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programmable ignition timing


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#1 LC-GTR-1969

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Posted 25 January 2016 - 02:04 PM

Gday,

 

I have seen this unit and I am curious if anyone has used one?

 

https://www.cbperfor...roductCode=2013

 

Its a programmable black box which allows you to map out an advance curve to whatever you like- just need to lock the dizzy and this unit takes control of the mechanical advance as well as vacuum advance.

 

It looks very cheap and quite good, but not sure about reliability etc as I dont think many are using it...

 

Beats the hell out of changing weights in a HEI dizzy...



#2 Dasman56

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Posted 25 January 2016 - 05:55 PM

Having a mappable ignition table can be very beneficial. If it works as good as it says, I might look into one myself.

#3 LC-GTR-1969

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Posted 25 January 2016 - 06:22 PM

they certainly look good, and the price is very reasonable... I have emailed them and am waiting to hear if its ok to work in parralel with my crane firebal HI6 ignition module. If it is, I will buy one and feedback here how it is...



#4 _oldjohnno_

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Posted 25 January 2016 - 07:08 PM

Why not go the whole hog and use a megaspark/megajolt style system (or some other ignition only ECU) and get rid of the dissie altogether? External timing control when used with a dissie means that for much of the time the rotor phasing will be very poor. Coils like D285s will give massive spark energy output (more than any of the hotrod CDIs produce) and can be driven by any of the common ECU/ICU units. To me getting rid of the dissie is just as big an advantage as the ease of tuning.



#5 ozyozyozy

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Posted 25 January 2016 - 10:21 PM

Its not new, motec have had programmable ignition, msd has it aswell.
The ICE system while not "programmable" it is very tunable, with alot of preset paramaters to cater for most applications.
Unless searching for ultimate efficiency, its not needed for most people.
Like johno said if your going that far, delete the dizzy, run muiltiple coils

#6 Jay#2

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Posted 26 January 2016 - 04:45 AM

I use megajolt with MAP sensor on the Mini engine, there's many benefits including multiple programmable outputs, shift light, hard cut limiter etc plus infinity adjustable advance curve. It's especially handy if boost is involved.

#7 LC-GTR-1969

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Posted 26 January 2016 - 07:44 AM

Its not new, motec have had programmable ignition, msd has it aswell.
The ICE system while not "programmable" it is very tunable, with alot of preset paramaters to cater for most applications.
Unless searching for ultimate efficiency, its not needed for most people.
Like johno said if your going that far, delete the dizzy, run muiltiple coils

 

I looked into the multiple coil packs and crank trigger etc however the cost was getting quite high, hence me looking at other options...

 

I already have a very good ignition setup (crane hi6, lx92 coil and scorcher dizzy) which works great for N/A however when using N20 i need to be able to retard the timing and have more control over the curve- Hence me looking into this system (cheap at $200US)...



#8 LC-GTR-1969

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Posted 26 January 2016 - 07:46 AM

Why not go the whole hog and use a megaspark/megajolt style system (or some other ignition only ECU) and get rid of the dissie altogether? External timing control when used with a dissie means that for much of the time the rotor phasing will be very poor. Coils like D285s will give massive spark energy output (more than any of the hotrod CDIs produce) and can be driven by any of the common ECU/ICU units. To me getting rid of the dissie is just as big an advantage as the ease of tuning.

 

Agree 100%, just comes down to cost... Still not sure what I will do just yet.



#9 Heath

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Posted 26 January 2016 - 09:43 AM

That sounds pretty awesome. I just installed an analogue MSD boost-retard system on my wagon and it was considerably more expensive than this, and offered a lot less features.

I don't really know how big a deal is the phasing of the rotor vs. the terminals? I like the look of a distributor on the motor in a Torana haha.

#10 _mervx_

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Posted 26 January 2016 - 10:31 AM

HI, looks good. I would also be interested in any extra info you get from CB.



#11 LC-GTR-1969

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Posted 26 January 2016 - 11:09 AM

That sounds pretty awesome. I just installed an analogue MSD boost-retard system on my wagon and it was considerably more expensive than this, and offered a lot less features.

I don't really know how big a deal is the phasing of the rotor vs. the terminals? I like the look of a distributor on the motor in a Torana haha.

 

The rotor phasing would not be much of an issue for me as I only need a few degrees, like 5 degrees plus or minus in the curve. Currently I run locked distriubtor but about 4 degrees in advance would be better than what I have. Currently run 27 degrees locked, but engine is a bit better with 22-23 degrees at idle. I locked it as 4 degrees advance is not worth the hassle of changing weights. The more degree advance I imagine the more if an issue the rotor phasing would be. 

 

Also, as mentioned, it would be nice to have a different map for the N20 where I can easily retard a few degrees. They make retard modules but these are only marginally cheaper than the CB Black box. 



#12 Oversteer

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Posted 26 January 2016 - 09:47 PM

Doesn't hi6 have a retard module option ? Hi6 is a good box sounds like the option for what you have/want to do.



#13 LC-GTR-1969

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Posted 27 January 2016 - 05:45 AM

Doesn't hi6 have a retard module option ? Hi6 is a good box sounds like the option for what you have/want to do.

 

yes it does, but it costs about $250 and can only offer dial retard...

 

the CB black box is a touch more expensive, but allows more control to the curve- you can pull timing out where you need it, not just across the whole curve..



