Stage 1 Electronic ignition conversion

[Landie333]

Hi all. I apologise if i'm posting in the wrong forum.

I've been looking at converting the stage 1's points igniton to electronic. I've done some research and I don't seem to be able to find any bad feedback on them.

My first question is: For those who have converted their point ignitions to electronic, what have your experiences with them?

Secondly, I can find two suppliers/ manufacturers of kits.
Electronic Ignition Conversion Kits for Lucas 4-cylinder, 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder Distributors (http://www.hot-spark.com/1-Lucas-Distributors.htm)

PerTronix - IGNITOR II LUCAS 8 CYL (http://pertronix.shptron.com/p/ignitor-ii-lucas-8-cyl)
PerTronix - IGNITOR II LUCAS 8 CYL RANGE ROVER (http://pertronix.shptron.com/p/ignitor-ii-lucas-8-cyl-range-rover)

Has anyone has experience with these two different brands? Good/ bad? Any inputs, comments, feedback wanted

Many thanks in advance

[trump500]

gday mate pertronix is ok but first you want to determine the condition of your dizzy you might be better off getting a dizzy and module out of a late 3.9 disco with minimal wear

[Mick_Marsh]

Mine is electronic.
There is lots of info if you have a bit of a search.
For a start, have a read here:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/96950-lucas-ignition-amplifier-replacement-bosch-024-a.html

[redrovertdi]

When i had an 83 rangie i converted to electronic ignition, from wreckers got a later model distributor and coil and the 12-6volt wire to run from the ignition barrel, made the car start-idle and perform better, if i had known the result was to be so good i would have done it sooner.
Richard

[Landie333]

gday mate pertronix is ok but first you want to determine the condition of your dizzy you might be better off getting a dizzy and module out of a late 3.9 disco with minimal wear


Mine is electronic.
There is lots of info if you have a bit of a search.
For a start, have a read here:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/technical-chatter/96950-lucas-ignition-amplifier-replacement-bosch-024-a.html


When i had an 83 rangie i converted to electronic ignition, from wreckers got a later model distributor and coil and the 12-6volt wire to run from the ignition barrel, made the car start-idle and perform better, if i had known the result was to be so good i would have done it sooner.
Richard

Awsome, thanks for the info fellas. It's made me change my mind and I think I will convert the distributor instead of just converting the points. Probably cheaper too.

I had done some searching about points conversions, but wasn't aware of the possibility of converting the whole distributor. But I will do some research on that.

Are all the dizzys out of the 3.9 and EFI 3.5 the same? Or are some unable to be used?

[bee utey]

All Rover V8 distributors are interchangeable in their basic arrangement.

You may have to change the drive dog for the oil pump.

Dates approximately:

'94-on (serpentine engines) distributors don't have an oil pump drive at all.

'84-85 RRC distributors have a large remote module that is best avoided.

'96-98 D1 distributors have a remote ignition module.

Most '86-'95 distributors (3.5 or 3.9) have the ignition module on the side of the distributor, where it is subject to engine heat in our summer weather.

All of the above electronic distributors have the same kind of magnetic pickup inside and will run the Bosch conversion I have described (in the thread linked by Mick Marsh). With careful attention to the oil pump drive length all of the above can be used on an early 3.5 engine.

Complete ready to fit electronic distributors are available on ebay. I have no idea how good they are. Example:

Land Rover Range Rover V8 35D Distributor & Lucas DLB198 High Energy Ignition | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Land-Rover-Range-Rover-V8-35D-Distributor-Lucas-DLB198-High-Energy-Ignition-/130620886729?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e699c8ec9)

[Landie333]

Awsome, thankyou kindly for the information. I now need to go out and start looking and familiarising myself.:D

[Landie333]

Ok,

So after a certain amount of doing nothing and a certain amount of searching, I have been offered a complete dizzy, module and coil out of a "P76 4.4". Correct me if i'm wrong, but a P76 4.4 is a Leyland and carbie....

I spent some time on Google and obviously with no avail. Is anyone able to help me out with info on this?

