this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2023
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In another post on this community, partially just trying to generate a conversation, i asked about adaptable coil-on-plug modules. A couple folks were helpful, but it's still thin on the ground here, that's cool, it's all new, etc. Here it is: https://lemmy.world/post/1263808 (not much).

But I'm serious about designing and building a new ignition system for this ancient, forgotten engine that I'm kinda expert on by now (that expertise plus five bucks buys me coffee at starbucks). I've got two cars with this engine now, it's just barely tenable to drive now, parts are extremely scarce (eg. timing chain setups).

Anyway this engine, the Rambler 195.6 cubic inch inline 6, has roots back to the 1940's, AMC slapped a shitty OHV head on the old flathead engine, introduced a number of reliability problems, then solved those just as they introduced the brand new design engine, the 199/232/258.

It's got a once-conventional distributor, contact points and coil ignition. There's a Pertronix in there now. It works fine, but I hate them -- the distributor has to crank two rotations before it fires the coil, so the engine cranks for over a second each time, instead of firing right up on the first contact-point opening. I WANT THAT BACK.

So I'm gonna make new electronic guts for the distrib, drive some form of coil-on-plug, and do software spark control in the computer I've got already running the electronic carburetor.

ITT is chat about research, photos, etc. I'll make a web page for the project like I usually do. My Rambler Lore website is https://www.ramblerlore.com/index.html

Here's the page on this engine: https://www.ramblerlore.com/AMC/195.6ohv/index.html

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[–] irkli@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

HA! Never do what you're told. I like the COP modules for their integral driver. Saves a lot of design and power issue transporting spark coil power around....

So I yanked the rubber boot off the end of the toyota COP module... aaaaand it turns out that it's shape is nearly identical to a distributor cap tower socket. Aaaaaand a regular spark plug wire fits it. Instant coil near plug...

Now I know these things are designed with very thin margins... and I'm not sure if the module will tolerate the added cable (inductance and resistance). So at the least I'll set one up on the bench with a "long" plug wire and run it for a few thousand cycles and see if it bursts into flames or something. (likely death will be a hole punched in a silicon barrier and... silent death).

20 bucks each and driver built in and available at autozone on the road....