Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

can the coils be relocated?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 02-05-2006, 03:01 PM
  #26  
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
 
dannobre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Smallville
Posts: 13,718
Received 335 Likes on 290 Posts
I f $350 will deal with the 7-9K power problem on a lot of cars ( like mine ) It will be a no brainer. I replaced all 4 coils and dyno'd about 8mos later and it didn't change a thing. To do a proper comparison though I would have needed new plugs at both dynos to rule them out.

A dyno with coilpack A new plugs...followed immediately by a dyno with coilpack B would let us see if it makes a difference.

Silver8...did you get any datalogs to compare dyno's to in car values...I wish that the data would show us something that explains how these engines are so different
Old 02-05-2006, 03:06 PM
  #27  
Banned
iTrader: (3)
 
MazdaManiac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Under my car
Posts: 16,386
Likes: 0
Received 24 Likes on 21 Posts
Originally Posted by Spin9k
MM, what did this setup do for you? Better top end power perhaps? And what do you expect from adding the other two?
Well, I never had the chance to run it under load - the MSD didn't have the option to set the spark event to occur at the trailing edge of the PCM ignition trigger, so the timing was way advanced.

This is very important, BTW. Many of the "plasma" or capacitive options trigger on the leading edge, which is not acceptable.

The AEM is switch-selectable for leading or trailing edge of the pulse.

The expectations are better fuel economy at cruise, smoother idle, faster throttle response and indestructable coils that provide more power at high RPM and, therefore, potentially more power over a wider range.

Here are the coils themselves:

Old 02-05-2006, 03:15 PM
  #28  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,753
Received 2,025 Likes on 1,649 Posts
there are better, less expensive alternatives, just PM'd you
Old 02-05-2006, 03:24 PM
  #29  
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
olddragger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: macon, georgia
Posts: 10,828
Likes: 0
Received 38 Likes on 27 Posts
Keep working guys ---please. I KNOW there are a lot of people out there with stressed or burnt coils. If $350-$400 would take care of that---you will have a a lot of peoples thanks. I beleive a good set of spark plug wires ought to be included with a upgrade like this. It may not make a good running car put out more on the dyno but it would sure fix a problem and make the car more bullet proof.
If coils and wires are a problem at this mileage then I would rather fix it right than band aid it again.
olddragger
Old 02-05-2006, 05:21 PM
  #30  
Momentum Keeps Me Going
 
Spin9k's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Colorado
Posts: 5,036
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by MazdaManiac
On the AEM, I am going to do the trailing the same way..
MM you may want to read this thread... they seem critical of AEM stuff http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.ph...hlight=AEM+CDI

This thread seems to have some other ideas as well might be worth investigating http://ausrotary.dntinternet.com/for...7f095fea8f9485

e.g. this http://www.autronic.com/page_files/direct_fire_cdi.htm

Last edited by Spin9k; 02-05-2006 at 07:09 PM.
Old 02-05-2006, 05:51 PM
  #31  
Lubricious
 
Nubo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Posts: 3,425
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by TeamRX8
yep, except there's now a better alternative; less draw, more output
Can you be more explicit -- what do you mean by less draw?

and they takeoff at very high rpm, the engine vs prop rpm is handled through a geardrive reducer
Isn't that what I said?
Old 02-05-2006, 10:37 PM
  #32  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,753
Received 2,025 Likes on 1,649 Posts
Originally Posted by Nubo
Can you be more explicit -- what do you mean by less draw?
the spark energy doesn't just appear out of thin air, the coil draws it from the electrical system


Originally Posted by Nubo
Isn't that what I said?
sorry, my bad, I misread your comments.

Last edited by TeamRX8; 02-05-2006 at 10:41 PM.
Old 02-05-2006, 10:53 PM
  #33  
Banned
iTrader: (3)
 
MazdaManiac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Under my car
Posts: 16,386
Likes: 0
Received 24 Likes on 21 Posts
Originally Posted by Spin9k
MM you may want to read this thread... they seem critical of AEM stuff http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.ph...hlight=AEM+CDI
Besides that being a really old thread (the C2DI is 3 revisions old since then), all of the failures were occuring on OEM coils.
Not a good idea.

TeamRX8's idea is a good one that we will experiment with as well.

There should be some good science on all of this by the end of March.
Old 02-05-2006, 11:02 PM
  #34  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,753
Received 2,025 Likes on 1,649 Posts
agreed, you beat me to it.

Spin, I intend to share once it's worthy to do so.

Last edited by TeamRX8; 02-05-2006 at 11:16 PM.
Old 02-06-2006, 12:10 PM
  #35  
Lubricious
 
Nubo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Posts: 3,425
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by TeamRX8
the spark energy doesn't just appear out of thin air, the coil draws it from the electrical system
Understood, but do you have numbers for the draw (amps) for those alternative coils vs stock? What are the implications -- new wiring harness? Overloading the alternator? I just don't have a feel for the magnitude, or implications of using the Corvette coils. The price seems reasonable so if it were simply a matter of swapping the coils I'd be interested. I'm looking for details of why that wouldn't necessarily be a good idea, and also what would it take besides hooking them up to the original harness, fabricating a mount, etc ... Even fabricating some beefier wiring for the primaries doesn't sound too bad but again, I may not understand just how much current we're talking about so thought you might have a ballpark idea.

Also, is there such a thing as TOO MUCH spark energy -- i.e. frying the plug electrodes, arcing to ground, etc?

