Not impressed with Accell right now
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Not impressed with Accell right now
Back when I installed the EFI in May this year, I also installed an Accell HEI distributor.
I got in the car yesterday morning to head out to a local car show. The engine cranked, but didn't start.
I hooked up the laptop to the EFI and everything looked OK. All sensors were reading normal. I cranked it again, and noticed there was no RPM signal. While cranking it usually shows 200 rpm. Now it was 0.
I went to autozone and got another ignition module. Just a cheapo Wells module for $25.
Engine fired right up. Not only that, but when I drove it I thought someone had stolen the 454 and replaced it with a jet turbine. It was just soooooo smooth!
I'll carry a spare module just in case, but it's going to be OEM replacement, not accell!
I got in the car yesterday morning to head out to a local car show. The engine cranked, but didn't start.
I hooked up the laptop to the EFI and everything looked OK. All sensors were reading normal. I cranked it again, and noticed there was no RPM signal. While cranking it usually shows 200 rpm. Now it was 0.
I went to autozone and got another ignition module. Just a cheapo Wells module for $25.
Engine fired right up. Not only that, but when I drove it I thought someone had stolen the 454 and replaced it with a jet turbine. It was just soooooo smooth!
I'll carry a spare module just in case, but it's going to be OEM replacement, not accell!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Re: Not impressed with Accell right now (Aaron-74)
Aaron: Thanks!
Pat: How do you like the EFI? It can be a little tricky to program but once it's all dialed in they run great.
Pat: How do you like the EFI? It can be a little tricky to program but once it's all dialed in they run great.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 16
From: absecon nj
Re: Not impressed with Accell right now (zwede)
i dont have the coolant sensoer right now cant find it i orderd new on it will be here in 2 days so the choke is alittle tricky but other then that i love it much better then a carb.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 774
Likes: 0
From: Palatine IL
Re: Not impressed with Accell right now (zwede)
The stock GM ignition module and parts have always worked well for my slightly modifed street engine. My Vette had a Accell super coil on it when I bought it and that thing freaked out when the engine temp got hot. It caused massive backfire through the carb and actually bent the throttle plates. :mad
I replaced everything with stock GM and threw the Accell stuff in the trash were it belongs. :yesnod:
I replaced everything with stock GM and threw the Accell stuff in the trash were it belongs. :yesnod:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 2
From: Des Moines Iowa
Re: Not impressed with Accell right now (Ganey)
Ganey and Zwede:
I hear what you're saying about quality / reliability of GM parts, however I was just reading an article that CHP had on HEI dist. and modules, and they highly recommended purchasing a module matched to the performance ignition system, sighting that they experienced performance problems, on one of the unmatched systems they tested, although they went on to say, they could not duplicate those performance problems on other non-matched systems they tested.
Reason I ask is that I'm running an Accel distributor with the Accel Super Coil, and the CHP article got me to wondering if I had such a 'mismatch' problem, which should be investigated further, although engine seems to be running OK.
I hear what you're saying about quality / reliability of GM parts, however I was just reading an article that CHP had on HEI dist. and modules, and they highly recommended purchasing a module matched to the performance ignition system, sighting that they experienced performance problems, on one of the unmatched systems they tested, although they went on to say, they could not duplicate those performance problems on other non-matched systems they tested.
Reason I ask is that I'm running an Accel distributor with the Accel Super Coil, and the CHP article got me to wondering if I had such a 'mismatch' problem, which should be investigated further, although engine seems to be running OK.
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Re: Not impressed with Accell right now (john's '81 mouse)
I'm going to need a new distributor for computer control when I go to EFI. Zwede, do you still recommend the Accel distributor (with, of course, a GM module!) or would you go a different route?
Jim
Jim
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 1
Re: Not impressed with Accell right now (john's '81 mouse)
I recall that Accel is now owned by Mr Gasket. Too bad. Anything from Mr Gasket is suspect as their quality control is THEE worst. They are buying a lot of good companies, moving the manufacturing to china and running them into the ground thinking that car guys will buy anything. I suspect that their fortunes will start turning for the worst within a year or two, if they haven't already.
Nice to know that the GM stuff will work in place tho.
Nice to know that the GM stuff will work in place tho.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Re: Not impressed with Accell right now (jimduchek)
I'm going to need a new distributor for computer control when I go to EFI. Zwede, do you still recommend the Accel distributor (with, of course, a GM module!) or would you go a different route?
Jim
Jim