That's the "National and International Brotherhood of Street Racers", to be precise. I'm a life member of the Road Race Division. A lot of people don't know that there is also a Low Rider Division and a Biker Division. I knew Big Willie Robinson back in the old days when we met at the shopping center on the corner of Brookhurst and Orangethorpe in Fullerton, CA. Wow, that was a long time ago. Middle '70s.

There are a lot of misconceptions of how distributors and coils work in real vs. theoretical applications.

The electronic distributors are MUCH better than the old points distributors with the advance weights. The timing is much more precise and the dwell is dynamically adjusted to the engine running conditions. Also you don't have the problem with the points burning and the wear of the part that rides on the cam (which changed the timing).

If you ever saw an ignition test on an old Sun ignition 'scope, they would disconnect one wire to see how much voltage the coil could put out (COULD is the key word here). More on that later...

What happens is that when the ignition system fires the coil the voltage builds up at the spark plug until it arcs across the gap. This voltage is determined by the AFR and combustion chamber pressure (varies with compression and cam timing). When the spark plug arcs the arc becomes a VERY low resistance (ionized gas -- excellent conductor) and "shorts out" the distributor coil and a bunch of current is dumped into the arc. The arc voltage is roughly 10,000 volts and the voltage in the coil and plug wires NEVER gets higher than that.

Back to the Sun 'scope: You would see the cylinders all firing at about 10,000 volts until one wire was disconnected. That one cylinder would go up to around 40,000 to 50,000 volts. That was with NO LOAD on that one wire. When you see "performance" coils rated at 50,000 volts (or whatever), that's with NO LOAD. The actual voltage at the plug will still be around 10,000 volts and the stock HEI distributor/coil does a fine job of delivering that voltage (and it WILL put out 50,000 volts, NO LOAD -- a friend of mine owns a Sun 'scope and I've had my car tested on it).

 

Peace man !

 

So you raced down in Commerce too huh lol

Electronic can make a stronger spark and perhaps more control...never see it on the dyno though fwiw
All Im sayin is lots of these ign systems wiht crazy high output coils boxes etc arent needed unless youre running a lot of compression poweradders etc. Or a real crappy rich tune. A good HEI will take care of the rest

 

Back on points. Yeah it might have less volage but as long as it ignited fuel is ignited no hp is gained. Even msd ignition systems claim no gains only the ability to fire high compression or supercharged.

 

For me the advantage of the DUI stuff is you can talk to a live teck that will help you find a good starting point for vac, mech curves and lead. they sell HO OEM style cap rotors ign modules (ICU) and excellent ign wires. The dis advantage is the lack of stuff like retard boxes electronically adjustable advance ect.

 

Respectfully disagree.

There's an ignition physics sticky in the C3 Tech section that will explain how the system actually works.

 

Kinda doesn't apply in this guys situation l98 ignition does not have vacuum or weights, it is all computer controlled, You cannot put one of those dui's in unless he goes carbed so again no advantage, no gain. but do not buy a distributor from a any parts store, chinese crap. Buy AC Delco pickup and module, it will be good for many more years.

 

Maybe he is correct on certain aspects of the system however point systems operate @ 12v only when starting with diminishing voltage as the ballast resistor heats = practrical application not theory.

There is a reason we use 16v batteries & charging systems on track cars, its ignition related

 

Again, respectfuly disagree.

The author has decades of ignition and ECM design experience. Please point out where he is wrong.

 

As I already noted;
DUI appears to be the only current supplier of a Computer Controlled OE style HEI dist

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dui-12600bk/
( and yes the pic is generic one of a reg HEI dist )

MSD made a CC HEI dist in the past but long discontinued

 

Specifically post 3 in the sticky.

"Q: Does the coil in my points system run off of 9 volts?
A: No. It runs off of 12 volts."

Moot point anyway no one uses points anymore unless they have a restored vehicle. GM went to HEI mid 70's.

BTW I have 2 chain saws & the other things.

Take care

 

Right, but I was trying to point out that support is readily available at Performance Distributors If you want to run spray, high gear retard, ect its MSD I think the L98 compatable MSD6AL has been discontued.
I use a DUI cap, coil, wires, and 5 wire ICU in mine with the stock ECU.

 

So we don't hijack this thread, please take a look at posts 11 and 12 in the ignition sticky, and post your technical objections to the thread there. Be specific!

 

um, just to be accurate here, the ballast resistor protects the COIL and the condenser on the breaker plate protects the points.
Coils come either externally resistor type or internally resistor type.

Points would burn up without the condenser.

 

Thanks for all the advice guyss