What ignition system do you use or recomend?

[Lids]

I have used a Crane ignition box and a Bosch 009 and blue coil for the last 8 years with no problems.  I am now looking at my new engine and thinking it would benefit from a serious upgrade in this department.

I am leaning towards a Mallory system, but have been advised that parts are hard to get hold of in the UK.

What are you guys running?  What were your gains in BHP?  Does the engine run better, cooler, pick up from low revs easier?

Thought this might be a good topic to kick off the new year.

[Diederick/DVK]

Does the engine run better, cooler, pick up from low revs easier?

i have always heard that this is what an MSD ignition gives you...
but also mallory ignites more frequently at low revs...

[Gregor/DFL]

...well, it depends on the engine and especially on the rpms you´re up to.

Personally think up tp rpms to 6000-6500 it´s no problem to keep a standard distributor like the 009 or 010 and the blue coil.Advantages are the simplicity and reliability
of those "old-school" parts-and the spares are always available. Just "keep it simple" on those engines.

With a hi-rev engine you should think about an adjustable MSD ingnition system.

Cheers,
Gregor

[The Ideaman]

What was wrong with the crane ignition?  It has all the features of the MSD, but is digital.  I had a Crane HI 6 box in the Jade Grenade with no problems.  Cheaper too.

[Lids]

I have no problems with it, I was just thinking about adding more control to the ignition system and allowing for future development.  EFI etc.

[Roman]

I have no experience with the crane ignition but the MSD digital 6 is really good.

[Lids]

So Does anybody have any specific details about their ignition system, all the modules they are using etc?

I was thinking about:

Mallory Hyfire VII Race CDI

Mallory Unilite Optical Distibutor

Mallory Promaster Coil

[benssp]

Hi Mike, I run an MSD6AL, Blaster 2 Coil,009 with a Ignitor 1

[69Stu]

I am running a Mallory Unilite distributer, very well built unit, a MSD Digital 6 box and a MSD HVC coil. It definately improved the running and responsiveness of the motor.
I did have a Mallory Hyfire Digital box but it would repeatadly miss fire, and the replacement did the same. Just my experience, I have heard many people having no trouble with them at all.

[ESH]

009 with a modified ring pull for more spring.

[Tobi/DFL]

I´ve been running a Mallory Hyfire VI box with ProMaster coil and modified Bosch 010 dissy (with hall sensor) the last season and it was a big improvement to the former ignition set-up (1-2-3 ignition dissy, Bosch blue coil and OMEX rev limiter).
Before I used the Mallory the engine had a very rough idle below 1300rpm but with the HyFire it was calm even with 600-800rpm.
My ETs improved as well (nearly 1 second) but I don´t think that was just because of the ignition but more because of the use of slicks and a close-ratio transmission...
Bye,

Tobi

[rebel]

Sorry to hijack the topic... but I also have to think the ignition issues over in mine and I thought it is a good place. 

I've got a not so hot 1915cc I would not turn more than 6000-6500RPM 'in action'. I'd like to stay quite oldschool.
I've got a Mallory distributor, the one was produced shortly before the Unilite.

I'm thinking about keeping it and to change the coil from the blue one for more 'high voltage' one like the Petronix 40kV coil + some nice Taylor wires.
I just wonder what difference will it make compraring to the more conservative Bosch Blue...

What do you think guys?
 

[Diederick/DVK]

i can't answer you're questions but why not run an MSD 6A(L) under the back seat and a bosch red coil?
pretty oldschool and no visible new school 

[bugkeeper]

Mallory Hyfire VI CD Ignition all the way. More bang for the buck! MSD is fine but this Mallory ignition is digital and gives you better performance for less money. I love it, works great with a map sensor for boost retard.
Ignitions are like carburators, some like MSD and IDA and others like Mallory and DRLA... or Holley?! 

[Diederick/DVK]

fair point, i have had no experience with mallory CDIs so far.

[John Maher]

Crane is no longer in business
Bank closed them down on Monday

[viNce]

All Pertronix ignition on my freshly built 2074, billet dist with ignitor 2, flame thrower 2 coil 0.6 ohm, 8mm Pertronix wires, Pertronix second strike ignition box wich already include a rev limiter. Chosen those components for their good quality & technical characteristics over msd's and mallory's (capacitive & inductive discharge on all the RPM range, from idle to ~ 3000 on the others).

http://www.pertronix.com/prod/ig/strike/default.aspx

[Rennsurfer]

Too much high tech stuff... I'll always be happy with a good old fashioned Bosch blue coil with an old Porsche distributor. Time tested and true. Unless, of course, I was racing my car. Which will never happen.

[Cheesepanzer]

I run a complete MSD set-up on my Ghia (straight from my old street/strip bug).  Its your basic 6AL, billet distributor and Blaster 2 coil.  I can't recall the springs I have in the distributor, but I'm running a fairly aggressive advance.  I added a 2-step and run 6,000 and 8,200 chips.  I run a wide plug gap at .045" and it has performed flawlessly.

In my Single Cab I'm running a German 009 with a pertronix, with a MSD 6A box and Blaster 2 coil.  Really nice set up, and I noticed a nice improvement in the old 009/Blue coil set up.   

Now, back before my days running electronic ignitions, I simply ran German Bosch 009's with Blue coils.  When I began running over 7500 rpms I simply added a second spring to the points (from an old used set) and it eliminated floating points.  Worked very well for years.

When I build my new engine for my new Thing I'm going to dust off an old German 009 and blue coil.  It will be a fairly mild 1915 and this set-up should deliver excellent service.   

Having said all that, I'd like to try a magneto ignition.
 

[volksnut]

Crane is no longer in business
Bank closed them down on Monday

HUH?

[stealth67vw]

Crane is no longer in business
Bank closed them down on Monday

HUH?

Yep it's true.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/breakingnews/crane022409.htm