AW: [DML] Re: HEI vs low voltage ignition

["Elvis Nocita" <elvisnocita@xxxx>]

Bill,
in the good old days of points there was a fixed dwell (?) or angle or
whatever you call it to charge up the coil. At higher rpm's there was only
little energy stored and you can imagine what happens when there's not
enough energy to produce a good spark.

Have you ever seen the guys working on the ignition with analyzers /
oszilloskopes ?

There's only a small needle (High voltage/max ignition) that will break down
exactly when the voltage rised so high that a current will flow to GND. When
the gap is wider, the needle is higher...I'm not too good in english to
explain it in every detail. But with an analyzer you can tell exactly what's
wrong with the plugs and the ignition. Take a book and read it. Or don't
believe it and buy that crap.

The last sentence is correct - a too wide gap won't fire....at least not
thru the spark plug ! It will fire somewhere else thru the wire ! And even
with a 10kV coil there may be a much higher voltage ! Believe it or not.

Elvis & 6548...without any cold start ignition problems....





Plug gap has absolutely no bearing on coil output. Is going to build
up HT even if never grounded (that's why you have to be careful
grabbing distributor lead wire even after ignition turned off -- if
last plug never fired YOU'LL become the ground). Gap has everything to
do with flame propogation, and ability of HT to jump (too big gap with
too low voltage won't fire).

Bill Robertson
#5939