[redrovertdi]

You wanted to go electronic, a p76 is not, its just old.

[AdsLandies]

I have an early Lucas electronic ignition set-up in my stage1. The only problem I've had is two over heated modules which stops everything dead. I keep the original points distributor, coil and resistor under the seat just in case - and have needed it those couple of times. Last time I changed the module, I mounted it in on an aluminium heatsink and moved it away from the hot engine and it's been fine for many many years now.
I much prefer the electronic set up, particularly since there are no longer points to adjust or burn out, plus it doesn't get affected by moisture. You can hose off all the splashed up mud from around the distributor and it will still start - never did with the points set-up.

[bee utey]

Ok,

So after a certain amount of doing nothing and a certain amount of searching, I have been offered a complete dizzy, module and coil out of a "P76 4.4". Correct me if i'm wrong, but a P76 4.4 is a Leyland and carbie....

I spent some time on Google and obviously with no avail. Is anyone able to help me out with info on this?

There are a number of ways you can have an electronic distributor in a P76. I myself have built dozens for various people. However a P76 distributor has a different bottom drive for the oil pump to a Rover V8. If the P76 engine in question has been in a Land Rover it may well have been fitted with the Rover front timing cover and so the dissy may fit. You will need to get a few more details about this mystery dissy.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

3 different versions of my P76 dissy conversions. You may actually be getting offered one of mine for all I know.

[chazza]

An alternative to an electronic distributor, is to chuck it in the bin and use Megajolt, which uses a very reliable ECU to provide the spark; the advantage over the distributor is that the wearing parts get eliminated.

This chap did an el-cheapo conversion KWD's Megajolt Ignition (http://ollr.createaforum.com/technical-archive/kwd's-megajolt-ignition/) or you can buy a variety of kits. Initially the idea of using an ECU scared me until I had read a variety of forums and websites; now I have bought a kit for my V8 :D

Land rover 2.25 litre petrol (http://www.trigger-wheels.com/store/contents/en-uk/p45.html)

ExtraEFI.co.uk HOME (http://www.extraefi.co.uk/)

MS-Megasquirt/Jolt - LR4x4 - The Land Rover Forum (http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php'showforum=36)

Cheers Charlie

[Bigbjorn]

I have an early Lucas electronic ignition set-up in my stage1. The only problem I've had is two over heated modules which stops everything dead. I keep the original points distributor, coil and resistor under the seat just in case - and have needed it those couple of times. Last time I changed the module, I mounted it in on an aluminium heatsink and moved it away from the hot engine and it's been fine for many many years now.
I much prefer the electronic set up, particularly since there are no longer points to adjust or burn out, plus it doesn't get affected by moisture. You can hose off all the splashed up mud from around the distributor and it will still start - never did with the points set-up.

Get a Jaycar electronic ignition kit and use it with the points distributor. The points no longer carry more than a few milliamps of current and last virtually forever. Wire it in so that when (note I said "when" not "if") the electronics fail you just changeover two wires and run normal Kettering coil and points ignition. Did this to numbers of vehicles particularly ELB Valiants when the ELB box got priced out of reach by Mitsubishi. One went to the wreckers and got a points distributor from a Hemi 215 and fitted it and the Jaycar kit to 245's and 265's.

[Landie333]

There are a number of ways you can have an electronic distributor in a P76. I myself have built dozens for various people. However a P76 distributor has a different bottom drive for the oil pump to a Rover V8. If the P76 engine in question has been in a Land Rover it may well have been fitted with the Rover front timing cover and so the dissy may fit. You will need to get a few more details about this mystery dissy.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachment.php?attachmentid=57224&stc=1&d=1361967647

3 different versions of my P76 dissy conversions. You may actually be getting offered one of mine for all I know.

Hmm, ok. I may give it a miss. If your 'location' is correct, it won't be you. This is from Brisbane. He hasn't got back to me yet, so I don't know if he's sold it/no longer interested. That being said, I'm now being offered one out of a '90 RR.


