Ford Factory eletronic ignition vs conversion or GT-40

[neskier]

I have noticed on some of the older Ford motors with electronic ignition that where the distributer cap normaly goes is just a small round black piece with a cover and the cap and wires are mounted on the transmission side of the motor. Is this diffrent from the newer style, for example the GT-40? Here is an example from a 1992 in a recent ad in the classifieds: I had a 1991 like this as well:

http://www.planetnautique.com/index....ic&t=10742

When you buy a kit and convert from points to electronic ignition the cap and wires stay in the original location and look the same when done. What is the purpose or difference? What am I missing here? Thanks

[TRDon]

RE: Ford Factory eletronic ignition vs conversion or GT-40

I am not a pro at the differences but the points need to be adjusted and replaced every so often where as the electonic ignition does not. The dizzy is basically getting new guts in it to replace the points. They are more reliable and the difference in how it starts to me was noticable immidiately. It is completely worth the 150 or so to do it.

That link and pic you are looking at is more than likely the original protec ignition which is not related at all. 2 totally different systems. Electronic ignition replacements utilize the distributor.

[neskier]

Thanks for the response. I am in no way questioning the benefits of electronic vs points, just wondering the difference in the eloctronic configurations out there. So you think the picture in the link is the original Pro Tech ignition set up? Is it electronic? You can see the difference between that and the regular round distributer cap that normally goes on the pulley side of the motor. And is the GT-40 yet a 3rd different config? Thanks again

[TRDon]

nope, the GT40 is a distribitor setup. All eletronic conversions I have seen have been direct points replacements in a distributor. As far as the protec being an electronic setup, I would assume so, but I am not sure on that. I am trying to find out all I can about the Protec myself as my 93 is a converted protec setup. I hope this helps and if you have any more questions, Feel free to hit them up here

[bobchris]

there are two types of ignitions in three configurations used on PCM motors. Two are simular looking and those are the distributor based units. The older ones came with points and that's up to the late eighty's I think maybe even longer, but those are what the electroinc conversions are for, replacing the points with a hual effect sensor inside of the distributor. There are also the later generation that came as electroinc ignitions but can look exactly like the old style with new connectors on them. These units can be used with or without an ECU or what is refered to as a computer control engine management system.

The picture that you have shown is what is refered to as a direct ignition system, DIS for short and is electronic and a sealed system and they are made of two components a coil and a module, each coil fires two plugs and multiple coils are required depending on the number of cyclinders. PCM's version is called the ProTech system very simular to a late model automotive application you might have in your drive way.

Basicly the Protect system is a motorolla design and a poor one at that, it was used on early Buick V-6's in the 80's-90's and modified for a V-8 application for PCM, the coils and module are integrated into a single unit that is not repairable, only replaceable. This type of system uses crank and/or cam sensors depending on the ECU and manufacuter for it to work and control the firing and timing of the plugs, I'm just speaking in general terms and not specific to the Protech system or any other for that matter some have replaceable coils and modules other don't.

Since the system didn't last very long (Pro-tech) someone came up with a conversion kit for it to replace the DIS coilpack/module with a tradition electronic distributor. There is a specific type of distributor that has to be used so that it can talk to the computer managing the engine's systems, all EFI motors have computers and multiple sensors for them to work properly so you can not just replace the coil pack and oil pump drive housing with and electroinc Distributor that you might use if you where replacing a point style dist with a new style electroinc distributor, keep in mind there are two diferent styles of electroinc distributors ones that work with out a computor and ones that have to have a computor.

Early versions of motors with the DIS systems used old style blocks with new intakes and timing covers to make them EFI's but since they limited what was changed most used a oil pump drive and that is what that black topped piece is you see in the front of the motor, it's just a sawed off dist base that holds a shaft and gear in place to drive the oil pump in the oil pan. So on the Protech conversion you remove the coilpack, oil pump drive and wiring harness and replace the oil pump drive with a specific model of a distributor, replace the harness, and pitch the coilpack in the trash where it belongs. So it's a conversion but it's not a electronic conversion because they both all ready electroinc, the more common reference to electroinc conversion is replacing a point style unit to and electroinc version by either removing the points and install and electronic pickup inside of the old unit or replacing the complete unit with a new style electronic distributor that is design to stand alone, it's how the dist is trigger that makes the difference. On a electroinc dist that uses a computor the trigger is a crank sensor and a signal is sent to the dist from the computor, on a stand alone vesrions the trigger is internal to the distributor by a magnetic pick/star wheel or an optical unit depends in the manufacturer. Spent a day or two engineering these things back in the late 80's early 90's

[TRDon]

Holy nice response Thanks for taking the time to type that all out. Very informative.

[neskier]

Yes, great info. Thanks again for your time.