Electronic ignition... which is best ?

[mec]

Hi all

As per the title, I want to fit electronic ignition to my 73 1850 auto and wondered which one you guys have found best ?

mike

[Edin Dundee]

Best? Hmm, there are lots of things to consider.

Easiest and cheapest?
http://www.accuspark.co.uk/index.html Kit 31 for the TR7 Delco300 distributor, £37.95 with a 12 month warranty.
Works a treat.

[Toledo Man]

What I did was fit a Sprint dizzy (Lucas 44D4) with a Lucas 45D4 dizzy cap and fitted the Britpart kit which is a straight swap for the points and condenser. It cost me about £40 all in.

[sprint95m]

Much to consider.

Better than either option offered thus far is the 123 distributor. However it comes at a price.
(They don't offer an 1850 option as such but you can use THIS ONE by swapping the drive gear (needs a bush) and adapting a Dolomite 1500 (or similar) distributor clamp.


If you are going down this road it make sense to fit upgraded ignition leads, plugs and a coil......





Ian.

[MIG Wielder]

I've got the Lumenition Optronic one in my 1850. Its quite expensive but just works with no fettling needed. The 1850 is unusual in that the distributor has to be removed and dismantled to fit the sensor unit. It also needs the vertical mounting "magic eye ". It all comes in the kit with instructions though. I'd recommend changing to the 12V unballasted coil.
I also have one in the Lotus which has been there since the late 1970's and its still going. My Sprint and the MGB both have the Newtronic opto systems fitted in Lucas 45D distributors. Also work fine but I still clean out the inside of the caps, clean the opto-sensor and lubricate the distributor spindle from time to time.
Tony.

[matt of the vivas]

Im running the Accuspark kit in my 1850 - was about £30.
Perfect so far... Friend of mine has the same kit in his 1973 Vauxhall Victor 1800 (Same Dizzy), also have fitted other Accuspark kits to at least 3 other cars (1981 Mini, 1979 Vauxhall Cavalier, 1972 MG Midget). In all cases the Accuspark has been easy to fit and perfectly reliable.
Matt.

[Jon Tilson]

The guys have covered all the bases pretty much...

You may find this helpfull on explaining ballast systems and use with leccy ignitions...

https://www.dollywiki.co.uk/wiki/Igniti ... ss_removal

Jonners

[mec]

Hi all

thanks for the replys, easiest and cheapest is always good ! am i right in saying that the accuspark system is just a bolt in job and nothing else needs changing ? could I put a 12v coil on with this system too ?

mike

[Edin Dundee]

12 volt coil is recommended, remember to remove the ballast wire from the coil.

The Accuspark will require removal of the distributor from the car.
Remove the roll pin from the distributor shaft to split the thing, enabling the magnet to be slid onto the shaft.
Remove the points and the condensor.
Spread the heat-sink compound on the base plate.
Fit the pick-up module to the baseplate.
NOTE I tried to fit the pick-up module to the same mounting holes as the condensor and points, just move it around a bit and it's really obvious which holes to use. ( thanks Henk).
Then re-assemble and re-fit the distributor. I have some pics when you need them.

NOTE2 - Take a picture of where all your HT leads sit before starting.
A picture of where the rotor arm points with the timing mark at TDC.
Set the car at TDC before pulling it apart.
You will probably need to adjust the timing after fitting, and unless you can use a meter that means a strobe light.

It's all easy, especially if you heed note 2!

[Jon Tilson]

Of course we all forgot to mention the maplin kit that keeps the points as a low current switch, meaning points last virtually for ever.
I have a couple of these in use too...

Nissan micras used to be a good scrap yard source of decent coils and did I already refer you to this?

https://www.dollywiki.co.uk/wiki/Igniti ... ss_removal

Sorry if so...getting a bit senile.

Jonners

[oldred]

Woo Woo...back up there......
Nissan Micra coils??
Details, details? Do'nt leave us hanging..

[Jon Tilson]

Had a Denso one of an old Micra. Worked brilliantly. What more can I say? Micras are rare on breakers yards these days...
so many are used in grass track racing....(1 notch up from banger racing)


Jonners

[Leyland Lawrence]

I'm not so keen on this mod. I had a lumenition on the Midget years ago. It went through rotor arms a little more quickly, for whatever reason and after a year or two the whole unit packed up so I reinstated points. The dolomite I have recently bought also had an electronic ignition but after failure of the unit the last owner returned it to points. They seem to have a lifespan anyway.

Not sure I will rush to convert to electronic ignition unless the capcitors and points parts quality really deteriorate (even further)

[Toledo Man]

The Britpart kit wasn't the first electronic ignition I've had on this car. I bought a secondhand Newtronic unit with along with a Delco dizzy. When that died on me, I went back to points. I came across the Britpart kit and at the same time I had the opportunity to buy a Sprint dizzy along with the other parts I needed to make it all work on my 1850. The Britpart kit is cheap enough that I'd just go and buy another one if it ever failed. So far it has lasted longer than the Newtronic unit.

[Lee]

I'm not so keen on this mod. I had a lumenition on the Midget years ago. It went through rotor arms a little more quickly, for whatever reason and after a year or two the whole unit packed up so I reinstated points. The dolomite I have recently bought also had an electronic ignition but after failure of the unit the last owner returned it to points. They seem to have a lifespan anyway.

Not sure I will rush to convert to electronic ignition unless the capcitors and points parts quality really deteriorate (even further)

I don't think that all of the electronic kits are unreliable. But in my experience careful selection is needed before rushing out and buying one of the first and cheapest kits that come along that do indeed seem to have a finite life, if any of the masses of negative reports I've heard about such kits are anything to go by.

I had fitted electronic ignition to my 2.5 Pi(Lumenition), but have since gone back to points as, strangely, it is much more responsive with the original points set up installed. The secret is finding an original Lucas set instead of the spurious Lucas sets that are available nowadays.