Which electronic ignition to choose ?

[spridget]

Hi all
I'm currently in holidays, as the weather is bad, I?m studying the forum's archives about electronic ignition. I saw some good replies about Pertronix at a reasonable price but I wonder if the best way wouldn?t be to go for a TTR ignition set which includes wires, coil and a new distributor for ?195 (VAT exc.).
The Pertonix/ Aldon kit are less expensive (around ?60) but they have to be
fitted on the old distributor. The 123 ignition one is really expensive (?350)

What do you think about my hesitations ?

Thanks

Franck

[terryp]

Lumenition!

Terry
see elan-f15/lumention-ignition-which-bit-breaks-t22749.html

[UAB807F]

I guess it depends on whether your existing distributor is worn enough to make a new one worthwhile. And if it comes from TTR then the electronic ignition part is going to be a quality item but out of curiosity I'd like to know the make.

The pertronix is probably the cheapest one on the market (apart from the Ebay specials that is) and other than that I'm not sure how you decide between that and long established makes like Lumenition. I went for Pertronix because everything is hidden away neatly and I'm not bothered how it senses the fire point (as long as it does !)

If I'm honest given the way I drive (sedately) there's not a great deal of difference in general running although I did sense it ticked over a bit better, but that could simply be down to me re-timing the engine. It was just the fiddling with points that swung it for me.

Brian

[jono]

why not go wasted spark and lose the dissy altogether?

Total cost around ?300 - fit and forget and all fully reversible.

75% of the advantages of full FI for a fraction of the cost

[stugilmour]

I went with an Pertronix Ignitor II kit from Ray at Rdent.com. His kit includes a new distributor with angled cap, coil, and plug wires for $385 US. Might be another option. There is a photo and description under Elan or Plus 2 parts about half way down.

[spridget]

Hi
Thanks for replies
Terry, I haven't read a lot of good returns about Lumenition
Brian, I agree, I don't know if my distributor is in a good shape or not, I just know is probably 43 years old like the car!
Jono, sorry my english doesn't allow me to really understand what you mean
Stu : I assume that the Pertronix set is quite equivalent as TTR one,Tony Thomsom is an Elan specialist so ...

Franck

[elans3]

My vote would be for an Aldon Ignitor, I've used it 5 or 6 times on different cars, including three twincams. Currently have one on an Alfa.
They truly are fit and forget, and take the fiddling out of setting points.
I find that they start the car easier, and are hidden away in the distributor, sio don't change the look of the underbonnet.
I don't like Lumenition, unfortunately I've had 3 or 4 cars come to me with it fitted, and all of them gave trouble in one way or another.

I've also had 123 on an Alfa, and that was good but not worth the extra money over an Aldon, (provided your distributor is in good order).
Steve
elans3

[nebogipfel]

I am also very happy with my Aldon Ignitor.

Points on the Elan were always a pain because of access. Nowadays the problem is made much worse by poor quality parts, particularly condensers. The other thing I've noticed as I've got older is they seem to make them blurry these days

I have fitted one of the cheapie units ( Britpart <?20 posted) to a different vehicle it's very similar to the Aldon unit and I assume it works in a similar way ?Hall Effect

.......... I may get one as a cheap spare for the Elan

[jono]

Franck,

Au contraire - your English is admirable!

The system I described is essentially what is used in all modern cars now. It uses a small ECU module (in my case a Magajolt - around ?80) to control the ignition functions including advance curve and it is mappable so you can have it set up on a rolling road.

You remove the distributor and insert a blanking plug. The system uses a Ford EDIS control unit and coil pack (scrap yard - any 'modern' Ford) and a throttle potentiometer on the end of the throttle spindle on your Webers of Dellorto carbs - this requires fabrication of a small bracket and adapter and some other bits and bobs and provides information on engine load to the ECU.

The other sensor required is for crank position which needs a toothe wheel fitting to the crank pulley which is then read by a hall sensor - this also requires a bracket fabricating which I made out of dural sheet

There is a bit of wiring to do and the you are all sorted. It seems to me to be the way to go as it requires no adjustment once fitted and allows the inaccesible distributor to be removed (which I don't like tucked right below the leaky carbs!)

Others will have differing views but I really like this system.

All the bits are readily available from
http://trigger-wheels.com/store/index.html

I purchased my Megajolt kit direct from USA and had it built over here - much cheaper than buying a ready built one

Jon

[45bvtc]

Take a look at my eBay Item number: 140584968716: LOTUS ELAN/+2/EUROPA TC DISTRIBUTOR+LUMENITION+SPARES and write me if you have any questions...

[spridget]

Well according to the most of you, the best way is to use a Pertronix or an Aldon kit. I think they are the same LU 148 for Pertronix and LU-142 for the Aldon ?
But these kits all use the old distributor ?
Yes John, I discovered with the twin cam this poor access ! That?s why I have decided to change the distributor for an electronic one
I also agree with the fact that all these kits use the same Hall effect, but as you mentioned the part?s quality could probably be different ...
Jon thanks for your kind words, you system is admirable ! but probably too much complicated for me!
Brian, I have asked TTR what make do they use for their products

Franck

[pauljones]

Hi all,

A bit late I know, but I too have the Aldon ignitor 2. Got mine with the matching flame thrower coil and a set of 8mm leads, all straight from the nice guys themselfs. While my car was running it started instantly, without fail. Idled smother and improved every aspect of the performance too. Good investment for every twincam.

Stu,
Can you send me the wiring diagram for your car please

Many thanks,

Paul

[jk952]

great topic....
Whilst on the subject, which of all of the above will work with postive ground?
Jack

[elancoupe]

great topic....
Whilst on the subject, which of all of the above will work with postive ground?
Jack

My car is positive ground, I use the Pertronix (Aldon) #LU-149P12

[spridget]

Hi
Stuart from TTR wrote me : the distributor is brand new, but he told about a Lucas 43D not a 23D (?)
Price including delivery (to France) will be ?262.80 including VAT
I'm really tempted

Franck