Anyone had any luck setting up different ignition systems, besides the existing setup, but without going to expensive engine management systems .. Was wondering how easy/hard multicoil setups would be to implement while keeping the current ECU .. I'm guessing waste-spark mode would be doable, and that would reduce the dizzy to the sole purpose of running the CAS i guess .. "spark" signal from the ECU would fire all the packs at once, sparking them all .. Would work, but I dont see the point of seperate coil packs if theyr running wastespark .. so I've been thinking of a way to do multi-coil, but not in waste spark mode. My idea I've come up with, is basically to make use of the distributer as it is .. Roughly, what I'd do, would be to remove the current coil pack, and feed the "signal" from the ECU (or transistor, depending on need) directly to the input HT plug on the dizzy .. so I'm feeding a switched 12v signal to the distributer directly .. then instead of HT leads off the dizzy, run normal 12v grade wire, directly to each coil pack for each spark .. thus the distributer still controls exact timing and which cyl fires when, but the spark instead comes from a seperate coil pack .. meaning better sparking from better recharged coil packs, and less heat on the coilpack plus some other advantages .. Any thoughts on this type of setup? Any reason why the dizzy woudlnt work with routing 12v power? Only thing I can think of is maybe inside the dizzy a lot of the transfer of power is done by arcing (doubt this tho?) and thus 12v wouldnt jump the gap .. Worth it at all? I dunno .. maybe a pointless effort .. would give a few advantages, but probably minor .. doesnt give any better control over timing of ignition (as opposed to a complete aftermarket ECU capable of running 6 coil packs) Only other thought might be a jaycar programable ignition kit coupled with this idea (as I believe the jaycar kit only runs 1 output) .. this would give a slight control over timing, but probably not worth the cost .. Any other ideas?

12 volts would not run through the dizzy cap. sounds like a heap of work for no gain.

Quote: Originally Posted by HSVSUX 12 volts would not run through the dizzy cap. sounds like a heap of work for no gain. Ditto :roll:

What about seting up a hall effect type sensor on the front of the harmonic balancer, with six outputs at a even time mark, with a simple controler you could adjust your timing from in the cabin!

Hrm .. wonder the jaycar/autospeed kit supports a hall effect sensor .. Would be an interesting project .. Might have to pick up some coil packs and have a play Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

a bit off track here but i came up with an idea when I used to have the ignition timing severely retared. I was going to hook up another boost controlled actuator that would manually pull the dizzy back (retard timing) as the engine came onto boost, with a bit of creative welding of nuts and bolts you could set the max/min levels of ignition timing and these could be flicked between as car came onto boost. end result would be a responsive car that could run safer retarded timing under higher levels of boost it's the opposite of the old vacuum advance dizzy, the "boost retard" dizzy it is a bit of a retarded idea (pun intended) that i know can be achieved with aftermarket ECUs or chips but for the financially challenged this may suffice would it work?? edit actually just put this in a new thread so reply there..... Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

could u use a vn coil pack on a vl? and juts disconnect the standard dizzy and if u have a aftermarket ECU is this possilbe?

whats the major problem with the one thats on there already ? its only a 3l 6cyl n/a engine u cant expect the world.

Nothing wrong, just always curious with little cheap mods and ideas .. multi-coil packs, even in waste spark have a few advantages .. shorter leads (assuming you could satisfactorily mount them near the spark plugs (or on them, depending on the packs used), greater fail-over ability .. only loose one cyl, rather than all if it fails .. and better spark too I'd imagine .. theres gotta be a bit of a loss at high voltage thru the dizzy and 2 lengths of cable for each cyl (Main HT Lead, + Cyl lead) .. and if you could actually set it up to seperate cyl timing somehow, the you also get better recharge and cooldown of each coil, resulting in an even better spark .. not exactly needed for a road car, but could be fun to do for learning and stuff .. performance car not yet needing an aftermakr ECU (or not wanting the cost) .. Better spark means better ignition .. and at higher speeds (and most imprtantly, higher boost) the more you want a clean spark ..

Turboluke thats the best idea i've ever heard!! But there has to be some reason why it hasnt been done before.. P.S. best would be to rig it up so it retards the timing a percentage the higher the rpm.. So takeoffs would be insane but 16psi @ 6000rpm would happen as well!!

Lord Data: I don't think you'd have trouble with 12 volts running through the dizzy - but you would have a big problem with coil charge time, because the coils would only ever get a charge signal for the duration of the ECU given ignition event on that cylinder. This is because, normally, the coil is charging whilst the ignition signal is off - the coil having 120 degrees crank angle of charge time per cylinder (remembering that crankshaft turns twice to camshaft turn once = 720 degrees / 6 cylinders = 120 degrees). In the proposed scenario, the coil would have just a couple of degrees charge time - ie the duration of the ignition signal. In short, the engine would not run. 10 points for ideas though! What you could do is add a CDI unit and a bigger coil. I've had a bit of experience with ignition systems on my VL, and found the CDI to be the easiest and most effective way to get big spark without huge expense.

The best ignition system for an RB30E is the one it has. If the CAS is a problem I think there is a way of converting it over to Hall effect,but in the 2 Vl's I have had I have never been through one of these sensors.

Heheh ah well, was only an idea .. when i'm sitting bored places I tend to come up with strange ideas Still working on my other one .. (see my thread on faking aircon engagement to the ECU) .. fast idle dash switch this one might actually work Some original photos have not been recovered yet.