I wouldn't be surprised if the stock coils have better spark at stock dwell, but that's only with fully functional coils. For the average driver any of the usable GM coils is a serious improvement in reliability. I haven't tried the new version of our coils, but at this point I don't trust OEM coils as far as I can throw them. Just my opinion.

 

that's not my experience there are a lot of factors

 

Yes please share your input. Let's keep the discussion vendor agnostic.

What's your take on the D585 coil dwell differences vs. OEM vs. what other LS2 coils might deliver? I recognize that earlier in the thread you identified the Mototronics/Mercury ING-1A ignition coils as being more equivalent to OEM. What if someone doesn't want a hotter spark?

 

Any of the ignition coils that have been used to replace the oems have the potential to produce a "hotter" spark.
I do wish someone with a good scope would do a non biased test of all the ones that have been used. The ones I am aware of are-- oem coils, the D series coils , The ING-1A and the msd 8247's.

 

Back before the true dwell settings were determined my opinion was to stay with OE coils. Frankly the OE coils are not that bad and if anything were over-demonized by uninformed people in general and vendor specific fanbois (a specific class of uninformed people with a biased agenda). They are pretty much a go/no-go device so testing them and replacing a bad one is a straight forward process using a load based HEI spark tester. The crappy factory manual testing procedure contributed heavily because it failed to provide conclusive results. Once you learn to recognize the general symptoms of failed coils, testing and maintaining the original system is the most economical solution for the average RX8 owner. You can buy a bulk case of aftermarket OE replacement coils for the typical $500 alternative and likely have them outlast a lifetime of ownership.

D585 coils fail too, it doesn't get discussed as often as it happens or in some cases have likely gone undetected. On the OE dwell settings they are not a good choice IMO. With the right dwell settings there are some advantages for performance applications IMO. What the right settings are is open for debate. I don't care to get into a debate about it other than to say coils are but one component to an overall system. There are more factors than just the coil component; wires, plugs, internal engine seal integrity, starter speed, etc.

Can't say that I have consistent issues with either cold or hot starting on D585s. Sometimes it will fire the first turnover in either situation and sometimes it turns over a few times before firing. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it that I can tell. I would like to emphasize that you should not be trying to bump start a rotary engine (short cranking). You should hold the key on and crank the engine until it either starts or until 10 seconds of continuous cranking has occurred. If it doesn't start then wait a few seconds before repeating same. Bump starting is much more likely to result in a flooded or excessively rich start condition.

Also, put some thought into your bracket design; do you really want to disassemble half the kit to replace a middle coil? You're not just limited to using the OE coil location either.


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the hei spark tester is a great piece to have in your tool box.

 

Valid points. I'm going to be trying out my kit come spring and see if I notice any improvement.

I just did a quick search and I'm wondering if there is anything to be had with a "coil on plug" setup. Though it would required quite an odd bracket. lol

 

In my experience stock dwell still delivers considerably more spark using LS-2 coils. Mainly due to the amps not extra voltage. I run mine at 4.8ms which is about 1ms shy of maximum performance and its enough for 22psi and E85. These coils will let u get by longer before having to replace spark plugs/wires when they are on their way out.

Best regards,

Chris

 

i don't know about that... it's pretty clear they don't have the lifespan they should. even at 50K miles, that's pretty crappy for an average ignition coil on any car.

that's true, if you don't care about your time. you don't even have to spend that much, get some lifetime warranty coils from the auto parts store.

what's the story with BHR's version of coils that supposed have the right dwell (whatever that might be) built into the coil?

that certainly is one of the big drawbacks to the BHR bracket

 

The bracket I pictured was a first run. More to come.

 

Only if the direct plasma coils are cheaper, I would go for it...
May the lottery god shine on me. lol

 

my opinion is that many more good OE coils have been thrown away than were actually bad, so that is skewing the perception that they don't last

I don't smoke or drink wankelberry so there is nothing I can tell you about somebody else's product except that all coils fail and they are no exception ...

 

sure... all motors go bad eventually too -- but some sooner than others

 

I'll say the OE's certainly don't last more than 1000 miles or so under race conditions. They don't like running hot.

 

^ That's a significant concern of mine. Has anyone had any issues on the track with any flavor of LS2 coil?

 

If someone is going to the trouble to make up a new coil set, would it not be sensible to mount them to some place other than the engine itself? The older rotary cars were set up that way. I'd think it'd run cooler.

 

thats is what us Pettit guys do--our coils are mounted off the engine.

 

Anyone care to share pics of good mounting locations?

 

that's a little better, at least you don't have to un-thread a bunch of nuts on all-thread

https://www.rx8club.com/aftermarket-...7/#post4374457