Distributorless Ignition Installed.

[kustom]

So I have a couple of days of driving in with the new Computronix distributor-less ignition system from Allison's. I'm really pleased with how it turned out... better looking engine bay (although it still needs a lot of cleaning up), and is running great. My old distributor wasn't advancing properly, and was basically set-up with 20 deg advance at all times. I always run premium fuel, but never noticed ping at low RPMs even with that much advance. Other than idling smoother, I haven't noticed much for power gains off the line, but once over 3000 RPM, she really rips now. I didn't think it was a slouch before the upgrade, but she noticeably pulls harder at higher revs. I might be crazy, but my exhaust note even sounds better. I have a pretty free flow system, and at about 2500 RPM I had a bit of a tinny rattle (what a hopped up Honda Civic sound like ), which has now been replaced by a low awesome note through the entire range . I don't know why, but It's a nice unexpected change.

There are a couple of mods that I wasn't expecting for a FI engine to get the trigger unit to fit...including bending the alternator bracket out of the way, and turning the dipstick out of the way (neither were a big problem).

I'm looking forward to not worrying about ignition troubles for the couple of longer summer trips (200 miles each way) we take every year over the "Road to the Sun" mountain pass from Alberta into Montana. *** An amazing trip in a Spider if you ever get the chance ***

[Razooli]

Phill,
What did you do with the dipstick? I don't see any way to put it back in so it bolts back up to the lift bracket.
I too am very pleased with the Computronix unit ... Idle is smoother than it's ever been and the tach is rock solid with no fluctuation. Acceleration with none of the hesitation I had. Bending that alternator bracket was no picnic for me ...my workbench started to break under the vise when I started pulling! Finally got 'er done, though.

[So Cal Mark]

we rotate the dipstick tube to clear the trigger unit

[Razooli]

Rotating the dipstick either hits the trigger unit or the fuel rail ... and no way does it get close to the lift bracket to bolt it back together. Any other place on a FI car to secure the dipstick? Right now, I've got it zip-tied to the rail.
(BTW, I hooked all three wires that went to the coil (-) to the purple wire, and everything works great!)

[azruss]

has anyone tried modifying the dip stick to the short 1438 style? This would help clean up the compartment as well. Can you post picks of the alt bracket mods you did.

[Razooli]

has anyone tried modifying the dip stick to the short 1438 style? This would help clean up the compartment as well. Can you post picks of the alt bracket mods you did.

Unfortunately, I have no "pre-op" photos ... since my vise/workbench gave way I couldn't make sharp bends so I did a curve.

Also had to grind a little off the rear timing belt cover.

There is a groove pressed into the bracket and the raised side is naturally on the side of the Computronix unit. I had the bracket adjusted so the unit would rotate until the cover screws hit. So I used my Dremel tool to first flatten the raised area and finally grooved it out until the screw cleared. Raised area is left of the arrow and my groove is to the right.

[So Cal Mark]

We just did an installation on Friday, I'll take pics of the alternator bracket mod on Monday and post it. With an FI car the stock dipstick tube bracket won't line up with the stick rotated. You have to add an extension to it after you get it positioned

[azruss]

OK, the alt bracket mod looks easy. As i have an FI, i am looking for a little cleaner look than just rotating the dip tube. My question is if the tube comes straight up from the motor, will it hit the dizzy, or does it need the bend in the tube to clear. My thought is to move the bend in the tube up till it clears the unit.

[So Cal Mark]

once the trigger unit is in place, you can rotate the stick back

[So Cal Mark]

here are pics of the alternator bracket mod that we use

[Razooli]

That's the way the alternator bracket should be bent, not curved like mine. Carbed car though ... on FI, there's stuff in the way that prevents rotating the dipstick tube back to stock position. I made an extension from flat stock, but it looks terrible. I was thinking of a Moroso braided universal tube for the FI. That might allow bending around all the hardware and attach to the lift bracket.

modifying the dip stick to the short 1438 style?

Don't know what that looks like ... anyone have a picture?

[divace73]

the problem with the short dipsticks, especially with all the FI gear, is that it is hard to get to....

[azruss]

the 1438 dipstick did not have the extension tube. The handle came straight out of the hole where the tube connects to the motor. simple, to the point, and guaranteed to drip oil on the way out and impossible to find the hole again without the midas touch.

[courtenay]

Mark - are those pictures of the alternator bracket from an Fi engine? If so, is that the dipstick tube beside the ignition unit?
If not, do you have pictures of an install on an Fi engine with the dipstick modification?

[So Cal Mark]

I don't have an FI car in the shop at the moment with the ignition system in it