Mapped Ignition for Classic Cars
This project is the result of a wish to apply today's engine management technology to classic cars. Many thousands of older cars are still in regular use, and bring great pleasure to their owners. Our aim was to improve their efficiency and emissions as far as we could at reasonable cost and without losing the essential character of the car.
Measured solely in terms of efficiency, most overhead valve engine designs of the 1950s and 1960s are not too far short of current standards. Their combustion chambers are reasonably compact and their compression ratios are reasonably high. Today's engines are very much lighter, quieter, cleaner, freer breathing, better balanced and better built from far superior materials. However, in most cases, the thermodynamic efficiency of classic engines is at least acceptably good. The principles of sound engine design were already well understood early in the 20th century. Most of the development work carried out over several decades has been concerned with approaching ever closer to a well-known theoretical ideal.
Most of the biggest improvements in engine performance over the last 40 years have resulted from advances in fuelling and ignition, rather than the engine block itself. It was quickly decided that any useful improvement to a classic engine's carburation would involve wholesale replacement at considerable cost. However, it appeared that useful improvements to the accuracy of the ignition timing could be made at moderate cost, with modifications that could easily be reversed if required.
Measured solely in terms of efficiency, most overhead valve engine designs of the 1950s and 1960s are not too far short of current standards. Their combustion chambers are reasonably compact and their compression ratios are reasonably high. Today's engines are very much lighter, quieter, cleaner, freer breathing, better balanced and better built from far superior materials. However, in most cases, the thermodynamic efficiency of classic engines is at least acceptably good. The principles of sound engine design were already well understood early in the 20th century. Most of the development work carried out over several decades has been concerned with approaching ever closer to a well-known theoretical ideal.
Most of the biggest improvements in engine performance over the last 40 years have resulted from advances in fuelling and ignition, rather than the engine block itself. It was quickly decided that any useful improvement to a classic engine's carburation would involve wholesale replacement at considerable cost. However, it appeared that useful improvements to the accuracy of the ignition timing could be made at moderate cost, with modifications that could easily be reversed if required.
The traditional advance mechanism
The standard centrifugal advance mechanism consists of a pair of sprung weights, which move outwards and turn the distributor cam as RPM increases. This mechanism was introduced in the 1920s and survived more or less unchanged until the introduction of electronic engine management in the late 1970s. Although it was a major step forwards when new, it has many limitations.
The first drawback is that the timing characteristic is completely determined by the two weights and springs. Typically, one spring is stronger than the other, and only comes into use at higher RPM. The advance characteristic can therefore only be the intersection of two nearly straight lines. A second drawback is that small variations cause big differences. Production variations in spring strength can cause very noticeable differences in the advance characteristic.
Friction and play in the mechanism can cause the ignition timing to change from one moment to the next. The standard advance mechanism has six bearings, four spring posts and one concentric shaft, all of which turn through small angles: an ignition advance of 10 degrees typically results when the weights turn through only 2 degrees. Servicing consists of letting two or three drops of oil fall through the contact breaker plate and hoping that they hit their target. Whether they actually do so presumably depends on the exact position in which the engine last came to rest. Distributors are often mounted in inaccessible places, so this maintenance step was regularly ignored anyway.
The first drawback is that the timing characteristic is completely determined by the two weights and springs. Typically, one spring is stronger than the other, and only comes into use at higher RPM. The advance characteristic can therefore only be the intersection of two nearly straight lines. A second drawback is that small variations cause big differences. Production variations in spring strength can cause very noticeable differences in the advance characteristic.
Friction and play in the mechanism can cause the ignition timing to change from one moment to the next. The standard advance mechanism has six bearings, four spring posts and one concentric shaft, all of which turn through small angles: an ignition advance of 10 degrees typically results when the weights turn through only 2 degrees. Servicing consists of letting two or three drops of oil fall through the contact breaker plate and hoping that they hit their target. Whether they actually do so presumably depends on the exact position in which the engine last came to rest. Distributors are often mounted in inaccessible places, so this maintenance step was regularly ignored anyway.
A new approach
Our mapped ignition system is a small, discreet unit which can be mounted in the engine compartment. Wires go to the distributor, the coil and an optional immobiliser switch. The unit includes a vacuum sensor, which can be connected directly to the existing pipe from the inlet manifold. As with any modern engine, a microprocessor uses a look-up table to determine the correct ignition advance for any combination of RPM and load. Dwell is calculated automatically, and the unit includes a "soft" rev limiter.
The unit is configured via a USB connection, using a freely downloadable PC application. The first major improvement is that the advance characteristic can be set to exactly what the engine requires, without the constraints imposed by the two advance weights. Secondly, the unit's behaviour is fully repeatable, since the friction and play inherent in the traditional advance mechanism are absent. On the road, this means a sweeter, more responsive engine which will generally also prove more economical.
