EMPI electronic ignition kit

Nov 10, 2008 27 Replies

Any one here tried one and have any feed back they could offer me on the subject?



These sell for about half the price of the other ignition kits. do they work OK or are they not worth the money?



Tony


Could you provide a link?

A good setup is Pertronix and a CDI module, John used to sell the Universial industries range, no longer, so your choice is more or less the Mallory box. From what I have read it is better and cheaper than the MSD counterpart.

J.

Sorry, no links. The local VW parts specialist has them. These are not a CDI system, only a points replacement. Right now that's good enough for me as I can't afford a Pertronix and a MSD box...

Tony

Point replacement is fine, you can add a CDI box later, just remember to buy a Mallory box and not MSD as the latter have a higher failure ratio.

I did a quick search, is it this one?:

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If so, it is a Compufire copy/clone/re-brand. The only drawback with this design is the plastic dish holding the magnets and also quality of the leads from what I have been told. It does however do the exact same thing as a Pertronix module.

You can see the Pertronix design here:

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Here is a Pertronix clone offered att the same price as the Empi kit:
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(Scroll down, read details). I have no experience with the latter, make a new post with a query here, as I know others have used them.

J.

Go with the Pertronix.

Jan

ote:

=BF=BDThese are

I have used both , I have installed the empi distributor w / pertonix ignition in a 68 bus with new engine everything is fine even after a year. I leave a set of points and condensor in the car just in case, you never know about these new fanguled gadgets.

I think the cost works out the same

Tony, the Empi part is a clone, and from the little i've read about it, it's not the best, but not the worst... the pertronix clone "hotspark" gets very poor reviews. you can read about the multiple failures on thesamba. The entire points replacement is a debate that continues every time it is brought up.... I've had no issues with any pertronix i've ever installed and the one i have currently has been in use since i bought it(first one i ever bought) in the early to mid 90's...(it is currently installed in a locked out 009 in my little turbo engine.)

What about this Jacobs=92 Ignition Kit?

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On Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:42:43 +0100, Anthony W wrot=

e:

Save your money, buy Pertronix or Compufire. EMPI makes some of the worst-quality crap on the planet. Remember Every Mistake Passes Inspection (EMPI).

I have well over 17,000 miles on a Pertronix pickup and Flame Thrower coil with a SVA distributor. Not a hiccups yet.

Michael

It says you should use their special coil.

You would probably need some of their special Jacob plug wires too.

I'm going to try one and see how it works. It's less than half the price of the Pertronix and I'm kinda broke right now.

The motorcycle season is over and I don't have the funds to blow that I do in summer. Assuming a good motorcycle season next year, I'll order a new distributor from John at aircooled.net with a Pertronix unit already installed.

The thing comes with a year warranty and if it last that long, I,ll live with that. If I have any problems, I'll take it back and put a Pertonix unit on my credit card but I'd rather not do that.

Tony

I always advise anyone to carry spares... either spare points replacement, or the points and condensor that you remove when you install the module... I carry a spare distributor that has the points gapped and ready to drop in... have for all these years, but have not needed it... What distributor are you currently running?

I'm using a 914 Porsche distributor with a single vacuum advance conversion. It takes the same points and condensers as the 009 and I have the old 009 under the back seat.

I'm planning to put a new clamp on the 009 so that in a pinch, I can swap it out and still be in time.

BTW, the EMPI unit doesn't look anything like the Pertronix. I'll post some pix later on...

Tony

I saw the picture that someone posted a link to... it is a clone of a compufire....

No, it looks like this:

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which is the same link I posted earlier.Here is the original Compufire:
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J.

Here is an excellent install guide:

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Both the Pertronix and Compufire units might require sanding down the bottom of the rotor, so it seats fully on shaft and does not rest on the plastic magnet holder. Take a measure before and after to see if you get the rotor fully seated.

J.

Yes that's the one. It's 10 bucks more here in town but I don't have to wait for it. I picked one up this afternoon and I plan to install one later this week.

I have too much work to do today or I'd be out in the driveway pulling the distributor right now...

I'll report back later on how well it works...

Tony

Be very carefull with the wiring, you get that wrong once and the unit is instatoast!!

J.

I don't think It's going to be a problem. One wire goes to the positive side of the coil and the other goes to the negative side. I don't see how I could get that wrong.

Tony

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