Electronic Ignition (worth converting)

eadmr04

eadmr04

Member
I have a 1968 3500 V8 Series 1 P6b. I've been toying with the idea of converting to electronic ignition and just wondered:

1. Is it a worthwhile conversion
2. Which would be the best one for my early V8
3. Is it something that a complete novice like myself could do or would it be best left to the professionals
4. Do you just buy a kit and plug and play or are there any wiring conversions required
5 Has anyone got a step by step guide on how to carry out this conversion

Thanks.
 
1) Yes. The only points worth using are NOS Lucas ones and they're a) getting hard to find now, and b) not as reliable as electronic.
2) I have a Pertronix system i'm going to fit to mine when I get round to it, but other systems are available.
3) You can do it, and you'll make a better job than most so-called "professionals".
4) Minor wiring, picking up a supply, but no real problems.
5) There may be one on here already, if not I'sure one will be forthcoming soon.
 
I have used a few different ones.

The best one was and Aldon made unit, very easy to fit.

There is also a company called H&H ignitions, they can supply a new electronic distributor at a reasonable price, A friend of mine bought one from them.

Colin
 
Would I need to change the distrubutor or cap or coil? I've also heard of balast resistor is this it do i have to do anything with it? The car is negative earth.
 

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Hi
I have only used lumenition, you don't need to change cap or coil.
Your early series 1 car as shown uses separate ballast resistor, no need to alter this.
You only need To make sure that a12 volt ignition switch supplies the control unit.
Clive.
 
Lumenition is good if your dizzy is perfect with no play, but systems like aldon give a higher coil voltage iirc so are going to be superior.

There's options like the powersparks although quality isnt always perfect. ( Ihave one and had trouble fitting due to poor tolerances!) I runs well now but has a habit of eating ignition amps.
You get get 123 ignition and 123 tune systems which are really powerful and tunable by a laptop. These are the best apart from going for a megajolt system afaik.
 
As long as the Bob weights / base plate is not seized having some spindle wear makes no difference on lumenition, in its blurb at one time made a point of saying that.
You can get a much more powerful spark by using a Lucas gold sports coil,
Proper leads / NGK plugs set at 40 thou gap.

Only weak point is getting a good quality cap and rotor arm,many are cheap/crappie and cause many a breakdown .
Unless your lucky to find a NOS one which says Lucas get one from distributor doctor.
All comes down to personal choice
That combination has worked fine for me on all the v8s I've had.
Regards
Clive
 
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Yup - on mine the spindle had 3mm of movement and the timing was jumping around so the lumenition was no longer working but mine is a very high miler.
 
Have had Lumenition (fitted by the agent) on my car since 1976. Only problem in that time was the need to replace the "chopper" after I broke it trying to take it off, for no valid reason.
It made a tremendous difference to cold starting when first installed.

Have also had good experience with Petronix on a 1954 Sunbeam AlpineMk1.
 
I actually found that going to the wire laced leads (Magnacore/Champion/Mallory) Made an enormous difference to my 11:1 CR engine, particularly at idle and low revs/high throttle. The Pertronics unit was just icing on the cake really but it is so nice not to have to worry about tuning it. The car started first time after tenish years and no tuning.
 
I have ordered a MSD ignition set.
When its installed i will put my experience with the unit on the forum.
 
What's peoples opinions on one of these kits and doing a complete overhaul rather than just changing the points for an electronic module so I'd have a complete new distributor etc? Anyome have any experience of these?

V8 MGB & Rover P5 P6 Early Male Type Drive Gear Distributor Ignition Coil & Link Lead V8 MGB & Rover P5 P6 early male type drive gear distributor ignition coil & link lead [D29M11 & CE5 & L10 & R5 & L9] - £154.95 : Electronic Ignition, Home of the Powerspark electronic ignition and electronic distributor
 
eadmr04 said:
What's peoples opinions on one of these kits and doing a complete overhaul rather than just changing the points for an electronic module so I'd have a complete new distributor etc? Anyome have any experience of these?

V8 MGB & Rover P5 P6 Early Male Type Drive Gear Distributor Ignition Coil & Link Lead V8 MGB & Rover P5 P6 early male type drive gear distributor ignition coil & link lead [D29M11 & CE5 & L10 & R5 & L9] - £154.95 : Electronic Ignition, Home of the Powerspark electronic ignition and electronic distributor
Click to expand...

I bought a new Powerspark distributor with new leads and coil about 2 years ago for my P5B. I use my P5B as my daily car and did approx 20.000km in those 2 years without any problem. It starts always gut, even on cold winter days and always on LPG.
I have read that some people had problems with it. I prefered it as it is a complete new distributor at a fair price.
Peter
 
roverp5Bcoupe said:
I bought a new Powerspark distributor with new leads and coil about 2 years ago for my P5B. I use my P5B as my daily car and did approx 20.000km in those 2 years without any problem. It starts always gut, even on cold winter days and always on LPG.
I have read that some people had problems with it. I prefered it as it is a complete new distributor at a fair price.
Peter
Click to expand...
Was it a just a simple case of swapping the components and then checking the timing?
 
I just bought a new distributor for an SD1 which was already electronic. I must admit I was replacing a mallory unit and my engine was already modified, so it was a direct replacement. You may have to change the drive on the bottom, (or upgrade your oil pump at the same time).

Rover V8 Distributor Ignition Replacement Range Rover TVR Morgan MG V8 Engine

Or talk to these chappies, they seem to know what they're up to :)

Land Rover Range Rover V8 35D Distributor & Lucas DLB198 High Energy Ignition

Richard
 
I had endless trouble with the electronic ignition on my 83 SD1. two main issues were the press fit diode in the control box came loose when it heated up, and swung out on corners, shorting the wire. other issue was the cutter plate was no where near where it should have been. A brand new replacement was even worse so I had to file the holes and locate it manually....I finally fixed it for good by selling the car to another Mug...I did warn him though!
 
eadmr04 said:
Was it a just a simple case of swapping the components and then checking the timing?
Click to expand...

Yes, it was just swapping the components and checking the timing. I noticed that some people have trouble with their rev counter when an electronic ignition (not only Powerspark} is fitted
 
eadmr04 said:
What's peoples opinions on one of these kits and doing a complete overhaul rather than just changing the points for an electronic module so I'd have a complete new distributor etc? Anyome have any experience of these?

V8 MGB & Rover P5 P6 Early Male Type Drive Gear Distributor Ignition Coil & Link Lead V8 MGB & Rover P5 P6 early male type drive gear distributor ignition coil & link lead [D29M11 & CE5 & L10 & R5 & L9] - £154.95 : Electronic Ignition, Home of the Powerspark electronic ignition and electronic distributor
Click to expand...

I've got one. Starts fine no problem after 9 months.
 
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