What ignition do I need

[914curt]

I have purchased a 2.4L type 4, with dual dell 45's and a 009 dist. One thing i did not notice on the dist was the condensor. I have a 009 on my 1.8l and it has a condensor. so if that is bad let me know. but my real question is what should i run for my ignition system. should i get a optical like the cranes or msd or should i do the old points system that i currently have. This is a big motor so i want to get everything right before i put it in. What do you guys think is the best bang for the buck.

Curt

[Rich Hilgersom]

Most people say Mallory is best for the buck.


Mallory on AirCooled.net

Regards,
-Rich Hilgersom

[John Rogers]

On my big 4 I use a 009 with Compufire points eliminator. I also use a MSD 6 and High vibration off road coil and Accell 8.5mm wires. Get good starts and smooth running (at least at full throttle!). Good luck.

[HMeeder]

The Compufire works very well for me in an otherwise completely stock ignition system. I had horrible luck with Pertronix.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I would suggest Compufire or Crane (more $$ but I like the optical concept better than the Hall-effect magnetic one) in any other distributor but an 009. Unless someone has rec-curved your 009, or for some very specific motors, the 009 is not a good choice for a 914 engine.

Try an 050 if you have to have centrifugal advance only; the Mallory if you have lots of $$ and want the best (reputedly), or a stock distributor.


--DD

[914curt]

Dave,

Why do you not recomend the 009? What will having it recurved do for me, and how can i tell if the on ethat i have has been recurved or how do i have it recurved i think the guy that had the engine before me had a crane hi-6 on it but i am not sure i will email him to find out.

Curt

[John Rogers]

If you use a distributor other than the 009 you get a larger amount of total advance so the driveability is a little better? I tried both in my race car and could not tell any difference so I use the 009 and replace it every couple years as the internal bushings wear rapidly it seems. The lower advance at idle might make the engine easier accelerating but if you are going to auto-x or DE the car then it probably won't matter. Good luck

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The 009s tend to not be of very good quality. They also don't have an advance curve that is very well matched to the needs of a Type IV engine. Well, most type IV engines. (John's seems to do well with it, and there are a couple of others, but they are definitely the exceptions!)

If you can find a shop that still has an old distributor machine and knows how to use it, they can re-curve the 009 for you. But it's not that easy to know what the advance "should" be at various RPMs, so either someone has to guess or you have to spend a lot of time on the dyno playing with it.

It is usually less expensive to buy a distributor that is known to work pretty well with engines similar to yours.

--DD

[914curt]

so would you recomend a 050 with mechanical advance like my 009. is that of better qualtity and do yo guys sell those?

Curt

[John Rogers]

Something you did not mention was, is this a brand new engine or one that has some miles on it? If it was running when you got, leave it as it was and then worry about the distributor later. The distributor is one of the easiest things to change and you can do it later. If it were me, I would be going nuts trying to get that engine in so I could drive with more power!!!! Good luck

[914curt]

John your right I will leave it alone for now and get this thing in i am so ready to go blow some doors off. i will let you all no how it runs. I should have it in within the next couple of weeks.

Curt

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Yup, what John said. But the 050 is often a better choice for a 914 motor. Check the "ignition" section of our on-line catalog for prices.

--DD