It would be cool I agree... especially with the PC connection part that
allows you to run any advance you want throughout the RPM range. However,
the energy packing into those coils are WAY overkill for our small engines.
Just a amusing note out of the installation manual (
http://www.electromotive-inc.com/pdf_files/hpv1.pdf )on plug gap:
On 75-115hp per cylinder .025
Over 125hp per cylinder .022
that's per cylinder. That would be VERY hard to accomplish in our Spridgets.
also it mentions solid core copper wire cannot be used. That means no cool
bumble bee wire :P Hey btw anybody know of any modern bumblebee wire?
without the solid copper core?
the install seems to be quite a PITA and I doubt they have a "kit" for our
Spridgets. Going off the distributor shaft to mount their timing wheel would
need an adapter and some machine shop work. I am not even sure if a new
Lucas distributor\shaft has the tolerances they are talking about. You would
probably be using their 2.5" trigger wheel on the distributor shaft, and
they will only allow .001 out of round tolerance. In my limited experience,
hall sensors or magnetic pickup sensors only work within EXTREMELY small
tolerances and our just finicky in general. The bracket holding it is
crucial is what it comes down to.
I bet the crankshaft mounted trigger wheel would work better, but getting a
timing wheel behind the front pulley seems like more hassling than I would
care to deal with. And I bet valve bounce is more of a rpm limit then
ignition coils.
True, the timing will not degrade over time.... until it croaks once and for
all and you have to try to tweak the sensor again with a flashlight in the
middle of some nasty place. Better not throw that distributor away just
yet... keep it in the boot with plug wires just in case :P
But it is pretty cool, like you say, "neato, whiz-bang, geegaw" to have. The
tweaking ability is worth it alone. Also I would need to know the "under the
hood impact" it would have. magical "black" boxes with flaming logos, and a
tangle of wires running out of it wouldn't be nice. But a simple unmarked
box might be acceptable.
Personally, if I were to go to the trouble of such a setup, I would get one
with the ability to plug in a knock sensor, and let the computer do the
guesswork on how much advance is required. With the feedback of a knock
sensor, it can retard or advance to just the edge of the knock and safely
get the best possible timing for that situation with the best performance.
This is how modern vehicles do it.
And if you real ambitious... visit. DIYFI (do-it-your-self-fuel-injection) I
was on their discussion list, but lost interest. They basically build the
same gadgetry as electromotive, but for shockingly less cash. Unfortunately,
my link to their website is dead. http://efi332.eng.ohio-state.edu/diy_efi/
perhaps they moved it or something.
Good luck, fascinating stuff.
Toby
>I'm still in the process of buying toys for a complete rebuild
>of my '70 midget.
>I started out thinking I was going to do a vanilla rebuild.
>Now I've amassed an
>assortment of goodies which I buy as I get consulting jobs on
>the side. A
>timing belt conversion kit just came in from minimania, I had
>my block bored
>.060 oversize, cam bearinsgs installed, etc. With the
>exception of an oil pump,
>I've got the entire bottom end of my engine.
>
>I've been shopping for a good ignition system and a crank
>triggered setup has
>caught my eye. The spark is triggered by a magnetic pickup on
>the crankshaft or
>cam and the distributor can be removed and thrown away. Each
>cylinder gets it's
>own spark coil. It is made by electromotive and can be
>programmed with a
>custom advance curve. I don't really know what kind of
>difference it will make
>in terms of performance, but it looks like a neato, whiz-bang,
>geegaw to have.
>Such a system should maintain perfect timing throughout it's
>life, rather than
>degrading between tune-ups and as the distributor ages. If
>it outlives a
>couple of distributors, I don't mind paying the extra money.
>I also like being able to customize the advance curve to suit
>my engine. Has
>anybody used one of these?
>
>Their web site is http://www.electromotive-inc.com
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