Here's info on converting a Lucas Distributor to Electronic

[oldschool]

http://homepages.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/~kris/escort/ignition.shtml

Article describes how to convert an Escort to electronic ignition, will probably work on the lucas distributors used in MK1 Avengers.

[avenga]

Great article, Thanks for posting it.

I converted the ignition on my Valiant Charger to electronic. It uses a bosch distributor and I used a Pertronix Ignitor kit to upgrade the internals of the dizzy to electronic then ran that to an MSD before going to a pertronix flamethrower coil.

It was pretty easy to do, just rip out the old insides and replace it with the new kit.



I used the kit which was made for the Chrysler 6 cylinder engine but they do make a kit for the Ford 4 cylinder and also a few different lucas kits so maybe one of them would fit. it is fully contained in your original dizzy so all you need to do is then run the wires to your new coil.

Also I was wondering if you could just swap the dizzy to a late model one and have it triggering an MSD. Would that work or are they not interchangable.

[NZTiger]

Easiest way is to use the Avenger electronic system that was standard from 78, you need to get the dizy, ignition pack (same as used in Valiants) the ballast resistor and sub loom. Any Mk 2 has them except for 77 and early 78. Technically they were fitted from 8 Series on. The first Mk2 was 7 Series and the good bits (Electronic ign and wide track front suspension) started with next update and tied into the Sunbeam introduction in UK.

[hunted]

was just about to say that ^. yowzer (from oldschool.co.nz) has done the same thing, said it was easy peasy.

[sunbeam]

NZ tigers on to it, Have the electronic set up on the rally car.To run msd though (we run dual system for backup) you need to fit a resister  in line to trigger msd at cranking. Both these ignitions will give you better burn more performance . The msd was worth 7 hp on dyno run, you are able to run bigger plug gap, equals better ignition.

[avenga]

Cool, Thanks for the performance increase figures. I have been thinking of putting in an MSD in my '75 and this clinches it.

I run an MSD in my Charger and I am very happy with it.

[avenga]

FYI here are some pictures of my new MSD in my Avenger. I am still running points as my electronic dizzy was damaged but once I fix that I swap it over.

[Linesy]

Does the MSD manage the level of advance? I see you advance diaphram has no hose attahed.
Cheers.

[avenga]

No it doesn't do the level of advance. I need to rely on just the centrifugal advance in the distributor. You can't really run vacuum advance on a car with webers/dellortos because they had independent runners so you don't get an even and steady vacuum.

From what I have seen and read the Avenger Tigers had the same problem and didn't run any vacuum advance

[oldschool]

Yes, even the Alpine with twin CD's doesn't have vacuum advance - has a different Lucas distributor without a vacuum advance unit. Makes you wonder if the Alpine dizzy has a different mechanical advance curve too?

[avenga]

I was wondering if that was the case for the Alpine etc, maybe they had different weights and springs.

[azza1600]

Year that is the case, Alpines do have a diferent advance curve than a standard 1600 I compared them in my manual as it shows the degre of advance thu the rev range

[oldschool]

I have electronic ignition kits for Hillman Avengers at a member price of $90 plus $4 P and P. Just send me a PM.
There's a choice of two kits, the 1970-73 model with the Lucas 25D4 and the 1974-77 model with the Lucas 45D4 distributor.
Check the markings on the side of your distributor to see which kit to get, as the distributors are inter-changeable and may have been changed since the car left the factory. The kits work with the standard Avenger coil (and sports coils) and can also be used to trigger an MSD unit.
 

[JoKer]

http://homepages.mcs.vuw.ac.nz/~kris/escort/ignition.shtml

Article describes how to convert an Escort to electronic ignition, will probably work on the lucas distributors used in MK1 Avengers.

Dang link is dead

Anywho My second hand Ballast resistor gave up the ghost & looking to buy new


 


is that what I want?

[avengertiger]

yep i got some as spares