Here's a pic of the MSD 8514 distributor plug/cam-synch. It was $90. The cam synch pulse is hall-effect so you need to be aware of that. I will have to send my FAST SEFI box back to FAST to have them convert it for a hall-effect cam synch signal, but it's only $40. Also, the MSD cam synch uses a 4-pin metripak connector. The pin out is:
A = Not Used
B = Ground
C = Hall-Effect 5v input(+)
D = Hall-Effect Signal (-)

The pin out isn't provided with the distributor plug since MSD really only intends it to be used with their Coil Per Plug system, but they sell it seperately. It would have been nice if they would ahve made it 12v, but it's no big deal. You can get 5v from your MAP/TPS, etc sensor feed wires, jsut tie into one of them.

 

Monty: What do you think will be the "real world" advantage going with this distributorless system over the system you currently have?

I realize that it is cutting edge but do you think you are losing something right now with your distributor system?

Steve

 

I don't know if there will really be any "real-world" performance increases, and I don't think my current system is costing me any performance, at least at the boost pressures I've run it at so far. I've only had it up to 7-8 psi so far on the street with the Digital 6 setup, we used a Digital 7 on the dyno for the WOT 20+ psi pulls.

While there should theoretically be some performance increases, my main reason for going this route is to eliminate the distributor and MSD ignition box in an effort to clean up and simplify my setup. Removing the distributor from the rear of the engine is going to clean up alot of clutter back there, as well as eliminate a "wear item". Deleting the MSD Digital 6 ignition box should also improve relaibility as all of these ignitions are potential failure items.

The performance benefit is derived from the fact that each of the 8 coils will now only have to fire once every two crank revolutions, ensure plenty of time for saturation, as well as time to cool off, whereas a conventional single coil must fire 4 times per crank revolution. The redundancy of having 8 coils is also a reliability benefit, and since they are OEM items with their own driver built in, they have a proven reliability track record. All the eDist box does is seperate the points signal from the FAST SEFI and divides it up to each coil. The coil does the rest since they are "smart coils". From people that I have talked to, the LS1 coils seem to be capable up until around 200hp per cylinder, which gives me a bit of breathing room based on my current 150hp per cylinder status. I have no intentions of shooting for more power than I have already. I can honestly say I've reached the point where I have enough power - actually more than I can use without at least back-halving the car, which is not an option.

I'd also be remiss if I didn't admit to the fact that I just like the challange of incorporating trick, new technology's to my car.

 

This all sounds really good. I do have a question though. Who told that the LS1 coils are good for 200hp each and how did they determine it?

Do you think this will be a fairly straight forward installation once you have all the pieces?

If MSD ever comes out with something for a carbureted car I will look at replacing my Programmable Digital-7 and crank trigger.

At any rate, your deal will be even more cutting edge than it already is!

 

thats a great price. i have selectable cam and crank signals , so it doesnt matter that its hall effect.. do you know if you can buy the sensor itself seperately( in case it dies)?

 

Craing Smith at FAST told me they're dynoed engines making 150hp/cylinder with the LS1 coils and eDIST. I have also exhancged emails with some other guys using the LS coils and eDIST in other applications, Turbo Supras, turbo rotary's (Rx7), as well as a couple of LT1 guys. Some of them are making as much as 200hp per cylinder, (or much more in in the case of the wankle guys - but they have 2 plugs/coils per rotor).

I just got the OEM LS1 coil harness yesterday from GMpartsdirect.com. They were about $40 each, and have all the plugs, already labeled for each cylinder, etc. The eDISt box I got is the LS1 "Direct Fit" so teh eDIST harness plugs right into the coil harness. All I need to do is supply it with 12v and ground, and connect the eDIST to the FAST SEFI and the distributor plug/cam synch (plus have the FAST box converted to hall-effect). It seems pretty straightforward now - plug and play. I still need to fab some mounts fort eh coils to locate them down by the oil pan though. I have ARP oil pan studs, so I'm going to mount a coil bracket off of those.

With you Programmable Digital 7, you've got nearly the ignition programmability I have with my FAST. Unless you're as big of a sucker as I am for "trick stuff", I don't see the need for you to switch. MSD does have their new Coil Per Cylinder System which doesn't require EFI, I think it's about $900 plus coils and wires.

Neverendingproject, I don't know if you can get the sensor by itself. As I mentioned the whole thing is only $90. I'm sure MSD can replace/repair it if the hall-effect sensor were to fail, I just don't know if they sell the sensor without the rest of the distributor plug. I'd wouldn't be surprised if the sensor itself is an "off-the-shelf" item, you'd just need to find the source for it. I can't imagine MSD went through the effort to engineer and manufacture the sensor itself considering the limited market for this thing. I seriously doubt they will sell more than a couple thousand of these things. Most people won't justify the additional expense when a $300 ignition will basically do the same thing.


[Modified by Monty, 8:58 AM 5/3/2003]

 

Last time I checked with MSD that product was not available. It is listed on their website. Do you know for a fact that it is available? At any rate I will check again.

I am interested to see how all of this will end up looking on your motor. You can get away with mounting the coils down by the oil pan because your header tubes move upward instead of downward. To me, nothing looks worse than the way the coils are tacked on top of the valve covers on the LS1.

I seem to recall seeing the Year One '69 LS1 Camaro with the coils all lined up around the back of the motor with longer plug wires and that looked pretty good.

Steve

 

Yeah, I know for a fact it is available, I have one, as shown in the picture in a previous post in this thread. I ordered it and had it in my hands in 4 days. I have had other guys tell me they are still hard to get, and I know MSD advertised their CPC system (which this cam synch is intended for) for over a year before it was finally available for retail sale, but it's definitely out on the streets now.

I agree with you on the look of the stock LS1 coil location. I'm sure there's a reason why GM put them there, but it is unsightly. I guess with the engine cover over the manifold and valve covers it doesn't matter, but the only benefit I can see from putting them on the valve covers is to keep the spark plugs wires ultra-short. It seems to me that the heat from the engine and valve covers would be a bad thing.

 

Monty, are you trying to put NASA into shame with all this hi technology? :lol: :steering:

 

I only hope the end result of my efforts don't mimic the unfortunate events that NASA has had to recently deal with. :flag

I've finally accumulated all the parts. I recently recieved a pair of LS1 coil harnesses, so all i have to do now is mount everything and send my FAST SEFI box back to FAST for conversion to hall-effect cam synch and the rest is plug and play. I'm heading to the Keys this weekend for a couple of weeks of fishing and diving so it will be awhile until I get around to working on implementing it all.