ignition system specs

[andy_wh2000]

The purpose of this post is for an analysis of the stock ignition system versus the aftermarket systems that are available at plastikracing.net.

Here are the stock specs that I've drawn from the computer at school. I'll edit this post later with the exact program.

spark plug gap................................1.02mm (.040in)
ignition coil.....................................resistanc e from tower to tower = 7k-10k Ohms
spark plug wires..............................below 12k Ohms

Here are the specs that I got with my ohm meter.

NGK #BKR5ESA-11 spark plug gap................................all four 1.02mm (.040in)
MSD Blaster coil pack PN 8224.....................................1st pack 6.18Kohms, 2nd pack 6.06Kohms
MSD wire set PN 32519.............................. #1 104ohms, #2 98ohms, #3 83ohms, #4 60ohms

for testing purposes I'm going to try to get access to the school dyno before installation. 1st run stock, 2nd run new plugs, 3rd run wires, 4th run coils.

After everything is complete I'll post the specs of the stock ignition system that I"m replacing as well as dyno number. This is clearly for learning purposes and for better understanding of yet another part of our cars. If all goes well I will ask my teacher permission on monday for dyno time and will test it on wednesday. if not then, then hopefully the following week.

[saturnspeed_12]

what exactly are you trying to test? buying say an aftermarket coil, might have a bit higher voltage output, but everything else will be the same. ignition wires will have a lower resistance for better voltage current.

resistance in the coils between stock and aftermarket replacements should be the same or close within specs. if not, it wont work properly.

[andy_wh2000]

well like I said its mostly for a learning experience. its an automotive electronic systems class. I was planning to replace the stock ignition anyways so I thought I'd do my term paper on the swap. I'm sure that the stock wires will have a much hire impotence than what I'm swapping with. if the plugs were anything like my mom's the stock one's will be way off in gap. as for the coils maybe I'll find something about them, maybe I wont. in lamence terms I'd be testing a old shot system with a new one. the car has 140k miles on it and to my knowledge the wires and coils have never been changed.

[S.Bretz]

YOu won't see a noticable gain. More lilky if you do see a gain in one pull, you won't see it in another.

[andy_wh2000]

I just remembered that I should also plug in my wbo2. I still have it sitting on the shelf. that could reveil some good info as well.

[saturn_06]

firing order?

[andy_wh2000]

firing order?

I believe I got the wires correct. I'll just have to remember to plug them into the terminals right. terminal #1 (4-1) terminal #2 (2-3) right?

[PROTOTYPE]

Nice job making your idle smoother... Im staying away from this one.

[saturnspeed_12]

i hate to really break everything, but if you do find a gain, its because your old ignition system was worn out. you wont actually get a power gain, you will bring it to what it should be.

and you have the the correct order on the coils.

[andy_wh2000]

i hate to really break everything, but if you do find a gain, its because your old ignition system was worn out. you wont actually get a power gain, you will bring it to what it should be.

and you have the the correct order on the coils.

I know. The real point of the tests and all is for a school paper. I'm in an automotive electrical systems class and we are assigned a simple paper about a specific system. I chose the ignition since I was planning to put a new one in anyway. Its mostly for a learning experience of how resistance differences, voltage, and current work and affect the car through this system. I'm pretty sure some of this stuff will be worn out from the old ignition. it doesnt hurt to run some tests and learn more about my car. I honestly would care less about hp gains from the ignition system. I just want a fresh one when I get ready to tune with the megasquirt.

[saturnspeed_12]

ok, nothing wrong with checking it out. and its for school.

i was thinking at first this topic was about like the difference that there would be and like power gains and what not. i mean i could probably hand out the specs but you can go ahead and do everything to understand it all.

[PROTOTYPE]

i hate to really break everything, but if you do find a gain, its because your old ignition system was worn out. you wont actually get a power gain, you will bring it to what it should be.

and you have the the correct order on the coils.

I know. The real point of the tests and all is for a school paper. I'm in an automotive electrical systems class and we are assigned a simple paper about a specific system. I chose the ignition since I was planning to put a new one in anyway. Its mostly for a learning experience of how resistance differences, voltage, and current work and affect the car through this system. I'm pretty sure some of this stuff will be worn out from the old ignition. it doesnt hurt to run some tests and learn more about my car. I honestly would care less about hp gains from the ignition system. I just want a fresh one when I get ready to tune with the megasquirt.

I know what ya mean but Ohm's law will own you sometimes. [img]{SMILIES_PATH}/lol.gif[/img] Can a PTC resistor be used as a circuit breaker? hehe. I love electrical classes.

[andy_wh2000]

ya. I also know that there will be different ohm resistance once the circuit is on. I dont know much about testing a circuit as strong as the ignition while under load, so that will be another thing I'll be discussing with my teacher.

[andy_wh2000]

well I've forgotten about this whole thing but my paper is due on monday so I'm scurrying to finish it up. I replaced my plugs two weeks ago I believe and that made a difference. the autolites that I removed (they've been in since I bought the car) were gapped as follows:
#1- .052 little bit of oil
#2- .049 little bit of oil
$3- .053 lots of oil
#4- .057 dry


the new NGKs I put in all gapped at .040
After refueling and caculating I made a 4mpg difference and cruise a/f around 14.7. WOT seems the same old sparatic blank until about 6k where it chimes in with 11-12 a/f.
Now up to today I've been a lazy ass about getting this thing done. I installed the wires tonight. the MSD wires without load tested as follows:
#1- 104 ohms
#2- 98 ohms
#3- 83 ohms
#4- 60 ohms
and the stock wires (Brand: Belden):
#1- 7.75 Kohms
#2- 7.02 Kohms
#3- 5.24 Kohms
#4- 3.88 Kohms
it idles with a/f at 13 even. I've yet to do a load test or anything which will be happening tomorrow. I wont be able to check for gas mileage but oh well. So tomorrow I'll run those and then finish up by installing the coil packs.

[andy_wh2000]

I installed the coil packs today. here were the specs for the old coils compared to the new:
Original Coils:
4,1: 8.69 Kohms
2,3: 8.30 Kohms (post #3 had some build up on it)

MSD Coil Packs:
4,1: 6.18 Kohms
2,3: 6.06 Kohms
I havent done much testing but idle seems to even out around 13.2 A/F. I did one run at WOT at an on ramp up to 70mph for a quick test and things seemed to run real smooth. I didnt notice the usually little bit of, how can I say, hesitation around 4.5-5 rpms that I usually did. so things seem quit nice. I'll be turning in my paper without info that the wires and packs may have had on mpg but I'll get back to that at the end of the week.