DeTomaso Mailing List: April 1997, Message #6
     



From: "Ted A. Mitchell" <tmitch@gte.net>

Subject: Re: Electromotive Ignition?

Date: Tue, 1 Apr 1997 15:39:30 -0800



I have been running the electromotive system (with the full FI system) for

a number of years and love it.  (I had to get rid of the distributor to run

my blower drive off the front.)  I have heard of some problems with the

early crank sensor, but I have had none.  One advantage is that except for

the crank trigger, the engine will run (on 6 cylinder) in the event of a

coil failure and get you home.  Of course coils seem to never fail anymore.

Buick first came out with the multicoil system (on American cars at least)

a number of years ago.  It also makes a great looking installation.



Ted (Vader)

http://home1.gte.net/tmitch/pe.htm     tmitch@gte.net



----------

> From: Andy Poling <andy@realbig.com>

> To: DeTomaso@wgate.com

> Subject: Electromotive Ignition?

> Date: Tuesday, April 01, 1997 12:25 PM

>

> On Tue, 1 Apr 1997 MikeLDrew@aol.com wrote:

> > Before the Detomaso server crashed (!) Andy Poling wrote:

>

> Well, since I crashed it :-)  I'll start things back up again too...

>

> I've found a local shop that is familiar with Panteras (Automotion in

> Rockville, if you're in the DC area) and, while talking about future

plans

> for my '72, I asked Larry for his views on dumping the breaker-point

> ignition.  He surprised me by showing me Electromotive's crank-fired

direct

> ignition system.  It's commonly used with their programmable FI rig, but

> works quite nicely by itself (it's not programmable when standalone, but

the

> advance curve is adjustable via a pot in the controller).  I'm not

planning

> on going with FI.

>

> It's a nice-looking system with a crank position sensor that mounts

behind

> the harmonic damper (after shaving 1/8" off the back of the damper) and a

> set of 4 ignition coils (wasted spark configuration) that mount on the

back

> of the block.

>

> I like the idea of eliminating that troublesome distributor, but I'm

> wondering if any of you folks have experience with the Electromotive

> ignition setup.  Apparently a couple of the more serious local Pantera

> jockeys are running it in combo with the FI.

>

> As far as the shop goes, I won't know for sure until they're done, but

I'm

> impressed so far with Larry's knowledge as I peppered the poor man with

> numerous what-if, should-I and why's-it-do-that-thing questions.

>

> I found out about the (unassuming) shop from a fellow autocross

competitor

> (who runs a modern Mustang) that remarked he often saw Pantera's in there

> when he visited.  It's sometimes surprising how you make Pantera

> connections...

>

> -Andy

>

> 72 Pantera: power             91 Miata: quickness              96 A4Q:

traction

>                             84 RZ350: all the above