Section : Ignition and Distributers

Electronic ignition-which one? 

Posted By : Stephen Airey, 21-Jul-2004, 08:57am

• Electronic ignition-which one? 

  Posted By : Neil Nasralla, 21-Jul-2004, 11:55am

  Stephen, I cannot say that I have compared each make of electronic ignition but I got an Aldon Ignitor for &163;75(ish) and fitted that in place of points and condensor and found that my Spitfire 1500 was more willing to rev round to the red line. It was extremely easy to fit with no need for a separate control box and very good value.
  
  It took 20 minutes to install and required some minor adjustment to the timing probably due to the timing (or points) being out in the first place. I would receommend the Ignitor to anybody.
  
  Cheers, Neil

  • Electronic ignition-which one? 

    Posted By : James Carruthers, 21-Jul-2004, 02:41pm

    The optical ones are meant to be slightly better - however I got an Aldon Ignitor II AND Flame Thrower coil for the grand sum of &163;80.89 from this place in the USA:
    
    http://www.vintageperformance.com/retrorockets/
    
    You can pay via PayPal - so you can buy it using a Switch or any UK credit card.
    
    After installing it I found it much more willing to rev and its silk smooth too.
    
    
    James
    

    • Electronic ignition-which one? 

      Posted By : Glenn Harmer, 21-Jul-2004, 03:20pm

      James.
      
      I've just fitted a performance 6v coil from Rimmer's, along with a set of Unipart silicone leads. Would the Aldon Ignitor II work with the coil I have fitted? I'm very tempted to fit an electronic ignition, as I used to have one on one of my "other" classics a few years ago, and found it to be faultless (Lumenition).
      
      Regards,
      
      

      • Electronic ignition-which one? 

        Posted By : James Carruthers, 21-Jul-2004, 03:52pm

        Glenn,
        
        
        I think it should. I know you can't use the FlameThrowerII with the plain Ignitor or points because its too powerful - but don't see why you can't use the coil with the IgnitorII - might be worth thinking about just getting the Flame Thrower II anyway - I think it only works out at something like an extra &163;15. Put your other coil on eBay?
        
        You have a choice of the plain vanilla Ignitor and go-faster Ignitor II.
        
        Ignitor II does something fancy with dwell angles... I went for the II because I was saving so much getting it from the USA. In actual fact they don't come from the USA - they get them sent from the warehouse over here to your door - so you don't even get done for import tax etc
        
        
        
        James
        

        • Electronic ignition-which one? 

          Posted By : Glenn Harmer, 21-Jul-2004, 03:58pm

          Cheers James.

          • Electronic ignition-which one? 

            Posted By : Ben Watson, 21-Jul-2004, 07:02pm

            hello gents
            i have experience with three of the electronic ignition names mentioned above, firstly i ordered the pirahna, when i received it it was a lumination box ect when questioned the supplier said they are the same company, it turned out half the bits were wrong though so i sent it back, also its worth noting this setup has a large black box of tricks to be bolted on the bulkhead, a bit ugly?
            
            i then bought the standard aldon ignitor (not the posh one like james) this transformed my little herald to an amazing extent with the same symptoms already mentioned, a real little racer, i bet the better one with flame thrower will really beef up a 1500 considering that, might be a bit of an over kill on a smaller engine though?

            • Electronic ignition-which one? 

              Posted By : Stephen Airey, 21-Jul-2004, 07:33pm

              Wow - thanks for the responses - I am surprised (pleasantly) that you all seem to have seen a big improvement. I wasn't really expecting anything in the way of improvements - just less maintainance. I agree the black boxes don't look nice and as everyone seems happy with the Aldon I think I'll go for that.
              
              I'll let you know how I get on.
              
              Cheers
              

              • Electronic ignition-which one? 

                Posted By : Stephen Airey, 21-Jul-2004, 07:45pm

                James: The ignitor you had - was it the 143 or the 144: There appear to be two possibilities

                • Electronic ignition-which one? 

                  Posted By : James Carruthers, 21-Jul-2004, 07:55pm

                  It's the 143... specifically the "9LU-143" for the Ignitor II.
                  
                  That's what your 1500 *should* have as standard. You can double check by looking at the colour of your points.
                  
                  The 144 is a later dizzy type - fitted to 80s Metro's and such like I believe...
                  
                  
                  James
                  

                  • Electronic ignition-which one? 