Our 1967 MGB has covered over 30,000 miles since we bought it six years ago, mostly with our unit fitted. It is currently available from RetroMotion Innovations LLP in North America, and from Aldon Automotive Ltd elsewhere.
The unit is configured via a USB connection, using a freely downloadable PC application. The first major improvement is that the advance characteristic can be set to exactly what the engine requires, without the constraints imposed by the two advance weights. Secondly, the unit's behaviour is fully repeatable, since the friction and play inherent in the traditional advance mechanism are absent. On the road, this means a sweeter, more responsive engine which will generally also prove more economical.
Our 1967 MGB has covered over 30,000 miles since we bought it six years ago, mostly with our unit fitted. It is currently available from RetroMotion Innovations LLP in North America, and from Aldon Automotive Ltd elsewhere.
Our system in use
Retromotion Innovations recently fitted our unit to a 1976 Pontiac Firebird Formula. Here they show how to adjust the ignition timing on the road.
Praise for our ignition system
Our product was recently reviewed by mgb-stuff.org.uk. You can read about their experiences here.
We received this unsolicited email from AC Engineering:
"We have a Mk2 Escort 1660cc crossflow with Weber 40DCOEs and other trick parts fitted, which we have been running on a non vacuum advance Lucas electronic distributor. The customer has been very happy with this for a couple of years. I asked him if he would like us to fit your Amethyst unit to his car as I knew that he would get an even more drivable and smoother car with throttle position sensor mapping. After fitting the Amethyst to the car, we remapped the engine and gained 7 lb-ft torque at 3,200rpm. which is exactly where he needed the increase (for overtaking). We also gained 3bhp at the top end. We are so impressed with this product that we just had to let you know. We also love the fact that you can hide the unit out of sight and keep the original under-bonnet look, with the benefit of the rev limiter as well."
The following from John Mackenzie:
"I purchased an Amethyst mappable ignition via eBay for use in a Toyota Land Cruiser 1976 with a 4.2 litre 6 cylinder engine. We have LPG available here [in Australia] at most petrol stations. We are using the two program mode, one for petrol and one for gas. We change on the run when the gas runs out (the gas gauges are not very accurate). Being able to have a map for each fuel is perfect. I cannot praise you enough for a wonderful product, so easy to fit and so easy to program. The performance of the vehicle now is unbelievable, the original dizzy although looking in good condition must have been very sad."
The following from Chris Duffy:
"I would like to take this opportunity to pass on huge thanks for the recent Amethyst upgrade you completed for me. We have just returned from a 1,350 mile round trip of Spain and Portugal - the engine ran faultlessly throughout, the difference in the traction and drivability with great high speed cruising and roll on power delivery is truly astonishing - even when climbing through the Spanish mountain passes. Without doubt, the best modification I have ever put on the MG."
We received this unsolicited email from AC Engineering:
"We have a Mk2 Escort 1660cc crossflow with Weber 40DCOEs and other trick parts fitted, which we have been running on a non vacuum advance Lucas electronic distributor. The customer has been very happy with this for a couple of years. I asked him if he would like us to fit your Amethyst unit to his car as I knew that he would get an even more drivable and smoother car with throttle position sensor mapping. After fitting the Amethyst to the car, we remapped the engine and gained 7 lb-ft torque at 3,200rpm. which is exactly where he needed the increase (for overtaking). We also gained 3bhp at the top end. We are so impressed with this product that we just had to let you know. We also love the fact that you can hide the unit out of sight and keep the original under-bonnet look, with the benefit of the rev limiter as well."
The following from John Mackenzie:
"I purchased an Amethyst mappable ignition via eBay for use in a Toyota Land Cruiser 1976 with a 4.2 litre 6 cylinder engine. We have LPG available here [in Australia] at most petrol stations. We are using the two program mode, one for petrol and one for gas. We change on the run when the gas runs out (the gas gauges are not very accurate). Being able to have a map for each fuel is perfect. I cannot praise you enough for a wonderful product, so easy to fit and so easy to program. The performance of the vehicle now is unbelievable, the original dizzy although looking in good condition must have been very sad."
The following from Chris Duffy:
"I would like to take this opportunity to pass on huge thanks for the recent Amethyst upgrade you completed for me. We have just returned from a 1,350 mile round trip of Spain and Portugal - the engine ran faultlessly throughout, the difference in the traction and drivability with great high speed cruising and roll on power delivery is truly astonishing - even when climbing through the Spanish mountain passes. Without doubt, the best modification I have ever put on the MG."
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