Electronic Ignition for the Stag

[gelpont19]

Hello Stag owner,

I´m writing from Germany for a friend having probs with the Stag after lowering the cylinder heads. Now he´s looking for an electronic ignition distributor = 123Ignition) but we are not sure, if there is a version for the Stag engine. (8-cyl. not Rover engine)

Does anyone have experiences ??

Thanks in advance...

win

[gelpont19]

Hello to all...

Perhaps the 123 Ignition is not common in UK ???

http://www.123ignition.nl/index.php

Regards

Winfried

[mikew]

4462 wrote:

Hello to all...

Perhaps the 123 Ignition is not common in UK ???

http://www.123ignition.nl/index.php

Regards

Winfried

I have  bought one but not got round to fitting it.

also if its an early car the rev counter needs modifying to work correctly. the late rev counters are usually ok

mike

[steaming]

I have just fitted the electronic ignition distributor, supplied by Chris Spain. Relatively easy to fit, with full instructions supplied.

The difference in car performance is very noticeably better, having said that my old distributor was quite worn.

The details can be found at www.stagweber.co.uk.

Please note that I gain no financial benefit or any other benefit for recommending this product and web site.

[gelpont19]

Thanks to you both for reply,

Mike - can you post the type of the 123Ign. ?

Didn´t find too much details on the Stagweber page...

win

[gelpont19]

Hello ppl,

...should be one of these distributers



Sorry for the "Millimeters" but it´s a dutch producer...

Regards

Winfried

[wukkie1]

hi when i got my stag 3 years ago it was fitted with a lumenition unit which fits into youe existing distributor, excellent, if needed search lumenition on web.

[gelpont19]

Thanks Wukkie - but the Lumenition is here well known too. The 123Ignition is much more complex - can do more. See the link at top of this page.

With the "tune" Version you can create your personal ignition curves, if the engine is modified to more power (higher compression, different carbs, etc.) I drive the early Version in my TR6 since 4 years now, even in winter and it starts fine. It´s a US carb Version - compression Ratio 9,5:1. Kent camshaft 280° (like a PI) To serve this with the right ignition curve means to modify the distributer - so I took the 123Ign. distributer - took one of the 16 programmed curves and the engine has now 138 bhp. - 102 bhp at the wheel.

regrads

winfried

[piman]

Hello Win,

you did say that it was not a Rover engine, but the ones you show, two are for Rover but none for the Triumph engine (which I assume is what you have?). This link shows a distributor for the Stag (Triumph) engine. Note it has a vacuum module which the Rover one does not.

16 curves is not many and your choice will be quite a bit less as it's not usually a good idea to exceed the maximum mechanical advance of the standard distributor. You seem happy with your TR6 installation and say it starts easily "even in Winter". My (TR5 engined) saloon does also, but that is still on points and the original Lucas distributor.

Alec

[Dion]

mikew wrote:

I have  bought one but not got round to fitting it.

also if its an early car the rev counter needs modifying to work correctly. the late rev counters are usually ok

mike

Mike - can you elaborate on that please?
I've got a Jag 420 which rev counter shows too many revs. Could it be the electronic ignition that is fitted (Lumenition)? What needs modifying?

Thanks,
Dion

[piman]

Hello Dion,

doesn't your 420 have a tachometer generator driven off the camshaft?

Alec

[Dion]

No - older Jaguars had those. XK150 for sure.
The 420 is the first "modern" Jaguar with negative earth and an alternator - with separate voltage regulator. And electronic tachometer.

[piman]

Hello Dion,

I'm surprised as it is a 60s car, my MK 2 has a generator for the tachometer and they continued in production while the 420 was current. Progress?

Alec

[Dion]

Hi Alec,

maybe it is a 3.4 / 3.8 versus 4.2 engine thing? That the 3.4 / 3.8 always had the cam driven generator? Would be interesting to see if the E-type had a different tacho fitted when the 4.2 came along.
Sorry - it is too late for me now to find the Barratt spare parts guide for the E-type and Mk2 / S-type. Maybe I'll have a look tomorrow.

[BarryH]

This is the web site you want:

http://www.123ignition.nl/index.php

But it looks as though they only make them for 4 & 6 cylinder engines and no V8s.

They are also only for use with electronic rev counters not mechanical like ac delcos on spitfires which will need a change of dashboard rev counter head.

They are also very expensive compared to say a Petronix/Aldon type set up but if your dissie is worn and needs replacing then a good option.

These people do a refurbish and can include electronic ignition as well.

http://www.h-h-ignitionsolutions.co.uk/

Regards

[piman]

Hello Barry,

I see that on my earlier post that I omitted the link I referred to. It is http://www.123ignition-conversions.com/makes-types.html This shows a 123 ignition distributor for a Triumph Stag Triumph engine.

I don't like the H H Ignition Solutions claim that they 'Are the only solution to ignition problems', patently untrue.

Alec

[CharliesStag]

bhuffer wrote:

This is the web site you want:

http://www.123ignition.nl/index.php

But it looks as though they only make them for 4 & 6 cylinder engines and no V8s.

They are also only for use with electronic rev counters not mechanical like ac delcos on spitfires which will need a change of dashboard rev counter head.

They are also very expensive compared to say a Petronix/Aldon type set up but if your dissie is worn and needs replacing then a good option.

These people do a refurbish and can include electronic ignition as well.

http://www.h-h-ignitionsolutions.co.uk/

Regards

The 123 distributors are quite different to the electronic ignition boxes and systems.  The Lumenition Optronic system comes close, but after a new distributor the 123 does not seem like terrible value IMO.

It has many handy features including variable dwell time over RPM, a variety of advance curves to suit one's engine.

Whilst you may need to go to a different tachometer with their 'normal' lineup, thanks to the dutch conversion firm this is potentially no longer necessary ;).

I agree that the above post is slightly biased but short of going to a fully mappable ignition system (like Megajolt) the 123 ignition does seem to represent an effective and simpler halfway house method if you may IMO :).  Even on a friend's 1850 it made quite a difference.  No hot coil at idle, smoother idle in addition to pulling very well.  Quite a few cheap distributors these days do not seem to last (i.e springs/ weights go iffy, bearings on the shaft are low rent).

[piman]

Hello Charlie,

When I looked at the 123 website, it does give 16 choices of curve but only a quarter or so are usable for my application as the total advance is wrong on most of them so it is not such a big choice.

Alec

[CharliesStag]

I guess Megajolt is always an option then Alec although of course it won't look as original;).

It's a fair point you raise, although the curves are still more useful that what a Lumenition box seems to offer IMO.

[bodgerben]

Hi Win,

Ask the guys at Hebels - http://www.britishsportscars.nl/index-uk.html

I know they have supplied a few Stag 123 Tune distributors, they supplied my Sprint 123 Tune that I'm very happy with.

Edited to add - these are the guys detailed above - http://www.123ignition-conversions.de/
or
http://www.123ignition-conversions.de/index-uk.html

Cheers,
Ben

[chamchella]

Pertronic make a system that fits into the original Stag distributor. I have been running Pertronic in TR3 for a long time and it has been faultless. Local reputation finds it better than lumenition.