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MG MGA - What electronic dizzy?

This has probably been covered a hundred times, but what are the opinions on the best electronic distributor. I will be installing one in a 1950cc MGB motor, which will go into my A.
Gary Lock

Gary

Are you talking about a purpose built electronic distributor or the conversion that fits inside the standard distributor, replacing the points?

Steve
Steve Gyles

My MGB engine (3 bearing bored out to 1850 approx and fast road tuned) has a pertronix distributor which has a fully electronic advance and no points plus a matching Pertronix matching coil.
It runs much better with this fitted and performs really well with no more occasional misfiring. I think the advance curve suits the engines power band very much better and has got rid of the points bounce and general inaccuracies that affect points working off the central cam in a standard dizzy.
I have also noticed better starting and a much smoother tickover so, overall, I would very much recommend it.
Colyn
Colyn Firth

You also might want to take a look at the 123 distributor. But all of the available curves are pre-determined (you can't change the characteristics of a particular curve unless you select a totally different curve). Nevertheless, if it's plug-n-play you want, this may be it.

Mallory's Lumenition is fully adjustable. You can play with both the mechanical and vacuum advance to tailor a specific curve. But it's pricey, although I found one on e-bay (new in the box) for $350 US.
JM Morris

I have put the 123 Distributor in both my MGA and MGB with excelent results. Very simple to install if you follow the instructions. I found the 0 setting of the advance curve was best for the MGA (Standard 1622 with slightly higher compression ratio and higher lift cam) but the stage 2 MGB (1980) used the C ratio.very smooth idling and acceleration through the rev range. I also used the Lucas Sports Coil. the 123 is priced at around £250 from S C Parts. The MGOC also stocks them

Paul
P D Camp

Yes Steve, its the whole thing I'm looking at. Tks to you other guys for the comments.
Gary Lock

I seriously considered the 123 for my A.

I have one in a warmed up 1275 and love it. But the website overview for the A version claimed it had all of the curves available that were ever provided on the A. That failed to impress me. What I'll be doing to my engine won't be close to anything the factory ever produced.

So I bought the Mallory unit. It's done very well right out of the box on a stock 1600 engine that's in bad need of a rebuild (one almost dead cylinder). So the jury is out until after the rebuild and tuning.

--Jack
JM Morris

This thread was discussed between 10/07/2010 and 11/07/2010

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