Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Hey guys, so I was one of the lucky ones to pull the trigger on the 123 Ignition Distributor Brian listed. Just thought I would cover my install and where I am with it. First the why. I was looking to go electronic ignition before seeing Brian's post. I read post after post and looked at the Wiki to see what all was available. I was getting pretty close to pulling the trigger, but this unit really caught my attention. I'd actually seen some stuff on it before and was disappointed our Roadsters didn't have it available. Being able to play with timing curves for different situations or just to get the most out of car was very appealing to me and cool!

Early impressions first in case nobody makes it to the end. I love this unit. Install was a breeze, way easier than I thought it would be. This is the first distributor that I have swapped out, so I am a complete novice! I love being able to fiddle with my timing curve. Using the software is easy and making the changes are so quick. Now I have a reason to mount my phone where I can see it so I can look at the realtime info from the 123 app.


The product is awesome. The work Brian did to make these units work with our little cars is flawless. I am very very happy with my purchase and if I ever add to my collection of Roadsters, I will definitely be upgrading to this unit on every one.

What came in the box:
- A distributor, install instructions and a hex key Installation:
- Before swapping in the 123 distributor I swapped in new plugs (NGK BPR6ES) gapped to 0.040 and new wires (Beck/Arnley Premium Spark Plug Wires 175-4217). I made sure my static timing was set to 16 BTDC and rotated the engine so the distributor was pointing at the #1 cylinder wire (not sure if this was necessary, but it's what I did)
- Follow directions from the Wiki Page: http://www.311s.org/pmwiki-311/pmwiki.p ... tallADizzy
**Required me to lube the O Ring a little so it would slide in, but overall very easy peasy
- Removed the old coil and ballast resistor
- Installed the new coil (Bosch Blue Coil) and connected the wires (Ignition wire to positive, red wire from 123 distributor to positive on coil, black wire from 123 distributor to negative on coil, Blue Wire not connected to anything)**
**What did this mean for the existing wiring that was removed? Not being used, so I just tied it off.
- With the new unit installed, I started her up and set the static timing back to 16 BTDC and tightened the bracket (with the included hex key) and reconnected the vacuum tube
- Turned the ignition key, but did not start the engine. This activates the distributor so I could connect using the software on my phone and setup the initial Advance and MAP Curve. These are the numbers given to me by Brian:

Advance curve:
500 rpm 0
750 rpm 4
1500 rpm 7
2500 rpm 13
3250 rpm 22
4500 rpm 26
5500 rpm 29
Rev limiter set to 6000

Vac start at 4.5-5.5in Hg
Add a total of 7 degrees up to 12.6in. Hg.

- Took the car for a test drive and right away realized that there was way too much advance at higher RPMs, evident by engine pinging. I pulled over, turned the car off, hooked up the app and lowered by advance numbers from 29 at 5500 to 26 and scaled all back. Ran better, but still not perfect but it was time for bed. Did some research and found that ideal maximum advance is in the 35-36 range. I looked at some curves being used by BMW users who seem to love this unit and reprogrammed with the following numbers:

Advance curve:
500 rpm 0
750 rpm 4
1500 rpm 10
2000 rpm 15
3500 rpm 20
4500 rpm 21
8000 rpm 22 MAP curve:
0 kP 0
62 kP 5
69 kP 8
87 kP 10
88 kP 11
100 kP 0
200 kP 0 The following are pictures of the unit installed: Install and info manual
http://www.123ignition.nl/files/manuals ... NEPLUS.pdf

About


Compared against points and pertronix


Install on a BMW


Detailed lessons about the product and software (Laptop and apps)
http://123ignitionusa.com/123ignition-lessons/

Thread on 311s
http://www.311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=28900

Hope this is helpful to someone. And if anyone has any advice on how to make my timing even better, feel free. I am no timing expert and want my car to run the best it can.

Adam

Nice post.
On mine (6 cyl tune) I connected the blue to ground. Would be interested to see your curve pics. I suspect a little time on a dyno is the best way to dial it in, hope to do mine before long. Glad to see a roadster version, I think they are great units too, and look at home in a vintage car.
Michael

mlwebb wrote:Nice post.
On mine (6 cyl tune) I connected the blue to ground. Would be interested to see your curve pics. I suspect a little time on a dyno is the best way to dial it in, hope to do mine before long. Glad to see a roadster version, I think they are great units too, and look at home in a vintage car.
Michael

Should be pictures now. Not sure what in the heck happened. Not having great luck embedding images from Google Drive or Dropbox.

Very cool!! Congrats.

Toptech360 wrote:Very cool!! Congrats.

Thanks

mlwebb wrote:Nice post.
On mine (6 cyl tune) I connected the blue to ground. Would be interested to see your curve pics. I suspect a little time on a dyno is the best way to dial it in, hope to do mine before long. Glad to see a roadster version, I think they are great units too, and look at home in a vintage car.
Michael

Blue is grounded to the distributor body here.

Wow, I didn't know anyone had made these available for the roadster. They have been in use for Alfa Romeos for years. I just picked one up for my '59 Giulietta Sprint project.

The one downside to these distributors is that they don't do well with high voltage coils. There is a TON of info in this thread. While it is for Alfa's, most of the info applies to a roadster in terms of the actual workings of the distributor. http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/engine- ... -test.html

Will

SLOroadster wrote:Wow, I didn't know anyone had made these available for the roadster. They have been in use for Alfa Romeos for years. I just picked one up for my '59 Giulietta Sprint project.

The one downside to these distributors is that they don't do well with high voltage coils. There is a TON of info in this thread. While it is for Alfa's, most of the info applies to a roadster in terms of the actual workings of the distributor. http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/engine- ... -test.html

Will

Will,

I’ve made them the 123Tune+ available for the roadster. This distributor works splendidly with both U20 and R16.

Check the vender section for more info or feel free to PM me.

Brian

Boy not much posted in this thread in a while! I'm about to fire up my 67 U-20 that's been dormant for decades, now rebuilt and with a C cam, lightweight flywheel, and rebuilt Solex. Any ideas on a starting program?

Cheers
James

jamesw wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2019 12:27 pm Boy not much posted in this thread in a while! I'm about to fire up my 67 U-20 that's been dormant for decades, now rebuilt and with a C cam, lightweight flywheel, and rebuilt Solex. Any ideas on a starting program?

Cheers
James

Hey James did you check this thread ?
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=29035&start=15

Thanks! My search terms didn't turn that one up right away.

Cheers
James

Don't copy the timing curve I posted on that thread before look it over... I've learned lot since then. As a starting timing curve I'd copy a stock curve, basically 16-20 initial, start advancing above 1500rpm progressively to about 3800 rpms where you should be fully advanced, probably about 36 degrees total. Just do a progressive straight line advance and listen for ping to get started. I don't know what degree of control you have over the curve based on load or how that's measured, but assuming that you do have some you will need to take some time to create a map based on many runs down the road at different loads. I'm happy to try to help... I'll also post my current timing map for the megajolt but understand my engine is very high compression and your engine will likely tolerate more advance under load. It may be until this weekend before I can post that map.