Programmable Ignition

[allamaabroad]

Looking for some solid answers on the different styles of programmable ignition that I've come accross. I'm interested in being able to fine tune the advance curve for my engine w/ load sensing (Specs in sig) for the purposes of making the power more smooth and increasing gas mileage at cruise, and making the ignition system more accurate and reliable.
Here's the options I've been considering:

CB's Black Box w/ current distributor: (Pretty nice German made Bosch 009)
This option seems nice, but I feel like there will still be slop from the dist. and it's point's mechanism. The price is nice @ $200

CB's MagnaSpark 2 Digital: As far as I understand this, it's an all in one programmable unit. Very appealing to me as it's all in one package with the same capabilities, and I have possibly found a deal to get it for >$200

Used Mallory Box: I don't know much about these, but I know they;ve been around for a long time and serve a similar purpose. I'm not sure which one is best, but I know they sell for a decent price used.

Crank Trigger:? Crank trigger definitely interests me with the improved accuracy that it provides, but I'm really looking to spend not much more than $200, so this is likely out of my price range.

I'm pretty settled on the MagnaSpark 2 Digital I can get it for $200, but I'm open to other options that may be out there and any opinions or experiences on any programmable ignitions.

Thanks!

/////On a side note, do spanish Weber 40 IDF's have a vacuum port?
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[iamdonquixote]

maybe add ignition 123 to the list?

[67 Sunroof]

Ignition 123...

[Dale M.]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=675029

Dale
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[jpaull]

Consider this:

1. Both the black box and the programmable magnaspark distribitor might not be reliable and give you problems.

2. Your horsepower/torque might only have very small gains.

3. Timing scatter and play within german/quality distribitors is minimal to the point that it would take 7k+ rpms to find.

4. Gas mileage improvemnets from programmable is going to be small, and more likely the black box or programmable distributor will leave you stranded before gas mpg gains pay for itself.

5. Your $200 would most likely be better spent on a magnaspark standard distributor kit that comes with wires/coil. Its accurate and the coil output is very impressive. This improvement alone would give you a boost..

6. If you really want programmable, you should spend more then $200 and get a msd 6al programmable ($350 refurb from MSD) or other higher end solution.
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[jason]

I have the Magnaspark digital. Haven’t had any problems yet but everything has a shelf life. I don’t see a difference between an electronic dist or a msd box. They are both still electronic and can fail. Its just like a crank trigger but with a dist. You can do lean cruise with it and fine tune the map. I like the bigger rotor over the 009 one. Cap and rotor are in line for a longer duration. Has a rev limiter, two stage and can use without map. If you don’t want to do a lean cruise just get the regular one.

[allamaabroad]

[jason]

They had problems with the first digitals if I remember correctly.

[67 Sunroof]

It sounds as if your mind is already (sorta) made up.
I would buy it BUT have a backup just in case you get stranded.

[Alstrup]

It may just be me, but I would definitely spend those 200 bucks (and a little more) on a better exhaust system, from the heads out. That will 90% certain give you a cooler running engine and 10% better power.
A good distributor can´t do much difference when the engine can´t breathe properly.

[67rustavenger]

I have a Magna Spark II Digital.
When I first installed it. It would out of the blue just shut down while running at low RPM. I couldn't bump start it back to life without cycling the key completely off and back on. It did this at least three times. Call CB and talked to Mark. He said he had never heard of this. Research indicates, he was made aware of this situation at least a year earlier.

It stopped shutting down and ran well. Until I installed the distributor into my 2180. It runs great under 5K RPM. Above that, it stumbles.

I swapped out the distributor with a German 009 and can get to 7K with out a stumble.
I have no idea why the Digital distributor does this but it sits in a box in my house waiting for when I have time to fuck with it on the phone with Mark from CB.

That's my experience with the Magna Spark II Digital.

Good Luck.
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[BFB]

i bought one of the first black boxes that was produced and have run it on a 1600 with 20lbs of boost, currently on a boosted 2276.
ive put thousands of miles on this rail without issue

[BFB]

i bought one of the first black boxes that was produced and have run it on a 1600 with 20lbs of boost, currently on a boosted 2276.
ive put thousands of miles on this rail without issue

[HBRag]

I purchased and am still running one of the first 20 Maganaspark digital distributors from CB. Any ‘problems’ with the first batch, are field addressable and an easy software update. It unfortunate that there isn’t more info out there for anybody that might have one of that first batch in original state.

It’s been a while a while since I addressed this with Mark’s help (took 20 minutes). So I’ll tell you what I member, but could be off on the details a bit. In essence there was a change in the software logic, and the physical direction of the sweep end connection on the rotor. This changed the rotor phasing and allowed for great amount of total advance for lean cruise tuning. Prior to the change, higher advance number could run out of rotor, which essential felt like a rev limiter at RPM. What got me was a new laptop, in which I loaded the newer version of the software. The later version of the software, assumes the physical configuration and firmware that units ~21 all got.

Once I flipped the rotor contact, undated the firmware and matched that to the latest software, everything has been rock solid. I’m tuned for lean cruise at 16:1 AFR, and WOT at 13:1 on DRLA 45’s. The engine runs so cool, I have a hard time getting the oil past 200 degrees.

I knew what I was taking on with asking for one of the first batch, CB stood by updating the system for greater functionality. I’ve seen no issues with a second two I’ve helped friends with.

If there is a whole kit available new for $200, PM me, I’ll take it. You can tell on the spot if it one of the first 20, as the rotor contact points the opposite direction that the replacement parts shown on their website.

Alan

[jpaull]

[oprn]

[HBRag]

[tzepesh]

I have Megajolt (crank trigger). It has been on the car for ~10 years, no issues. It took some time to set it properly, decide whether to go with TPS or MAP (now it is MAP), but overall very good setup.
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[Alstrup]

[oprn]