Thanks
Old 02-06-2006, 12:50 PM
  #36  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,753
Received 2,025 Likes on 1,649 Posts
We hope to provide those answers soon, but I do not expect there to be any need to rewireupgradethe factory harness. There will be a wiring interface required as well as mounting them because my preference is to get them in a bit more open and less heat intense area. The GM coils also require different sparkplug wires because they have a unique GM connector/boot. They are available as universal kits from the usual manufacturers
Old 02-06-2006, 04:15 PM
  #37  
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
olddragger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: macon, georgia
Posts: 10,828
Likes: 0
Received 38 Likes on 27 Posts
Good info all--thanks again--I wonder if RP is paying attention. This may be an easy needed upgrade for his system when it is ready.
OD
Old 02-13-2006, 12:46 AM
  #38  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,753
Received 2,025 Likes on 1,649 Posts
look what showed up on my doorstep, let the experiment begin







.
Attached Thumbnails can the coils be relocated?-dsc00878.jpg  
Old 02-13-2006, 10:22 AM
  #39  
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
olddragger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: macon, georgia
Posts: 10,828
Likes: 0
Received 38 Likes on 27 Posts
dang Team--I didn't know it was Christmas already!
Man keep us posted----what wires are those? MSD's?
olddragger
Old 02-13-2006, 07:31 PM
  #40  
Lubricious
 
Nubo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: SF Bay Area, California
Posts: 3,425
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Gotta love V8's. Kit for 2 Rotaries :D
Old 02-13-2006, 11:03 PM
  #41  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,753
Received 2,025 Likes on 1,649 Posts
Can somebody help me out with the wiring diagram the the OE coil harness?
Old 02-13-2006, 11:12 PM
  #42  
Zoom-Freakin'-Zoom
iTrader: (5)
 
swoope's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: orlando, fl
Posts: 14,602
Received 35 Likes on 31 Posts
check pm

beers
Old 02-13-2006, 11:17 PM
  #43  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,753
Received 2,025 Likes on 1,649 Posts
BTW, the diagram would come from a separate RX-8 wiring manual. It's not in the general RX-8 service manual. I need to be able to decipher the OE coil wiring in order to fabricate a jumper harness between the RX-8 wiring harness and the new coils. They are not simple plug & play in that regard
Old 02-14-2006, 01:03 AM
  #44  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,753
Received 2,025 Likes on 1,649 Posts
Dang, my IOUAbeer tab is getting bigger and bigger that's great Spin

gotta thank my buddy swoope for his support too

now if I can only find a connector that duplicates the coil connection so that the harness doesn't have to be spliced

Last edited by TeamRX8; 02-14-2006 at 01:07 AM.
Old 02-21-2006, 09:26 AM
  #45  
Registered
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
olddragger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: macon, georgia
Posts: 10,828
Likes: 0
Received 38 Likes on 27 Posts
Bump for update as to how this is going?
Olddragger
Old 02-21-2006, 08:27 PM
  #46  
04 Silver GT
 
ltrx8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Alberta Canada
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just the thread I was looking for ... I am looking into the hks twinfire ignition and was wondering about replacing coils (makes sense to me ), but I am not that confident about installing myself (coils)..The suspense..Great thread all!!
Old 02-21-2006, 09:41 PM
  #47  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,753
Received 2,025 Likes on 1,649 Posts
I haven't done anything yet between work, being iced in, and all around just too d-mn cold plus the whole host of other custom parts I'm trying pull together for my RX-8

I need either a coil wiring connector or a coil itself so I try to match the wiring harness connector. I want this to be plug & play with an adaptor harness. Unfortunately the RX-8 coil wiring is not on it's own smaller harness. I do not want to cut up the factory harness if I can help it.
Old 02-22-2006, 06:45 PM
  #48  
Registered
 
Marietta 8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Marietta,Ga
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by ltrx8
Just the thread I was looking for ... I am looking into the hks twinfire ignition and was wondering about replacing coils (makes sense to me ), but I am not that confident about installing myself (coils)..The suspense..Great thread all!!
Don't waste your $$$$ on the Twin Power. I have one and as I expected there was no measurable gain. I had seen the same thing happen on other n/a applications in the past but tried it anyway. Turbo rotaries like the twin power but it is a waste on the 8.
Old 02-22-2006, 11:44 PM
  #49  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,753
Received 2,025 Likes on 1,649 Posts
Originally Posted by Spin9k
Could you tell us exactly what you bought, perhaps someone can help?

The issue isn't with what I bought, I have the adaptor harness for that side of the system.

The issue is coming up with an electrical connector that duplicates the OE Mazda coil connection that I can splice into the replacement coil adaptor harness. Once I can acquire those connectors the electrical system will be plug & play because I'll be able to plug the adaptor harness into the RX-8 engine harness in place of the coils. Then it's just a matter of physically mounting the coils. Unfortunately that coinnector is integral to the coil body, so I can't just cut & splice it. I have to find a duplicate connection that can be spliced into the harness.

So close yet so far ...

Last edited by TeamRX8; 02-22-2006 at 11:48 PM.
Old 02-23-2006, 12:34 PM
  #50  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,753
Received 2,025 Likes on 1,649 Posts
sorry, that information will not assist me with what I need

here is the OE coil setup:




I want to be able to unplug the four OE coils and plug the new adapter harness into their connectors. The adaptor harness is already connected to the four replacement coils with the proper OE connectors

so it's the connector on the RX-8 coil that I need to duplicate for the adaptor harness, shown below:




BTW, I discovered that I already had all those electrical diagrams, I should spend less time collecting and more time reading through what I have, LOL


.
Attached Thumbnails can the coils be relocated?-clipboard.jpg   can the coils be relocated?-clipboard1.jpg  

Last edited by TeamRX8; 02-23-2006 at 12:39 PM.


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: can the coils be relocated?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:07 PM.