High Energy Ignition (HEI)

[Ron]

1) Trend: If lower voltage ignition jumping smaller plug gaps performed better than higher voltage ignition jumping larger plug gaps,

STOP right there!
More facts you can not change:
1. Larger plug gaps (with or without higher voltage ignition) is not changing the coil alone!

2. If you believe that to be true then you must accept the converse:
If higher voltage ignition jumping larger plug gaps performed better than lower voltage ignition jumping smaller plug gaps DeLorean manufacturers would have went with them. They didn't.
(Remember 'your' papers prove they were aware of all this in the 1960s).

2) PRV specific: Renault itself jetisoned Bosch ignition, and the small plug gaps it can support,

Stop right there!
Look at what you posted! ...... The Bosch ignition CAN support the small plug gaps!


[Mods, would it be possible to supply a smiley with a appropriately sized anal orifice]

[content22207]

Look at what you posted! The Bosch ignition CAN support the small plug gaps!

I have never denied that Bosch ignition (coil) can support small plugs gaps -- that is *ALL* it can support. What the Bosch Blue coil can not support is HEI caliber plug gaps. That is why every vehicle running a Bosch Blue coil, including DeLoreans, has small plug gaps -- that is the best they can do.

Bosch ignition is adequate. It will make gasoline explode (most of the time). It is not performance ignition, even insofar as contemporary Mustang or Camaro ignitions. If you want performance ignition in your DeLorean:
1) You need a proper high winding coil
2) You need to increase primary voltage into that coil
3) You need to widen plug gaps

Every owner I know who has actually tried this, versus merely pontificating theories alone, has been thrilled with the results. I am not aware of anyone who has tried true HEI (more than just Martin's potentially backwards wired coil alone) and gone back to the stock setup.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[DCUK Martin]

I have never denied that Bosch ignition (coil) can support small plugs gaps -- that is *ALL* it can support.

So how does it manage in my turbo engines at a bar of boost? The gap's the same, resistive Bougicord leads, conventional (albeit different) distributor, getting on for twice the combustion chamber pressure.

The fact is that you have no evidence that the Bosch system *can't* support a greater plug gap, have you?

...and there's no point 'cos it ain't necessary.

I have no idea why AMC felt the need to specify a larger plug gap. I can only presume a man with similar "experience" as you was in charge of specifications. You said Renault, and Renault didn't increase plug gaps.

[DCUK Martin]

more than just Martin's potentially backwards wired coil alone

While nobody's infallible, Bill, I've never wired a coil up backwards on any of my 7 DeLoreans, nor any of my customer's DeLoreans. Perhaps you should try fitting capacitive ignition to yours. After all, all cars since the 1980's have used it.... (according to you)

[opethmike]

Every owner I know who has actually tried this, versus merely pontificating theories alone, has been thrilled with the results. I am not aware of anyone who has tried true HEI (more than just Martin's potentially backwards wired coil alone) and gone back to the stock setup.

Bill Robertson
#5939

Have any of these users ever actually PROVEN that there is a performance benefit? That is, had dyno testing done? Otherwise, there is only anecdotal evidence, and that is meaningless.

[content22207]

Please take all arguments for stock ignition to this thread: http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?15...9605#post19605.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[Ron]

I have never denied that Bosch ignition (coil) can support small plugs gaps -- that is *ALL* it can support.

STOP right there!
You fully imply that when you say one will gain performance by changing the coil (HEI) alone.
Damn Bill, if I posted every time you argued against that not being the case, the system would crash again! -- It is exactly what most of the BS arguments have been over!

If you want performance ignition in your DeLorean:
1) You need a proper high winding coil
2) You need to increase primary voltage into that coil
3) You need to widen plug gaps

Every owner I know who has actually tried this, versus merely pontificating theories alone, has been thrilled with the results. I am not aware of anyone who has tried true HEI (more than just Martin's potentially backwards wired coil alone) and gone back to the stock setup.

Theories? What theories?

There are plenty of coils that have a winding ratio high enough to omit #2.

Owners trying 'that' is not the same as "changing the coil alone on a good running stock Delorean". Not to mention fixing what was really wrong that caused them to do 'that' in the first place.

Who would replace a new "more than adequate HEI setup" with an old, adequate set up?

[DCUK Martin]

Have any of these users ever actually PROVEN that there is a performance benefit? That is, had dyno testing done? Otherwise, there is only anecdotal evidence, and that is meaningless.

...and as I'm always careful to point out, my position is from a properly working original system. Not a dodgy in-need-of-maintenance original system replaced with something Bill would approve of which results in a leap in performance.

Please take all arguments for stock ignition to this thread:

Why? So we leave you alone on this thread with only your soap box for company?

[content22207]

It was wrong of me to speak for any other owners running HEI. They are all grown intelligent men, perfectly capable of speaking for themselves. I will henceforth speak only of my own experiences.

I am running the following HEI setup on #5939:
- .25 ohms resistance on the coil supply (yields 12.5 volts into the coil when the alternator is charging)
- A Pertronix 40,000 volt coil
- Standard cap and rotor (one one my goals is to eventually bypass the 5K ohm resistor in the rotor button)
- MSD spiral wound distributor lead and plug wires
- AC Delco plugs, gapped ~.05"

This ignition setup has given me excellent speed and fuel economy performance in real world driving experience.

I am proud to say that my coil and distributor lead/plug wires were Made in USA.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[Ron]

So what Bill, you have went from ignoring your claim that replacing the stock coil alone will increase performance, to claiming you never said such a thing?

Isn't all of this getting old even to you? (My excuse is that I am on a mission.)