> What you say is generaly correct. The effect of the spark in an ignition
> system is binary. It either ignites the charge in the cylinder or it does
> not. If it does ignite the charge, a hotter spark does not do any better.
> Compression ratio and other factors INTERNAL to the cylinder are of more
> importance than factors outside like rain.
>
> Rain gets into things and causes shorts. A higher energy system does not
> do much to stop that. In fact, I have found that high energy systems are
> more sensitive to environmental factors like dirt and aging plug wires
> than a low energy system.
>
> The problems that I usually see with high energy systems is the breakdown
> of components due to heat. This is particulary true of aftermarket
> electronic ignition systems (the OEMs seem to have their electronic engine
> management systems pretty reliable of late). I have seen more ignition
> problems in the few cars running aftermarket high energy systems than in
> the multitudes of stock ignition systems.
>
> If the stock system does the job, why change? In the case of the Crane
> system I just removed from our Plus 8, there were two problems. The first
> was eratic timing. The timing was changing sporadicly causing the engine
> hunt at idle and to "chug" quite a bit if held at constant throttle. The
> previous owner said that this was due to the "hot cam." The second was
> heat related. After driving some distance, the engine would behave like a
> conventional system does when the condenser is open. Both problems went
> away after converting back to the conventional system.
>
> Gerry
>
> Stock is better.
>
> ---
> LMG
> GoMoG at
> http://www.angelfire.com/mi/GoMoG/
>
> A coil's sole purpose is to deliver a charge sufficent for a spark to jump
> the gap in your spark plug. Coils are constructed to deliver only the
> amount of charge that the "jump" requires. That being said, poorer quality
> coils have a problem delivering that charge under less-than-ideal
> conditions especially when coupled with standard or sub-standard wiring.
>
> So, for example, when it rains, your plugs are not getting the charge they
> need. Sport coils can deliver far more charge than a standard coil. This
> redundancy is unused until the less-than-ideal conditons appear and then
> they have the extra juice to keep you going without a murmur.
>
> Mallory of Carson City produces arguably the best ignition components in
> the auto industry. The specs on their high performance coils are awesome
> but you can opt to go with their more conventionally configured chrome
> coil for EFI (they also have to send a signal to your ECU) or chrome coil
> for non-EFI. Curiously the tops are different colors and that may be the
> story on the Lucas tops as well.
>
> Lucas "sports coil" is a good coil as well putting out as high as 40,000
> volts if required but reputably it is still a good idea with them to use
> some silicone spray against a rainy day.
>
> LMG
>
> On Mon, 14 Jun 1999 14:07:42 FPS3 wrote:
> >My relitively new Lucas "Sports Coil" is silver (aluminum) with a white
> top.
> >Not sure what is sporty about it... appears to be cheaper, more
> conventional
> >construction that the other Lucas coils I have (screw in coil wire lock).
>
> >Works fine though
> >
> >I too, have had a couple of Crane (Allison) ign systems go weird... never
> had
> >a problem with the Pertronix units.
> >
> >Fred Sisson
> >
>
>
> Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com
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