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Re: MSD ignition

To: alfords@seanet.com, triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: MSD ignition
From: DANMAS@aol.com
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 09:51:10 EST
In a message dated 3/2/99 12:37:28 AM Eastern Standard Time,
alfords@seanet.com writes:

>       Has anyone else had the same experience with this conversion?  Also, 
>I've
>  heard that one should increase the spark plug gap for even more effect.
>  True?  If so, how much?

Kelly,

Refer to the article on ballast vs non-ballast coils for more info on this. It
can be found at:

http://www.vtr.org/maintain/ballast.html

I have copied the pertinent portion of the article below:

"Bypassing the resistor is only one of the changes necessary to utilize the
full advantage of the Sport coil, or any high output coil for that matter.
Unless you also increase the spark plug gap, the plugs will continue to fire
at the same coil secondary voltage as before, give or take a little, and will
not give the hotter spark that you paid for. The voltage rise at the output of
the coil secondary, although rapid, is not instantaneous. As the voltage rises
from zero, as soon as it reaches the value high enough to jump the plug gap,
it will. Since the plugs were firing at 20,000 volts with the old coil, that
will fire at that voltage level regardless of the maximum voltage potential of
the new coil. As soon as they fire, and the arc begins, the voltage drops to
zero. By widening the gap, the voltage must rise to a higher value to jump the
gap. Ideally, the plugs should be gapped to the widest setting that will still
allow them to fire under all engine operating conditions. Usually, the coil
manufacturer will give recommended gap setting, but these should be used as
the starting point, and adjusted from there as experience dictates."

Dan Masters,
Alcoa, TN

'71 TR6---------3000mile/year driver, fully restored
'71 TR6---------undergoing full restoration and Ford 5.0 V8 insertion - see:
                    http://members.aol.com/danmas/
'74 MGBGT---3000mile/year driver, original condition - slated for a V8 soon
'68 MGBGT---organ donor for the '74

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