Radio Shack Capacitive Discharge Ignition
 

Picked one up to use on our '63 Lincoln 430 with BIG Cruisomatic.


Here is article about it on page 41.


https://www.americanradiohistory.com...1973-03-04.pdf


Going to use it with stock distributor points and coil.


It will fire the plugs up to 7,000 RPM with near full current!


It is like early Ford CDI on race 427's.


The other CDI's that look just like it like Mark Ten B are kits reworked by Mark Ten.Smart way to do it.


Has bypass switch to protect it when connecting testing equipment to it.


See pic's next post.

Re: Radio Shack Capacitive Discharge Ignition
 

Here are pic's of ours.

Re: Radio Shack Capacitive Discharge Ignition
 

Ford perma tuned ignition. 427's optional on T birds also on large trucks. I think those distributors had a highly polished point cam and maybe lower tension points since that would be the only wear area.

Re: Radio Shack Capacitive Discharge Ignition
 

Thanks 5851a


'Perma Tune' Ford ignition system.Good info!


I don't know if those tips apply to our CDI box.Could.Will look into it.


Here is an article off the net about Archerkit CDI like ours.


Pretty darn interesting! Think the author is in England.



http://www.fixkick.com/look/delta2.txt

Re: Radio Shack Capacitive Discharge Ignition
 

Don't forget: A coil only produces the voltage needed to jump the spark plug gap! If 5,000 volts is sufficient to fire the plug, the coil can only produce 5,000 volts. If 10,000 volts is needed, that is what the coil will produce. If 40,000 or 50,000 volts are needed to fire the plug, something is seriously wrong!

Re: Radio Shack Capacitive Discharge Ignition
 

Thanks Deluxe40


Here is the Wikipedia article about CDI and it's advantages.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capaci...harge_ignition


It does provide quicker starting in cold weather.Probably with a car that has been sitting awhile too.



Have no idea what you are saying in your post or what facts it is based on.


Might be you are saying you don't like CDI and do not intend to get one.


Even that is a little unclear in your post.

Re: Radio Shack Capacitive Discharge Ignition
 

What I was getting at is the fact that a lot of people seem to think that if they buy a 50,000 volt coil, it always fires with 50,000 volts to the plug. That is not true. When the points open (or the CDI or other electronic ignition triggers), secondary voltage in the coil secondary windings rises only to whatever voltage is needed to jump the gap, and then the plug fires. If you watch the pattern on a scope you can see the firing voltage displayed. At idle, firing voltage is typically around 5,000 volts, and rises under load. How high it goes is dependent on plug gap and cylinder pressure. But I have never seen it anywhere 40,000 or 50,000 volts unless you pull a plug wire off or the wire is broken. I run an Accel 300+ CDI type ignition on my 289 '67 Cougar that I drag race and I like it. Runs right to the rev limiter at 76-7800 RPM.

Re: Radio Shack Capacitive Discharge Ignition
 

Thank you 40 Deluxe


Very astute answer.


You beat me to it about MSD.


More forum members would be a little more comfortable getting a brand new MSD box than buying a used 70's CDI off Ebay.


I never bought one in the 80's.Just used better chrome plated ECU box and better chrome coil from Direct Connection.Might have been MSD stuff.Who knows?



I talked to an electronics expert yesterday and he knew the box we have.


He had one or more CDI's himself.


Made the comment he remembers having to change the plugs about once a year.


Said I had him remembering stuff he has not thought about in 60 years!:)

Re: Radio Shack Capacitive Discharge Ignition
 

UPDATE


It got delivered last week and I took a look at it.


Looks unused.


Will take a look inside when I have time.


Plan for it is to stick it on the shelf.


It is a reminder to check out CDI when it comes time to fire up one of these engines.


That is the hap's here.


Going to go out and tie knots in the garden hose, then turn it on and watch it unravel!:)


Nice and quiet around here just the way we like it!