Lumenition v Pertonix Ignition Kits

mattcony · Post by **mattcony** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:05 pm

Following on my my previous thread

http://www.v-8.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1708

I seem to have hit a stumbling block.

I want to ditch everything to do with the opus system and start again so I know I have something reliable, Iv been talking to Aldon Automotive who sell the Pertonix electronic ignition kits. They don't seem to think that the kit they sell for the 35DE8 distributor does what im wanting in that it still requires the use of the original resistor and coil to make it work.

Iv been looking into what other options are available to me and have seen that Lumenition do a kit for the 35DE8 distributor, there seem to be 2 types of kit the Optronic system and the Performance system. From my limited knowledge I'm guessing the optronic system is similar to the Pertonix systems and there performance systems are totally different using an optical sensor ?

Is the Optronic system going to bring me back to the same problems as the Pertonix kit, still having to use the opus coil and resistor or can I use standard 12v stuff, does anyone have any experiance ?.

Does anyone run the Performance setup and is it worth the extra money ?, im looking for something that does what it says on the box and will allow me to ditch the stuff I have for something reliable and that will work properly for a long term solution.

Iv got about 2 weeks left to get the Landy running again now as its blocking im my trackday car and im booked @ Croft 1st weekend in September. Unfortunately just rolling it out of the way isn't an option as its at the top of a steep single file drive way, ill get it down but never back up again as as its not road worthy it has to go back up again.

Really could do with some guidance,

Cheers
Matt[/url]

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 1:16 am

I guess best option might be a Megajolt EDIS8 based system ? proper mapped ignition ?

Or you could go for megasquirt or similar, and still retain a single coil for sparks, along with the dizzy to distribute the spark, but with proper electronic control over when they happen.

Stu E · Post by **Stu E** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 6:59 am

Hi

I fitted a Lumenition kit to my OPUS distributor. I ended up having to buy a different coil and ballast resistor as they specify an overall resistance. I believe the performance kit includes the coil you need. If my memory is correct it wouldn't have been much more expensive to get the upgraded kit and have all the correct bits to do the job, although I can't remember if the kit includes a resistor.

Stu

JP. · Post by **JP.** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:02 am

By my memory the Lumention Optronic system uses your stock coil. An aftermarked 12 volt coil could do damage to this system.
So there comes the Lumenition performance system which works with an 12 volt coil.
There's also an other alternative from Lumenition, the Lumention Magnetronic system......

But why bother with your old worn out Lucas dizzy. ) imo all Lucas dizzy's are worn out by this time. You could go the Mallory Unilite route or the MSD Pro billet+ 6 AL route.
The Mallory is much cheaper than the MSD system while the MSD gives you the advantage of very easy recurving.

Have to say the Mallory Unilite won't work with with an 12 Volt coil system also. The Mallory requires an resistor (wire or block )

mattcony · Post by **mattcony** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 9:48 pm

Well there is life in the old girl yet

After doing quite a bit of reading up on other forums and finding the best price, I decided to go for the Lumenition performance system from Rimmer Bros. I couldn't quite stretch or justify the mallory equipment although nice I dont think ill get enough use from it.

They had the kit in stock and I was working close there on Monday so I spun by and picked one up saving on the postage

Was a really easy conversion, gutted all the old Opus bits and fitted the new Lumenition bits, set the static timing and she fired strait up with a cough and a splutter, have adjusted everything with a strobe light and all working as it should even the advance

I should have fitted this kit years ago I cant see why people mess about with basic points when kits like this just solve all the problems (fingers crossed)

Iv not heard it run on 8 cylinders for quite a few years !!, there was a huge amount of blue smoke that's almost all burnt off now, this I guess has come from the cylinders that haven't fired for a year or 2

Its all up and running now and to be honest its given me the bug to get stuck in and perhaps start the rebuild soon !

Cheers all

Matt

Pocket rocket · Post by **Pocket rocket** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:41 pm

Matt

Did you have to change your coil and ballast resistor or is it just the innards of the distributor?

mattcony · Post by **mattcony** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 10:04 pm

With the Perfomance kit you change the LOT !

Had a chat to the guy at rimmer bros about it all and told him my plan. It was the best way forwards for me as all my parts were still original (1980) and I was 99% sure they were all faulty as well, so the kit killed a few birds with one stone

Gut the Dizzy, remove old coil and resistor, rework the dizzy with the new sensor then fit the new coil and the power module. It all runs from a direct 12v ignition feed and thats it, very simple.

Tried starting it again from cold today with no choke and it started on the key and ticked over like a dream

Cheers
Matt