#14 76lxhatch

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Posted 27 January 2016 - 06:11 AM

I don't really know how big a deal is the phasing of the rotor vs. the terminals? I like the look of a distributor on the motor in a Torana haha.

 

Its important, you don't want it firing to the wrong post and arcing wears out the terminals fast especially with high energy ignition. However you should be able to adjust it if the box allows the reference angle to be changed, worst case scenario you could alter the distributor to physically alter the angle. The rotor tip needs to be wider than with a mechanical advance mechanism, and obviously should remain in contact with the correct terminal throughout the timing range - e.g. if the base angle is 10 degrees BTDC and the max is 30 then you need a tip that is 20 degrees wide and should be centred on the terminal at 20 BTDC.

 

Multiple coils and direct ignition offers its own advantages but the cost of the coils alone can add up and plenty of factory EFI systems use distributors with no issues. If this system is reliable then the fully programmable timing alone is definitely worth having.
 


Edited by 76lxhatch, 27 January 2016 - 06:14 AM.


#15 _oldjohnno_

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Posted 30 January 2016 - 06:30 PM

Its important, you don't want it firing to the wrong post and arcing wears out the terminals fast especially with high energy ignition. However you should be able to adjust it if the box allows the reference angle to be changed, worst case scenario you could alter the distributor to physically alter the angle. The rotor tip needs to be wider than with a mechanical advance mechanism, and obviously should remain in contact with the correct terminal throughout the timing range - e.g. if the base angle is 10 degrees BTDC and the max is 30 then you need a tip that is 20 degrees wide and should be centred on the terminal at 20 BTDC.

 

Multiple coils and direct ignition offers its own advantages but the cost of the coils alone can add up and plenty of factory EFI systems use distributors with no issues. If this system is reliable then the fully programmable timing alone is definitely worth having.
 

 

Heath's right, it's not normally a big deal, especially with only six cylinders and even less so with a big Delco style cap. But I'd certainly be careful with a V8 that uses a small, non-HEI style cap. Even without any external timing jiggery they can be prone to arcing in the cap.

 

And remember that dissie rotation is half that of the crank, so 20 degrees of externally supplied advance (and this includes vac adv) puts the rotor only 10 degrees out of alignment. Still, it's something to keep in mind.

 

If easy tuning is the objective and you have to or want to keep the dissy then I think a Delco is the cheapest and simplest option. You can even use them with a CD box like an MSD but it won't make it any faster.



#16 ozyozyozy

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Posted 30 January 2016 - 08:56 PM

Msd digital 6 has spark retard for nitrous timing.
As for individual coils, alot of the after market ignition setups can be used with LS coils as a cheaper option.

#17 Rockoz

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Posted 30 January 2016 - 08:56 PM

Was pondering this myself a while back.

My idea was to use the distributor locked up, to generate the pulses for the computer, delete the cap and run seperate coils.

Idea was to use what was there without adding on extras to generate the pulses.

Sound feasible, or chasing stupid?



#18 _oldjohnno_

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Posted 30 January 2016 - 09:54 PM

Was pondering this myself a while back.

My idea was to use the distributor locked up, to generate the pulses for the computer, delete the cap and run seperate coils.

Idea was to use what was there without adding on extras to generate the pulses.

Sound feasible, or chasing stupid?

 

Perfectly feasible but you'd still be stuck with the inaccuracy of the dissy trigger. For the cost of a crank trigger (about $70 for a 1GT101DC) and a homemade trigger wheel you could throw the dissie away for good. You could do it even cheaper with a suitable crank sensor from the wreckers.



#19 Rockoz

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Posted 31 January 2016 - 08:22 AM

Heres my confusion on this.

 

The system I was reading about said it required a pulse slightly before No1 firing so it knew where it was in the scheme of things.

That seems logical to me that it is needed.

 

Using a crank trigger on a 6 would give a position pulse before1 and as well before 6.

Using a trigger system on the dizzy would give you the position before 1 and only 1.

 

Or do all the systems use wasted spark?

Is there that much play in the dizzy gears that it would make a difference as well?



#20 _oldjohnno_

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Posted 31 January 2016 - 11:41 AM

Yes, the ECU needs a reference point, either a "missing tooth" or a cam angle sensor.

 

For a lower revving engine, none of this is going to achieve anything. But at higher rpms and with big lobes and heavy springs the camshaft has its own problems with torsional vibration, and these are passed on to the dissy.



#21 Rockoz

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Posted 31 January 2016 - 01:15 PM

Cool thanks for that johnno.

My specific interest was for an 8 anyway so guessing the torsional issues wouldnt be so bad because of the location of the dissy?

Obviously the crank would be better.

So a seperate pickup on the cam would be required?



#22 _Bomber Watson_

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Posted 31 January 2016 - 02:16 PM

Location of the dizzy on an eight is not overly different to that on a six, if anything its in a worse position. 



#23 Rockoz

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Posted 31 January 2016 - 02:58 PM

Would have thought that being at an end rather than in the middle there would be less torsional distortion?



#24 _Bomber Watson_

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Posted 31 January 2016 - 03:19 PM

But its driven from the front, so by the time the middle twists and it makes its way to the back.....



#25 Rockoz

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Posted 31 January 2016 - 03:36 PM

Gotcha. I was thinking more along the lines of deflection from the valve spring pressure.

But regardless would think that there wouldnt be that much twist overall?

Would be wanting max power output for it to be an issue or not?






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