                    Posted By : Jason Chinn, 21-Jul-2004, 08:22pm

                    I must say that I acquired one of these Aldon Ignitor electronic igntions and a flame thrower coil rather"on a whim" and ended up fitting it to the 13/60 after a rather chuggy journey back from Stafford - the results were a revelation. Granted that my points needed renewing due to uneven wear - it was in fact not possible to set them properly despite trying, it was only when removed completely that you could actually see that. Anyway, 20 mins later the Ignotor was on and the new coil in place - the car is a different animal again. The engine revs better, sounds smoother, seems to pull stronger and is generally an overall improvement - definately the best &163;60 I've spent on the car yet.
                    OK so a set of points would have improved matters but I think this upgrade is well worth the time effort and money - all being fairly minimal!

                  • Electronic ignition-which one? 

                    Posted By : Stephen Airey, 22-Jul-2004, 06:58pm

                    James - many thanks for the web link and tips - just bought one from there (Std Ignitor - same as on sale in the club shop ... shhh). Cost 42quid including post and packaging!!! Bloody good value I'd say. (75 Quid in club shop and Luminition kits are pushing 100).

                    • Electronic ignition-which one? 

                      Posted By : James Carruthers, 22-Jul-2004, 07:27pm

                      Can't argue with it costing almost half price really!
                      
                      If it's in stock it'll be with you by the middle of next week no doubt...
                      

                  • Electronic ignition-which one? 

                    Posted By : Ian Knott, 15-Mar-2005, 10:45am

                    Hi
                    
                    I've jumped onto a thread that was around last summer. I'm thinking about putting electronic ignition onto my mkiii engine and fancy one of the kits that James Carruthers got from: www.vintageperformance.com/retrorockets/lucas.htm (James had kit no. 9LU-143")
                    
                    My problem is that I can't figure out what Lucas dizzy I have. The stamp on the dizzy says: "Lucas 41865A 4504 3687" which doesnt agree with any of the dizzies listed on the website above. Can anyone tell me if:
                    1) I need a new dizzy to use any of the kits
                    2) the number above equates to one of the dizzys listed on the website.
                    
                    Thanks
                    
                    Ian

                    • Electronic ignition-which one? 

                      Posted By : James Carruthers, 15-Mar-2005, 12:08pm

                      A couple of ways to work out what you have:
                      
                      
                      If the rotor arm has an arrow on it - then it's a 25D.
                      
                      If it has a vernier adjustment knob on it - then it's a 25D.
                      
                      If it's not one of the above - then it's likely to be a 45D.
                      
                      
                      
                      
                      James
                      

                      • Electronic ignition-which one? 

                        Posted By : Ian Knott, 15-Mar-2005, 01:09pm

                        Thanks James - what's a vernier adjustment knob?

                    • Electronic ignition-which one? 

                      Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 15-Mar-2005, 01:07pm

                      haha... I'm guessing here that your serial number on the dizzy is actually "Lucas 41865A 45D4 3687" and you actually read the 'D' as a zero
                      
                      The 41865A is the identifier for the vehicle that the distributer was originally intended,
                      45D4 is the type and,
                      3687 should be the week and year it was manufactured... 36th week on 1987 (sounds a bit late for me)

                      • Electronic ignition-which one? 

                        Posted By : Ian Knott, 16-Mar-2005, 11:19am

                        You're right Nigel - I had the same thought after James mentioned it may be a 45D4 and had another look last night. The numbering was on the side of the dizzy facing the timing cover so not easy to see and I had to read it upside down! The Dizzy is not original so 1987 might be year it was made.
                        
                        I wonder what vehicle was supposed to have a 41865A dizzy then..........
                        
                        Cheers
                        
                        Ian

                    • Electronic ignition-which one? 

                      Posted By : Martin Neal, 03-May-2005, 02:29pm

                      Morning all,
                      
                      Have decided to plump for an Ignitor 1149C (as recommended for the Delco Dizzys - D200 7953166 in peculiar), just browsing the archives and only seem to come across 1500 threads. Would there be any modding I have to do to the Mk2 electrics? everything is still as original.
                      
                      Cheers
                      
                      

                      • Electronic ignition-which one? 

                        Posted By : Tony Beverley, 20-Jun-2006, 07:45pm

                        Hi All
                        I have just got hold of a Lumienition PMA50 for free!!! Does anyone know the difference between a D200 and a D202 or 204, you can get the fitting kit for the latter two but not the D200, is this a sortable problem ??
                        Tony