High energy Ignition. worth it on stock motor?

Wondering about high voltage ignitions, would it be worth it on a stock motor? Surely the ability to open up the the plug gap and getting a bigger, fatter spark would mean a more complete burn resulting in better fuel economy and general performance???

Matt.

Personally I don't think so. Your better off making sure the stock system is working properly.
About the only think I would change is the coil to a GT40 and only if your old coil is stuffed.

Andrew

i've encounted quite a few dodgy GT40 coils over the years
i've also noticed no difference at all when they replace a good working standard coil

-Joel

68AutoBug wrote:Hi,
I had a GT 40 coil on My engine, but I replaced it with a standard coil
as I have a High Energy electronic ignition system that was a Jaycar Kit.
I haven't actually fitted it to My car as yet, but I noticed no change when I fitted the standard coil.
With the kit I have, it puts approx 32 volts into the coil, and they say the GT40 coil will overheat
whereas a normal coil can cope with the higher voltages..

The kits coil voltage Output is Increased dramatically...

and I have heard that the engines always start first time with the higher voltage etc.....
Very low voltage thru the points, so no arcing or burning of the points..

Lee

You have to use a specific type of coil with the Jaycar kits, I'm not sure if the standard coil will work.
I've used the Jaycar kit and done direct comparisons between Jaycar and standard with the GT40 (this was in a 1916 with 44IDF's etc.) and I could not tell the difference.

The benifit of the Jaycar kit is less maintance, ie. points & condenser. One problem with the Jaycar kit is if you get any residue on the points the car will not start. This happened to me a couple of times.

And yes I've had a GT40 crap itself for no reason as well.

What sort of residue?
was this after driving it?
or after adjusting the points?

I presume the points would be very sensitive to anything with the low voltage going thru them...
[never thought of that before]

so, a new set of points should be fitted with the kit...

I mainly like the better spark and the low mantainence of the points... although it really doesn't concern Me as I do check My points and timing fairly often...

and if it fails just connect up the condenser again..

Maybe copper material would be better for the contact points [or gold? silver?]

The Jaycar kit just has a note that the GT40 shouldn't be used. As its prone to failure...

Lee

According to the accompanying doco, the HEI is recommended for cars with lean mixtures, for relatively rich running volkswagons a CDI is apparently better. Some Porsches had a CDI installed at the factory i believe. i had the Jaycar multi spark CDI installed on my old bus using the stock coil. It made starting both hot and cold instant, improved idle quality and fuel consumption slightly. Car felt stronger across the entire rev range, but as it had not been dynoed before and after i wont say that it improved performance.😁 Points didn't burn or get dirty as the unit fed them enough current to keep them clean.

GT40 coils are :repuke in my opinion

Jaycar/Dick Smith CDI kits work well. I used one in Hillclimb for about 4 years and you could feel the diff (2nd what Bus914 said:thumb), the only probs was that it Sh*T itself :jesus

As for a standard motor,I would use one!

[ Edited on 16-8-2006 by Craig Torrens ]

OK, I'm not knocking the Jaycar Kit, I used one for several years and it preformed flawlessly.(this was the standard kit not the multi spark type).
The first time it stopped or wouldn't start was in my shed, I'd been setting the valves ie. dissy cap off put it back together no go, the points had an oilly residue on them. I dragged a clean piece of paper through the points and all was good.
The second time I stopped at a mates place and the car wouldn't start, cleaned points as above and it was fine. I suspect the voltage across the points is minimal.
BTY, you still have to check the points because the contact block on the dissy cam will wear.

When I first changed to the CDI I too thought there was a performance increase then I changed back to the GT40 (chasing, as it turned out an unrelated problem) and I could not tell the difference performance wise, however I still changed back to the CDI because of the less maintanence.

"the only probs was that it Sh*T itself" - i 2nd that😂

now i'm trying Iridium plugs with compufire instead (should be 0 maintenance) - if this disappoints i'll get a MSD6 CDI.

it is confirmed, the GT40 has a greater spark than a standard... i just played with both this morning, and got electrocuted by either of em multiple times, and the GT40 was a greater shock... 😂 (has some little condenser thing where it earths too :S) Dad got a great show....

Standard one gave me a good flinch and strained muscles, the gt40 made me jump and moan! (while being electrocuted). stupid yes... but i didn't know how high a high tention wire could get...

[Was testing coils this morning in hope of finding reason for my car not firing, looks like a points issue.]

[ Edited on 17/8/2006 by bajachris88 ]

Ive got a half a dozen here that need testing chris, you free this weekend?

Do you check toasters too?

lololololol

bajachris88 wrote:it is confirmed, the GT40 has a greater spark than a standard... i just played with both this morning, and got electrocuted by either of em multiple times, and the GT40 was a greater shock... 😂 (has some little condenser thing where it earths too :S) Dad got a great show....

Standard one gave me a good flinch and strained muscles, the gt40 made me jump and moan! (while being electrocuted). stupid yes... but i didn't know how high a high tention wire could get...

[Was testing coils this morning in hope of finding reason for my car not firing, looks like a points issue.]

[ Edited on 17/8/2006 by bajachris88 ]

Chris, don't ever go near a CDI (capacitor discharge ignition), they can KILL YOU STONE DEAD.

Oh, & standard coils run at about 15 to 20,000 volts from memory, it's safe 'cause the amperage is really low. It's amps wot kill

Matt.

Volts just stop your heart 😂

now theres a reliable test for sure
hey chris u reckon u could test an electric fence for me see if it could power a VW? 😂

-Joel