Mechanical distributors...

[pupp]

Bit surprised that a traditional mechanical distributor is used on the V8s still...anyone know of any aftermarket solid state alternatives using multiple coils and hall effect/optical triggers a la motorcycle practice? Just interested as there must be considerable scope for improving responsiveness and high rpm reliability by ditching the gear-driven rotor.

V8??...just four TL1000s zip-tied together, innit!?

[Greenv8s]

quote:Bit surprised that a traditional mechanical distributor is used on the V8s still...anyone know of any aftermarket solid state alternatives using multiple coils and hall effect/optical triggers a la motorcycle practice? Just interested as there must be considerable scope for improving responsiveness and high rpm reliability by ditching the gear-driven rotor.

The modern serpentine Rover V8 uses four double-ended coils and fully mapped ignition, no distributor. The 'serpentine' TVR engines aren't quite the same, they have what Rover calls an 'intermediate' front cover which has the poly V drive belt but keeps the dizzy. It is actually easier now to go for a full serpentine front end on new engines, and quite a few of the V8 specialists do this with a DTA ECU controlling fuel and ignition. I doubt it is worth going to all the bother of upgrading unless you're swapping the engine anyway.

Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

[pupp]

Thanks Peter, that's interesting. Wasn't actively contemplating upgrading, was just musing in light of concerns I've come across that the distributor drive suffers badly at high rpm...any views?

V8??...just four TL1000s zip-tied together, innit!?

[Greenv8s]

quote:
Thanks Peter, that's interesting. Wasn't actively contemplating upgrading, was just musing in light of concerns I've come across that the distributor drive suffers badly at high rpm...any views?

Pre-serpentine engine doesn't like high revs (like 5k5 +) because the load from the oil pump is too high for the drive gears off the cam, the dizzy drive is off the same shaft so wear here spoils the ignition timing as well as taking out the cam, putting swarf throught the engine and so on. The TVR serpentine engines (i.e. with the intermediate front end) don't suffer from this problem. But they do still have the mechanical dizzy, with all its inherent limitations.

Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)