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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - electronic ignition

hi, does this seem like a good thing to fit to my car or would the £30 be better spent down the pub? also do you know whats involved in fitting them? thank you. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Triumph-Spitfire-1500cc-Electronic-Ignition_W0QQitemZ150419624881QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item2305b553b1
roy judd

Good question, Roy. Looks to me like a cheap knockoff of the pertronix-type triggers. I'm thrilled with my Pertronix, but me being me, I'd be a little leery of a plain-label generic one like this.

IMHO, of course.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

this is the same product, and a couple of quid cheaper. I recommend them. Though I think right now beer would be at the top of my list. I have been painting and rubbing down all day. Sorry but you will have to copy and paste this into an Ebay search.

Accuspark Electronic Ignition for Triumph Spitfire 1500

pic is of the nearly finished front end... I have blended in the valance to the wings, totaly not needed but it just looks cleaner. If I fit those fat bumpers you won't see most of it, but at least it has all been taken back to bare metal so I know its sound


N Sayle

I've used Pertronix Ignitors for years on classic cars, marine & forklift engines...they're great!

This looks like a similar product...give it a try, like you said, you'll spend that much (or in my case, more) at the pub.

Dave :)
Dave Rhine ('78 1500)

There is similar available here too. http://simonbbc.com/automotiveshop/

Has anybody tried these as I was thinking of trying one?

I dont see why they shouldn't be OK as its only a hall effect trigger and the number of years that the two brand names have been marketing them, in my opinion they really should be cheaper now.

Trev
T Mason

Roy,

If you have a 1500 with the 45D distributor, go for the Britpart electronic ignition that they do for Land Rovers. About 12 quid. I fitted one (simplicity itself) and never looked back.

Dave
Penwithian

i think i might give it ago then. whats involved in fitting them? nick; its looking good.hows your back today? what iv done with the big holes in the valance is fit a wire mesh behind,it looks good i reckon.
roy judd

The unit is almost identical to the Pertronix one but at a more realistic price considering the electronics built into it. IMHO these and the Pertronix units should retail for about 15 quid, my guess is that they will before long. Yes they are made in China, but before anyone goes on about poor Chinese workmanship, here is my take on it. I once worked as an ISO9001 implementations manager for a tubular components manufacturer next door to Morgans in Malvern. Basically we made specialist pipe work for both heavy industry as well as the motor trade. We sent some pipe to China for cost evaluation ( 4mm tungsten hydraulic ) bent to customer spec ( Ferrari F1 ) These came back not only perfect but better finish than we could achieve. Each tube was costing us about 100 pounds to make, landed UK from China £8.00. There is a lot of rubbish spread about regarding imported components, believe me!! most of it is due to national pride not believing that anyone can do better then home produced produts. I am so impressed with the ACCUSPARK module that I am talking to the UK distributor regarding a sole agancy for selling these in Spain. fit them, fiddle about for about 5 mins and forget them. A great thing to do before messing with carbs. god I can waffle on.....
N Sayle

Roy, yes I saw your grill, The sheet of perforated ali from Halfords at 25 quid is enough to do the grill and the holes underneath. I am fitting an oil cooler there, only because I have a 10 row and adapter I picked up years ago. I am on the hunt for a 1275 type grill, I might even shell out and buy a new one. my guess is that I have to spend about 350 more on the interior MGF seats and bumpers. thats my plan anyway
N Sayle

nick but whats involved it fitting one? would the timing need setting up or anything like that or is it connect the wires,screw the screws,start up and drive? remember im a mechanical muppet!
roy judd

hey nick this would finish your midget of nice. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250607723890&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT i did wana bid but my wife threatened to go and live at her mums if i did,(iv already brought a heat shield,fuel tank sender,2 mirrors and new wiper bezels today).
roy judd

I am awaiting delivery of my laser cut aluminium interior!! going for black carpets because I know of a pair of leather MGF seats I can get for 80 quid in black .Nice interior for the money though. Ive done too much today, my back is killing now!! those US spec bumpers did me in!! no wonder they needed to up the engine when they fitted them!!!
N Sayle

i must say i do like the sound of your bespoke alloy interior. any idea on whats involved in fitting the electronic ignition and if the timeing will need setting up after??
roy judd

I'm going to get one based on what I've read online about them. It would be, at least, good to have in the trunk as a spare. But it may well be a good product anyway.
Jon Saylor

