Sports / Performance 45D Distributor
This performance electronic distributor for fast road engines
This distributor gives you a more accurate and powerful spark to ensure you get the best out of your ignition
Specially developed and ideal for performance engines but can be used on any application where good spark control is required over the full rev range, competition engines or the more discerning mechanic
This is our signature distributor module and really is the best electronic distributor you can get
fitted with a trigger wheel mounted on the spindle and electronic module on purpose built base plate which uses the standard Lucas cap and rotor arm which are all supplied
Why not complete the package with our POWERMAX rotor arm for increased durability too
No more contact points
Improved performance
Improved durability
Improved fuel economy
Improved reliability in all weather
This units performance far exceeds other electronic distributors using standard coils
Up to 20% better fuel economy
Negative earth
Electronic non ballast coil (1.5 ohm resistance or less)
Specifically matched for the MGB fitted with the A series or B series engine
POWERMAX rotor arm can be used (ask for more details)
Uploaded files:
Hi Colin,
I see he also does the less then 1.5 ohm coil. Could we get a combined package price for coil and distributor?
I'd be interested in the combined deal with the sports version, if it can be arranged. 🙂
Cheers
Col