Distributor - Electronic Ignition

Since the A-Series has such an efficient combustion chamber design, the standard points set-up is perfectly capable of providing sufficient sparks for effective combustion when new. And this is the problem. They require regular servicing to maintain maximum performance. This can be a chore, so is generally neglected. And it doesn't take long before deterioration seriously affects performance. Points bounce is also a problem on high-revving race motors.

Deterioration of the points set-up can be caused by several factors - wear and tear on the dizzy spindle bearings creating 'wobble', electrical erosion of the points, and wear of the points cam heal. All have the same effect - dwell angle alteration. This in turn reduces spark effectiveness. The consequences are a loss in power and economy, poor starting performance, and general poor running.

Engine - Running in Procedure

This is another of those subjects that crops up on the message board frequently. I am constantly surprised by the number of engine builders - or people who charge other folk for building engines at any rate - that never hand out such an information sheet. It seems pretty daft to me that having taken a wad of money off of a customer for an engine you've lovingly put together, you'd want to help that person get the very best out of the engine. And the running/breaking in procedure is absolutely crucial. It at least ensures no damage is incurred when the engine first bursts into life. A collection of the usual suspects have explained their own methods on the board, along with various others - many of which probably work just as well for them, a few which are down-right dubious. Following is a sheet I administer with every customer engine I build.

Distributor - Initial ignition timing set-up.

Any deviation away from the original standard engine specification, or where a dizzy from another source is used in the engine you have, the ignition timing will generally be different from that set by the manufacturer.

Terminology -
Dizzy - Distributor
TDC - Top Dead Centre
BTDC - Before Top Dead Centre
ATDC - After Top Dead Centre
CR - Compression Ratio

Tacho - Tachometer, rev counter (not to be confused with Mexican food delicacy!)
Vac - vacuum (pipe, unit, etc.)

Any deviation away from the original standard engine specification, or where a dizzy from another source is used in the engine you have, the ignition timing will generally be different from that set by the manufacturer.

Distributors - Modifying them, how, where, and who

When a known engine build formula is used, dizzies can be churned out with the relevant advance curve to suit - as in standard production engines. Terminology - Dizzy - Distributor When a known engine build formula is used, dizzies can be churned out with the relevant advance curve to suit - as in standard production engines. Reading the 'dizzy working basics' article defines what the dizzy does and how. It's pretty obvious then that any changes at all in the original engine specification is likely to require a different advance curve. This is where most folk fall down when completing the ‘build for power’, by assuming that an alternative dizzy from a sportier or similarly powered engine will do the trick.A simple illustration is folk's preoccupation with sticking a 'S' dizzy into anything tuned in the belief this is the way to go. It's not. It's likely to be as useful as the one you have.

RUNNING IN NEW ENGINES

Install engine. It is absolutely imperative that the cooling system is more than sufficient to deal with any temperatures likely to be produced by the engine. More power means more heat to be dissipated. A standard radiator is very unlikely to be able to cope with a reasonable power increase over standard.

Do not fill cooling system yet. Set clutch throw-out and free-play take up. Double-check all connections electrical, oil, fuel and cooling system. Put in engine oil – use a cheap multi-grade mineral oil. DO NOT use either semi or full synthetic oils. They will stop the rings from bedding in. Remove spark plugs, and spin engine over in bursts of a few seconds to pick up oil pressure and prevent starter motor damage. DO NOT start engine until oil pressure picks up.

Once oil pressure is showing, check ignition timing statically. Set to figure advised by distributor maker, or if no figures available, set at around 6-8 degrees BTDC. Re-fit spark plugs a

Ignition - Pertronix Ignitor issues

I have been using the Ignitor ignition systems for some 8 years or so, as long as they have available in the UK, and have never found fault with them nor had any reliability issues. Until the beginning of this year… A new customer for this year, racing an MG Midget here in UK under a limited mods category, was doing splendidly for the first couple of races, then started experiencing a misfire. Initially it was believed to be a fuel starvation/vaporization issue. All fuel pipes were checked and re-routed where it was considered necessary. Those still considered in danger of getting too warm were heat shielded. The misfire persisted. On to the ignition system. All was checked, but then a loose alternator wire was found and blamed for the fault. It wasn't. Back to the ignition system then.

03.04.10, Cadwell Park Race Report by Keith Calver

Getting the car ready for the first race was not quite the last minute flurry of panicked activity it usually is. Largely because the re-fit and re-furb were kept to a minimum following complete strip re-build plans shot to pieces by tradesmen being somewhat hard to pin down to get very necessary domestic work done.

Most importantly the doors and windows in the garage. The special concertina type front doors have been falling slowly decaying over the past few years....

Ballast to Sports coil

ADU5789MS Fitting electronic dizzy to A+ ballast type
ignition.
998cc 1982 to 1993
From 1982( X reg ) 998cc minis were fitted with a ballasted ignition
system. From 1990 1275cc carburettor minis ( RSP and mainstream Coopers )
did not use this system. Ballasted ignition

2015 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique – Summary

Top Mini Best British finisher 1st International Rally Drivers Club Team car (Tyresoles Trophy) 2nd Class for 1962-65 cars up to 1300cc 59th overall out of 320

Minispares electronic dizzy Aplus ballast type ignition

Fitting Minispares electronic dizzys ADU5789MS 998cc 1982 to 1993 A+ ballast type ignition

Brands Hatch for the Mini Festival

Brands Hatch for the Mini Festival

From the Super-fast circuit of Thruxton the Super Might Minis Championship moved on to Brands Hatch for the Mini Festival and the mid-point of the season.

Historical Article - Nov 1991 - Twini Mini

The front brakes are standard Cooper 'S' 71/2" variety with the standard drums on the rear, with the assistance of a servo the rear regulator valve has been left out of the system and the brakes work very well. As the weight of the second engine amounts to the equivalent of two 11 1/2 stone passengers. Rear cooling is taken care of using a 1300 radiator mounted in the standard position. The heater take offs are connected to a 19 row oil cooler.

Historical Article - Nov 1991 - Twini Mini

The front brakes are standard Cooper 'S' 71/2" variety with the standard drums on the rear, with the assistance of a servo the rear regulator valve has been left out of the system and the brakes work very well. As the weight of the second engine amounts to the equivalent of two 11 1/2 stone passengers. Rear cooling is taken care of using a 1300 radiator mounted in the standard position. The heater take offs are connected to a 19 row oil cooler.

Historical Article - Nov 1992 - Little Red Booster - fastest road legal mini

In the November 1991 issue of Mini Tech News, we found ourselves with a half page to fill, and for no particular reason really, decided to throw a picture of our man Phil Oram’s recently departed Riley Elf racer...

Historical Article - May 1993 - EFI - The Continuing Saga

EFl - THE CONTINUING SAGA It is some time since I reported on the electronic fuel injection and ignition system I have been developing for Mini Spares. Unfortunately I suffered a very stagnant period of too many months whilst a great deal of time was wasted by what I can only describe as the "holier than thou's" in the automotive electronics world. What a bunch of self-opinionated *ssh*l*s!! Far too many empty promises.