EDIS Conversion

[Dr_Snooz]

I'm not sure how often GM distributors poop out, but has anyone done an EDIS conversion on a square body truck? If you don't know what that is, it's a crank-fired electronic spark ignition system. It works by using a single ring gear on the crank to tell the coil to fire the plug each time the piston comes to TDC. On a four-stroke engine, the piston will come to TDC on the compression stroke and the exhaust stroke. The coil will fire the plug on both strokes. On the compression stroke, the cylinder will fire as normal. On the exhaust stroke, the spark has no effect and is "wasted." The benefit is that you don't need a cam position sensor. The system was used extensively on Fords (sorry, I used the F-word) in the '90s and parts are readily available at most junkyards. You end up with computer controlled ignition without a lot of heavy fabrication work.

It's supposed to be the cat's pajamas. More info below.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1055829

[Dr_Snooz]

Nobody knows anything?

[ITSANSS]

I'm not familiar with it at all, but it sounds very interesting.  I wonder if this would work on a GM engine...?

[VileZambonie]

Distributorless ignition systems are nothing new but if you're going to upgrade your ignition system an MSD or the like will yield similar results with a much lower cost and that is why this isn't a popular retrofit.

[eventhorizon66]

Electromotive has been offering these kits for quite a while now, but as Vile said, the cost-to-benefit ratio is what keeps it from being very popular.

http://www.electromotive-inc.com/products/xdi.html

[Dr_Snooz]

I have a distributor wearing out on my car and it's a drag. There's zero aftermarket support for it, so I can't even rebuild the blasted thing. I have to grow my own solutions. I was thrilled when I learned about EDIS. I guess it's not a big deal for these trucks. The aftermarket is so awesome for Chevys.

The conversion seems pretty affordable to me. You buy maybe $50 worth of stuff from the junkyard and a $200 box from Megajolt, spend a Saturday with your laptop and you're good. I'll definitely be doing it on the car when the time comes. Just thought I'd share here in case anyone is interested.

[VileZambonie]

What distributor is it? GM HEI's are cheap and a dime a dozen - the aftermarket ones on ebay like this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SBC-BBC-CHEVY-CLEAR-CAP-65K-HEI-DISTRIBUTOR-6500-CL-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem51958625a5QQitemZ350400947621QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories are so cheap and the quality actually impressed me for the price.

[Dr_Snooz]

This is for my 89 Honda. It's good you asked too. I went to eBay to double-check again and it looks like someone has started making new replacement distributors for the car. Even Honda has stopped making these. There aren't any more in North America. Woohoo!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/86-87-88-89-Honda-Accord-2-0-NEW-TEC-Distributor-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem563ed0251aQQitemZ370421015834QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_3059wt_960

Thanks!

[Stewart G Griffin]

i like the electromotive system and am seriously considering it for my cavalier and even for any of my small block vehicles.   Seems real simple and straightforward.  The only thing that's keeping me at the starting gate right now is the $750 price of admission.

[VileZambonie]

They still reman that distributor

[Stewart G Griffin]

Snooz, i found a place that can machine the timing disk/crankshaft position disk/trigger wheel into any engine's harmonic damper.  Very clean installation.

A famous shop too.  So it's high quality.  We can do pm unless Chris says it's ok to list it here.


2) i don't know much about honda engines, but let's say the distributor does eventually "wear out."  Is the distributor also connected to the oil pump?   In this case you would still have to have something in there to drive the pump?

[Dr_Snooz]

I'd be very interested in the name of that shop. Mounting the ring gear is the only part of the conversion I haven't yet figured out. Thank you!