Electronic ignition - worth fitting?

[KevinB]

I've seen this is readily available at reasonable cost. Either as a kit to fit to the existing distributor, or as a replacement distributor with it already there.

Is it beneficial? Please share your experience as I'm seriously thinking of trying it.

Thanks in advance.

Kevin

[svenedin]

This has been discussed so many times that it is probably best to do a forum search.

Here's one of many threads on the subject: https://board.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php ... on#p696954

Stephen

[KevinB]

Sorry about that. I did a search first, but clearly not a proper one!

Thanks,
Kevin

[HARBER07]

I would say no. But everyone’s opinion differs on this.

A good friend was left stranded in his GT6 as a result of electronic ignition modules. Once they fail they are irreparable. A set of point can be cleaned or adjusted at the side of the road to get you home.

[geoberni]

I would say no. But everyone’s opinion differs on this.

A good friend was left stranded in his GT6 as a result of electronic ignition modules. Once they fail they are irreparable. A set of point can be cleaned or adjusted at the side of the road to get you home.

That's True.
My Basil had an Accuspark Unit fitted in the original Dissy when I brought him.
I trailered him home as it was 70+ miles.
The first two times I took him out further than about 10 miles, he cut out and died on me.
Both times RAC blamed the 'electronic ignition' and recovered him home.
First time I got him home, fault had gone, but I fitted a replacement Accuspark Unit anyway.
Second time I got him home, he was still dead, and I quickly traced the fault to an open circuit coil.
That was around 7 years ago.
So I still have a spare electronic module in the boot (the original one), just in case....

But on the plus side, I'm not regularly worrying about cleaning and resetting the points / timing..

[myoldjalopy]

What I would say is that if the idea of electronic ignition is to overcome the recent problem of difficult starting, then it may, or may not, solve this as it all depends on why it has been difficult to start. If a dizzy set up with the points system is in good order then - assuming everything else is in order and set up correctly - there will be no problems in starting. I would make sure the car is operating properly before considering electronic ignition, or you may install one and find there are still issues which were nothing to do with the points system.....

[moggiethouable]

I would say from the point of view of not having to set or replace the points every 6k miles then perhaps.
But.
How many miles do you put on the clock?
Therefore how often would you have to replace points?
I would say this.
Too often owners go gung ho and replace numerous other parts at the same time, only to find the car does not start.
So.
If you fit an electronic ignition, touch nothing else until you have proven it works.
Apply this logic to every other job tackled and life becomes a lot simpler.
For my part I still have points and as I dont have a stereo fitted or other accessories that require a negative earth I have even left it as positive ground.
A stereo after all would drown out the sound of the mighty A series engine.

[mike1864]

My own preference is for an electronic system that re-uses the points. Reversion is then via a simple wiring bypass.
In electronic mode, points wear is virtually zero. Though a new set may need a tweak after a few hundred miles to take up the initial heel wear.
My starting was never an issue, but - as mentioned on another thread - the electronic ignition enabled the engine to start on the first (slow) inches of the starting handle rotation.

[KevinB]

Thank you for all the comments.

The suggestions I should sort out my starting issues first is good. I will try to do that, before thinking about new distributors.

Thanks.

[svenedin]

Thank you for all the comments.

The suggestions I should sort out my starting issues first is good. I will try to do that, before thinking about new distributors.

Thanks.

Be aware that the distributors made by the likes of Accuspark are cheap, Chinese copies. They are poorly made. I tested one and I found the ignition timing wandered all over the place. There's also no evidence that they have been set up with the correct advance curve for the engine. A much better alternative is to have the original Lucas 25D professionally refurbished (Distributor Doctor) if it is worn. Then at least you have a good working distributor which you can use with points or electronic ignition as you wish.

Stephen

[KevinB]

Thank you for that, Stephen.

[King Kenny]

I have never been tempted over the 47 years of ownership and running three minors. Never experienced any problem with the standard set up.

