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Hey guys I'm toying with the idea of running a coil on plug system on my 360 rat rod. Has anyone got any ideas or resources?? wanting to do completely away with the dizzy maybe mill it down to still run the oil pump.
Wouldn't you still need a distributor of sorts? Coil on each plug would allow you to remove the "common" coil but you still need something to time the spark to each cylinder.
Given the reliability of an updated conventional distributor with electronic ignition and a good coil, AND given the inherent performance limitations of a 360 (you left the sunken pistons in there???) what do you hope to gain through this labor-intensive and expensive undertaking?
Wouldn't you still need a distributor of sorts? Coil on each plug would allow you to remove the "common" coil but you still need something to time the spark to each cylinder.
A trigger on the crank or cam does the timing work.
This inhertantley poor performace 360 has led me to TWO points championships so I think it must be "ok" I'm wanting to do this because I think it's cool! same reason we all love FE's there cool !
There shouldn't be any need for a dizzy if running some kind of crank sensor. I think of it as how does a modern engine fire with out a dist? the ignition parts ie coil(s), sensors, control module have no idea what engine they are bolted to.
"Limited" is not always "poor". I'm sure your motor is a fine runner. (that would be better with some compression....)
Anyway, you are correct, the crank trigger etc could be adapted from another engine. BUT, you have a RELIABLE system in place (can't win with a DNF) vs. a system that will take some sorting out and which will have mulitiple points of vulnerability with respect to 8 (eight, count 'em) coil packs located next to them there red hot manifolds (headers?).
You make a very valid point about tried and true ignition. I have several dollars vested into the ignition now, but this motor is being retired from raceing to go in the rat rod. It's just sitting on the run stand now (looking at me lol) with some of the go fast part's removed kind of a de-tune if you will. The reason I'm useing it is that I have thrashed that engine since I built it up. This is just for fun if it failes in some way then I can use that experince to learn from. The point you make about the chance for one of hose 8 coils to fail is a good, but if one of those fail Ive got 7 left to get me across the line as if just 1 fails in a tradtional system that will defently result in a DNF.
MSD has a crank trigger setup for big blocks with blowers. it is extremely pricey.
You are still going to need some sort of ignition computer to tie it all together. I know Accel and Holley are working on setups similar to that for small blocks and retrofitting mod motors, but i have not seen anything worthwile other than magazine articles.
You may want to check with Dove engineering. they have some rpetty radical FE stuff.
I havent measured the holes or anything but I am currently swapping a 74 302 for a 98 302; the new one has some sort of sensor that replaced the dizzy. Its got electronic coils mounted on a bracket above it.
Thought this approach might offer up a possible solution.
There was a thread in the 73-79 truck forum about a guy that put a coil on plug set up (along with fuel injection) to his ?390? I think. I haven't looked at it recently but I believe he used a mega squirt system that was also able to control the coils.
current Mustang Monthly magazine has a boss 302 with this done . they used 4.6l coils and crank trigger with a custom coil mount off valve covers . they normally post their articles on line when issue is 1 month old .