d2alfa Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 Hi, I have a 1967 TR4a and am considering fitting an electronic ignition system. The two varieties found that are complete distributor replacements are the 123ignition and CSI. I would be grateful for advice/recommendatons and experience/problems, ease of fitting and setting up. Thanks David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 1 hour ago, d2alfa said: Hi, I have a 1967 TR4a and am considering fitting an electronic ignition system. The two varieties found that are complete distributor replacements are the 123ignition and CSI. I would be grateful for advice/recommendatons and experience/problems, ease of fitting and setting up. Thanks David Just get your distributor rebuilt properly by Martin (Distributor Doctor) and stick to points, they will always get you home Stuart Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jerrytr5 Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 Luminition Optronic has been faultless for me. Jerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AndyR100 Posted January 5 Report Share Posted January 5 I chose to fit a 123Ignition tune+ to my TR4 and been very happy with the outcome. … Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DRD Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 17 hours ago, stuart said: Just get your distributor rebuilt properly by Martin (Distributor Doctor) and stick to points, they will always get you home Stuart +1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 My concern with an electronic distributor like the 321 or CSI is what happens when they conc out? Unlike a rebuilt standard dizzy with an electronic module inside (which can be swapped out or points and condensor fitted at the roadside) you are in need of a tow unless you have original dizzy in the boot) However they have the benefit of being programmable to your engine quite easily. To do that with a mechanical dizzy requires a "dizzy swing" on a rolling road to ascertain the ideal curve and then getting your unit built to replicate this. However a reasonable stab at this is more practical for most purposes and the likes of Martin Jay can rebuild to the spec of your engine depending on its state of tune and fit an electronic unit instead of points. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tim hunt Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 David, I fitted a Lumenition Optronic system to my 4a around 1977. It was an early version with the pressed steel chopper rather than one in injection moulded plastic. This worked perfectly for 30 years until the module failed. For some time I had been experiencing an intermittent and unpredictable pinking and thought that the balance springs in the distributor body might have stretched. I was then in the market either for a replacement Lumenition, or a rebuilt original distributor. A new Lumention would have done nothing for the pinking issue and it was then that I heard of the 123 Ignition solution, which a friend had fitted to his Spitfire Mk3 with excellent results. I purchased a GB4-R-V from SC Parts at the Silverstone Classic in July 2007 and fitted it soon after. This was the 'cooking' version since the tuneable type was not then available. It was simple to fit and set up following the supplied instructions. It is a drop in replacement for the Lucas 25D4 and one even retains the original tachomenter drive. I selected timing curve #7, as recommended for an engine in more or less standard tune and this proved very satisfactory. I have clean pick up throughout the rev range, no pinking on flooring the throttle in a high gear under load and the low sped running was much smoother than before. In over 17 years I have had not a moment's trouble with the 123 and would not hesitate to recommend. Having said all that I always carry the original Lucas distributor with leads. condenser and correctly set up points in the boot, just in case. It would be a simple roadside job to swap them over in the unlikely event this were ever necessary. Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 7 minutes ago, tim hunt said: It is a drop in replacement for the Lucas 25D4 and one even retains the original tachomenter drive True for the 4-cylinder engine but is it for the 6 ? I believe you can have 123 innards fitted to an original dizzy to retain the mechanical tacho drive but the standard 123 does not seem to have that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tim hunt Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 I believe that's right Rob. Should anyone wish to check this out I suggest emailing sales@albertronic.com. I have found the company very helpful in the past in response to some minor queries. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
d2alfa Posted January 6 Author Report Share Posted January 6 Thanks all David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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