[kevin s]

With Electronic Ignitions its a case of you get what you pay for, a Lumenition is reliable and will probably outlast most of us (one of my cars has had one for over 30 years) but costs around £200, on the other hand there are many reports of the cheap modern Chineese stuff failing very early, the one I had on a Series Landrover lasted less than a year.

[svenedin]

With Electronic Ignitions its a case of you get what you pay for, a Lumenition is reliable and will probably outlast most of us (one of my cars has had one for over 30 years) but costs around £200, on the other hand there are many reports of the cheap modern Chineese stuff failing very early, the one I had on a Series Landrover lasted less than a year.

Yes I completely agree. I have Lumenition in my car but there are two different systems. There's Magnetronic which is a Hall Effect system that is entirely within the distributor and there's Optronic which is optically triggered. The trigger is fitted in the distributor but there is also a small box that has to be mounted elsewhere. Optronic is the older system and it is also more expensive. It's almost bombproof and was used by the MoD. I have the Optronic system. https://www.gsparkplug.com/brands/lumenition

Stephen

[Mervin]

"Be aware that the distributors made by the likes of Accuspark are cheap, Chinese copies. They are poorly made."
Totally agree Stephen. I made the mistake of fitting one, and although it didn't let me down, I decided to have the Distributor Doctor treatment on the original and refit that. Probably the mechanical and vacuum advance will be generic on those too and not specific to the Minor's engines.
For the same reason, already mentioned, I didn't want to be stranded due to failure of the electronic Chineseum tat. So much easier to diagnose a no start/no spark problem with an old Lucas original 25D4 with points. Yes, the module could have been changed to eliminate that, but my car is +ve earth with the module costing more. Essentially carry £50 aound in the boot!
However, I do have spare DD points, condensor and rotor arm in the boot, about £27 worth!
I do concede that there are better/more expensive alternatives which will fit into the existing Lucas distributor.

[svenedin]

"Be aware that the distributors made by the likes of Accuspark are cheap, Chinese copies. They are poorly made."
Totally agree Stephen. I made the mistake of fitting one, and although it didn't let me down, I decided to have the Distributor Doctor treatment on the original and refit that. Probably the mechanical and vacuum advance will be generic on those too and not specific to the Minor's engines.
For the same reason, already mentioned, I didn't want to be stranded due to failure of the electronic Chineseum tat. So much easier to diagnose a no start/no spark problem with an old Lucas original 25D4 with points. Yes, the module could have been changed to eliminate that, but my car is +ve earth with the module costing more. Essentially carry £50 aound in the boot!
However, I do have spare DD points, condensor and rotor arm in the boot, about £27 worth!
I do concede that there are better/more expensive alternatives which will fit into the existing Lucas distributor.

Yes Distributor Doctor (Martin Jay) does a brilliant job refurbishing distributors and he also supplies top quality parts. He supplies a graph showing the advance curve with the rebuilt distributor and of course it is correct for the engine/car. Not cheap of course but time and skill are not cheap!

My car is +earth too.

Stephen

[Mervin]

When Martin returned my distributor the advance curve graph was missing. One e-mail and a day later I received it.
His service is really second to none.
Not that it matters unless originality is desired, my distributor, when sent, had a top entry cap. When returned it had the period/year correct side entry cap, which I personally prefer anyway. The only downside was having to renew the too large diameter h.t. leads.

[svenedin]

When Martin returned my distributor the advance curve graph was missing. One e-mail and a day later I received it.
His service is really second to none.
Not that it matters unless originality is desired, my distributor, when sent, had a top entry cap. When returned it had the period/year correct side entry cap, which I personally prefer anyway. The only downside was having to renew the too large diameter h.t. leads.

I like side-entry caps too. Neater HT lead runs in the engine bay and with screw on plug caps you can replace the plug leads very easily with no need for crimping at all (except for the coil end of the king lead if a push fit coil)

Stephen