I have been reviewing past threadS on distributorless systems...mostly Allison's.
In simple terms (small words please what is the real advantage or not over the stock coil/distributor? My engine is only a mild build with HC pistons and a little more "agressive" cam from Allisons, lightened flywheel etc etc. 1981 FI car.
I'll let you know next week. I have one coming for my 76. Should have the top end back together and running this weekend. Mark told me there was a significant benefit. He has never steered me wrong yet so I am sure I will have a good report to tender next week.
I'll give you our "talking points" about our ignition since it difers from most every other system on the market for the Spider. Virtually all ignition systems start losing spark intensity about 5000rpm, since dwell time for coil saturation becomes very short. Our system puts out the same voltage up to 12K rpm with no dropoff. The immediate change you will notice is much easier starting since the spark is so strong. The spark is also strong enough to overcome some dificiency in fuel mixture throughout the rpm range. Spark plugs will last much longer since the spark is strong enough to jump the gap as the electrodes wear.
I understand and respect your knowledge..guess I was looking for a improvement versus $$ which I understand is always subjective...usually upon how much $$ you have to spend.
$600 is a chunk of change to spend when the system I have "functions". Well....I think it functions
well, the system is $550, not $600. I believe it will directly pay for itself in a few years if you have a Marelli system. Most owners with Marelli systems carry enough spares to build a complete second system so they don't get stranded. And that doesn't count the improved performance and reliability. If you have a performance motor, the ignition should be upgraded along with the motor
My old system left me stranded twice and always required finess to start. Since installing the distributorless system mark sells my car starts up better than ever. There is no comparison. Before the computronix unit it always took a couple try's and a little gas to start. Now I dont even have to be in the car to start it. I turn the key and boom it fires right up.
As promised I can report the following. The quality of the componets is obvious and undenyable. Installation is very straight forward. Coil pack mounts easily. In my case it mounted directly to the studs for the original coil strap. Initial timing is a snap. Install the trigger unit with no regard to position with engine set at 12 degrees BTDC. Turn key on and rotate the trigger unit counter clockwise until LED lights. Engine fires immediately. Double check with strobe timing light and lock trigger down. I found starting instantaneous. Engine ran dead smooth. Once warm and off of fast idle it was like a Swiss watch. I think the tremendous spark helps compensate for some mixture variance when starting and warming up. With the strobe I watched the timing mark. Rock solid. No waiver or variance at all. Advance curve is more immediate and very very predictable and smooth. System is dead silent. Allows one to get rid of the distributor and cap which really cleans up the look of the engine compartment. Driving? Oh My!!! Acceleration is noticably quicker and smoother. RPMs do not hunt at all. I have a long steep hill I travel daily coming home from the store. At least a 1/2 mile in length. Having driven it so many times I know exactly how my 76 performs. Usually downshift to 4th. Monday evening coming home I left it in 5th and ACCELERATED up that hill. When I engaged my carb secondary it was like getting hit from the rear. This was definately not the case before. Absolutely a performance increase you can feel not just measure. I was also able to remove the spare parts box from my trunk that carried a screw driver, two sets of spare points, condensors,emory paper, and a feeler gauge. Yes the system is expensive but worth every dime to me and I do not have a ton of money to drop frivilously. Hope this helps.
Nice write up, Jim. I'd be interested in knowing whether anyone with a 2l Fi engine has installed one of these units and what their experience has been.
Bruce Shearer
'80 Spider Fi
'10 Volvo XC70
'06 GMC 1 Ton PU
'72 Spider a long, long time ago
Thanks for the nice write-up. I would also be interested in a FI car installation. Seems like I will be going down this path if for no other reason than modernization and engine cleanup.
I haven't got one of Marks units and I will be going to wasted spark very soon and bought my system prior to finding out about Marks unit. I was kinda hoping it would have been programmable by Megasquirt.
All I can say about pricing, I personally don't think $550 is expensive, considering all the 'spares' one had to carry and more importantly is that if the older system fails, it could be in a position/time of day/dangerous corner... where you would be happy to hand over $550 to get you out of trouble....
Cheers David
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
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My car is a '80 FI and I agree with everything Jim (Schnauzer) has said. I love mine and can not believe the difference it has made. I felt the unit was expensive but my wife and I now trust our Spider's reliability more than ever so all things considered it has been worth it for us.
However, installation wasn't as simple for me but only because this is my first project car and I was reluctant to connect/disconnect anything I wasn't 100% sure about so I took my time and asked questions along the way. If I had to install another one I'd bet the entire job could be done in under two hours. It really was easy once I understood everything I was looking at.
I do want to upgrade to a programmable fuel injection system some day and would love more discussion on the computronix unit's compatibility with various PFI systems. I believe it has been said Mark's PFI system will work with the Computronix unit.
For sale: spare parts box from my trunk that carried a screw driver, two sets of spare points, condensors, emory paper, and a feeler gauge. $550.00 I will also throw in a Marelli coil, used distributor and a stubby 17mm wrench
what is the real advantage or not over the stock coil/distributor? My engine is only a mild build with HC pistons and a little more "agressive" cam from Allisons, lightened flywheel etc etc. 1981 FI car.