Here in the states they are sold as Hot Spark Electronic Ignitions and the company is in Austin Texas.
Jon Saylor

I have been using a Simon bbc system on my Sprite Mk IV for the last year with no problems it was fitted after my Luminition packed in. Although I was sceptical initially because of the low price I found it easy to fit very unobtrusive and reliable. My neighbour had a similar thing which we fitted to his TVR which I think was an Ignitor which cost £140 as apposed to £25 for this one. I have since ordered a complete electronic distributor for my Midget 1500 as yet not fitted. The only down side I can see is that it’s a modified rotor arm which could be a problem if you don’t have a spare. Both cars are more or less standard road cars.
G McDonough

I put the simon bbc parts on my '76 1500cc last year, so far so good. Started & ran better, no points to mess with. Easy to fit with good instructions. I thought at that price I'd give it a try, if it was bad I'd just throw it away. I remember there were different options at the time, I think mine was the 'new' one. I greew ith G McDonough, I must get round to getting a spare rotor arm......
r parker

After visiting the previously mentioned USA distributor's web site(www.Hot-Spark.com) - it appears that they are selling the equivalent of the Pertronix unit. However, when you read their installation instruction PDF file - this is their caution:

"...Do not turn the ignition switch to the ON position
while the vehicle at the other end of the jumper cables is running. Charge your vehicle's battery with the other vehicle or with a battery charger and then remove the jumper cables or charger before turning on the ignition switch and starting your vehicle. If the ignition switch is in the ON position while both vehicles are running, the electrical surge resulting from both vehicles' charging systems being connected together with jumper cables could be enough to destroy the ignition module and/or other automotive electronic components..."

Since most Good Samaritans (at least in North America...) not hang around long enough to charge your CAR battery with the ignition key in the off position - my concern would be a high risk of future damage to the ignition module...Does this caution also apply to the Pertronix installation? Can anyone with a recent installation check their instructions? If so, then casual jump starting could be a big(ger) headache than otherwise...

Comments? Concerns?

I was planning on changing over to the Pertronix unit - but if the imported version (probably from China..) is just as good but at a lower price - then that could tip the scales to the Hot-Spark unit.

Thanks for any (additional) thoughts on this option.

Mike P.
Buffalo, NY


Mike Pelone

voltage surges can be dangerous to any electronic device

the best way to deal with the jump start question is attach other car with engine running, let it run for five minutes or so (longer IS better) then stop the engine and then, still connected to donor car turn yours on

start engine, wait five more minutes then disconnect, leaving yours running

safer that way
bill sdgpm

I've used these Simon BBC units and have found them to be an excellent product and at a reasonable cost.

I stock them and a range of distributors at the Classic Car Clinic now and they sell well (sadly the frieght and duty does put the price up a little but they are still excellent value).

Mark.
M T Boldry

I am no expert with electrics at all - and Bill will tell me I am wrong to do it this way. But... I had battery problems with my car in recent winter months. For several weeks every morning I had to jump start my car first thing every day. I simply connected the jump leads, did NOT start the "donor" car engine and started the Sprite. It fired up pretty well instantly and I then immediately disconnected the leads and drove off.

At no time was the Sprite running with an input from the other car's alternator, which I think is unnecessary unless your engine is badly tuned. All you are doing is "borrowing" the battery. It has electronic ignition and this practice seems to do it no harm.

Guy
Guy Weller

Yes, I agree with Mark. I've had the simonbbc unit on my MkIV Sprite for about a year now with no problems.
The only thing I did was to seal up the supplied connector lead/block with silicone sealant.
Harvey '71 Sprite

Somebody asked about installation - when I put a PerTronix in my Mallory distributor, I had to reset the timing. Although I'd carefully marked the position of the rotor beforehand, the timing was way out when I tried to start up afterward.

Apparently - at least in my case - the trigger point for the PerTronix sensor was different than that of the (dual) points I was replacing. But once I got the timing set up, the engine started up just fine, and has continued to do so for several years now. I'm very pleased with the PerTronix, and it was fun to see how far I could throw a condenser. ;-)

Cheers,

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

Guy your way is fine within the usual limits (good donor battery)

I posted way to get past a difficulty while using what I think is a good device

bill sdgpm

This thread was discussed between 10/04/2010 and 21/04/2010

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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