An alternative to an electronic distributor, is to chuck it in the bin and use Megajolt, which uses a very reliable ECU to provide the spark; the advantage over the distributor is that the wearing parts get eliminated.

This chap did an el-cheapo conversion KWD's Megajolt Ignition (http://ollr.createaforum.com/technical-archive/kwd's-megajolt-ignition/) or you can buy a variety of kits. Initially the idea of using an ECU scared me until I had read a variety of forums and websites; now I have bought a kit for my V8 :D

Land rover 2.25 litre petrol (http://www.trigger-wheels.com/store/contents/en-uk/p45.html)

ExtraEFI.co.uk HOME (http://www.extraefi.co.uk/)

MS-Megasquirt/Jolt - LR4x4 - The Land Rover Forum (http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php'showforum=36)

Cheers Charlie

I want to convert it to MS eventually, but based off the link to the conversion you posted, i'm almost halfway there to converting it.


Get a Jaycar electronic ignition kit and use it with the points distributor. The points no longer carry more than a few milliamps of current and last virtually forever. Wire it in so that when (note I said "when" not "if") the electronics fail you just changeover two wires and run normal Kettering coil and points ignition. Did this to numbers of vehicles particularly ELB Valiants when the ELB box got priced out of reach by Mitsubishi. One went to the wreckers and got a points distributor from a Hemi 215 and fitted it and the Jaycar kit to 245's and 265's.

I'll keep it in mind. Ultimately if I can't find a dizzy/at a decent price I will consider that route.


That leads me to my next question. What is a good price for a complete electronic dizzy, module and coil worth? The '90 RR one, is being offered to me for $275. What should I expect to pay?

Many thanks in advance

[101 Ron]

In my 3.5 V8 motor (as fitted to a 101 landrover) I have used two different electronic ignition systems.
The distributor fitted to my motor is a Lucas points type as fitted to early range rover and stage one series three.
The first electronic conversion kit I used was a external type mounted on the fire wall.
( Pirania brand )
I worked well and gave the expected results.
In ready deep creek crossings It was prone wet ignition wiring issuses.
The second one which I am still using after 5 years is pertonix.
I have used pertonix ignition conversions before on industrial machinery and it always has the goods.
The pertonix set up is very small and self contained inside the distributor with no exturnal junk to get wet.
Pertonix is easy to convert back to points, but why would you want that.
The pertonix is light years ahead of the early lucas electronic distributors fitted to the rover V8s
I have never seen a pertonix unit fail, except for incorrect fitting.
It is worth noting that there is a few different models of early points distributors that were fitted (lucas) to the rover V8s and you must check via model numbers stamped on the distributors what you have before ordering.
The other thing I like about converting a points dist to electronic is for a stage one V8 without much pollution gear the advance curve on the distributor.
Later factory electronic distributors tend to have advance curves to suit anti pollution motors which may not be running your pre pollution motor at its best.

[101 Ron]

Another way to go is Jolley Engineering in the UK.
They will make electronic conversion kits for anything and have kits for most models of petrol vehicles you can think of.
They will have a ready to easy fit kit to suit yor distributor , and they use the small sealed modules inside the distributors just like Pertonix.
Jolley Engineering appear to do everything in house and have a very good name world wide.

http://www.classicheads.com/

[Landie333]

I looked at the Pertronix kits. Slightly more expensive than i'm prepared to pay. Although, if wreckers are going to ask $400 for one, they're probably not a bad deal.

I've tracked one down out of an '88 RR 3.5. I would like to think it should be the same. If I can get some feedback on what I should pay for one from you guys, i'll talk to the chap about prices.

Many thanks in advance.

[bee utey]

Its up to you how much you want to pay. Private sellers on ebay can get between $60-$120 for a used one, depending on condition. Wreckers of course ask two or more times as much. Put a search with notification on ebay and wait for one to come up. There's a SD1 one in the UK that needs an external module conversion, not hard to do. Brand new aftermarket dissys (made in China) ready to run would cost you under $200.

BTW I have sold converted P76 dissys all over Australia, that's because the P76 clubs have been in communication since 1982, long before the internet.