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MG MGA - What electronic ignition

What electronic ignition, if any.

After just completing 500 miles in my 5 year ground up restoration (1500) I contacted a local mg specialist to get some small jobs done, Tracking and accurate tune up, he asked me if I had electronic ignition fitted and said it would benefit if I had. What type of electronic ignition should I fit bearing in mine I only do about 1000 miles/year tops?

Other observations:-
engine temp running at 170deg constant even on hot days 85deg.
Oil pressure 50-60psi at 50mph, running in oil (very thin, leaks oil) needs changing to 20/50.
Check straps on back suspension, managed to fit these after 250miles.
Front wheel wobble at 60mph, need re-balancing.
Great driving on twisty roads, suspension hard but ok, not much body roll, Konis on back, steering easy with the big wheel.
Fuel sender not working, use dip stick, much more reliable.

Regards
Dave
Dave

Dave,

You probably have a stuck sender in the tank... try whacking the tank with a rubber hammer before getting your hands dirty.

This is the most popular Electronic Ignition & fitting kit for MG's.
I have it on two MGA's..
They go ... then they stop and you bin them (after several years that is) they are very good.

http://www.lumenition.com/

They have two types.
Optronic and Magnetic.

Optronic is better as you can have a quite worn out distributor bush and it will still work well.

There are may others though.

Cheers <MARK>
Mark Hester

Dave

Re - front wheel balancing. I have tried convential wheel balancing (wheel off car) with some (minimal) success. For me the best way to balance an MGA wheel is on the car - if you can find a tyre shop with the equipment. I have a "1500" modified to WW. I have notched the hub and wheel to ensure the wheel always goes back on exactly the same spline. Not had a vibration up to 98mph in the past 5 years or so.

Interested to see what recommendations you get on electronic ignition. It's on my consideration list.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hey Steve would like to meet you at MG.Car Club Silverstone this year I will look out for your "non" restored car and you will be able to spot mine, don't have bumpers, Iris Blue roadster but alas also "non" restored, even though I resisted Electronic ignition mods! ;>)
Beer tent Friday afternoon?
Bob (robert) I am turning? yes I once owned an MGWasp!!

Bob

Not sure about this weekend yet. Daughter visiting. I'll see if I can escape!

Steve
Steve Gyles

I'm there one Sat only.... but allas no MGA TC as I sent it back to Perth....
Mark Hester

I have installed a pertronix in my '62 MK-II. It was easy to install, and everything fits inside the distributor. It is 4 years old, and has not missed a beat. The only thing I didn't like was that the rotor sets slightly higher on the shaft because of the magnets that slip onto the shaft under the rotor. I solved this by filing some off of the bottom of the rotor leaving it at it's intended height.
Ed Bell

Anyone know where I can find Optronic installation instructions on the 'net? I've a set I removed from a Mini I bought that I'd like to reinstall.

Derek Nicholson

Derek,

Here's a picture of my New Optronic in the T/Cam, Don't think it helps much though. I have a better one from my brothers car, but can't find it at the mo.

http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/yd3801/detail?.dir=c6cf&.dnm=fc27.jpg&.src=ph


If you email them they should be able to supply one too you I would think.

You can test it, by just breaking the beam manually, even without it being fitted inside the distributor.

Cheers <MARK>


Mark Hester

I've had Aldon electronic ignition in my MGA for seven years. Totally reliable. Starts first time. No adjustments. All components contained within the distributor.
http://www.aldonauto.co.uk/
David
David M

For info Dave/all, the Aldon Ignitor and the Pertronix Ignitor are one-and-the-same units. Aldon is the marketing name used in The UK.

I have the Aldon Ignitor and a DLB109 Lucas Sports Coil fitted to my 1800cc B and I can vouch that it's a well worth addition and has been fitted to my daily driver (8-10,000 miles per annum) since 2001 without any problems or adjustments.

Definitely a worth while fitment that requires no modification to the distributor and so can be reversed back to a points system if ever you wished to maintain originality.

~Mike
Mike BGT

This thread was discussed between 19/06/2006 and 23/06/2006

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.