Electronic ignition for fuel injection

[allanmcclard]

Has anyone converted their fuel injected bus to electronic ignition because jbugs told me that they don't make the electronic ignition for the fuel injected motor ?

[busdaddy]

There's a complex explanation involving wave lengths and stuff, but it boils down to the electronic module speaking with a Chinese accent that the German ECU can't quite understand.
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[Jeff Geisen]

I put a Pertronix in a client’s ‘78 FI 2L Westy 8 years ago and it still runs great to this day. The ignition module I installed apparently speaks binary.
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‘63 ragtop - ‘68 single cab

[Cap10323]

My Bus still has points, but the next time it's time for a new set. I plan to go with the Pertronix replacement.

I've heard great things about Pertronix from a myriad of people.
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-Ian

'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I

[wagohn]

I reverted my '76 from electronic to points because I like to "know and see" the spark is getting that far and if they fail, I can see they've failed.
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1976 VW Transporter, 2.0 FI Engine

[airschooled]

[SGKent]

from what has been discussed in this forum, it is a hit and miss situation. The ancient FI system we have, some 45 years old now, uses the wave signals the points and coil create. Sometimes electronic ignitions don't work with the FI system. A system that might work perfectly in one bus won't run another bus. Some have speculated that is due to different tolerances in the system as the bus and electronic parts like ECU have aged. I run points and it is no big thing to change them if the bus gets driven 12,000 - 15,000 miles. That was the sweet spot for point longevity on cars and VW's I have owned with points. We are driving 45 - 50 year old antiques.
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[ivwshane]

I have a pertronix and have zero issues since I’ve installed it some six years ago. Just make sure you get the right one for your distributor.
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77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab

[SGKent]

[Abscate]

[aeromech]

If I remember right it was Notchboy that removed his electronic points. He has a late bus that had a high power miss. Going back to points solved the problem.
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[Slip356]

78 stock Westy. Added a Pertronix module several years ago, works perfectly for several thousand miles. I’m somewhat annal and take long camping trips so purchased a spare identical distributor, added new points, cap & condenser. Installed, timed etc. leaving the clamp on the spare so it’s plug & play on the side of the road. So far so good.
Also added one on my 6 volt 356 that has also worked perfectly for several years, yes have a spare dizzy as well.
Be sure you get the correct unit for your distributor. talked to Pertronix help desk on the 6 volt unit and they said it was correct. When it showed up, instruction clearly said not for six volt systems. Had to send back to Amazon & get the older unit. Love Amazon return system.

[rottenkid]

I had electronic ignition for several years on my 78 until a problem developed. I had to put in the spare distributor with points to solve the problem. That was two years ago and the points are still in there.

[allanmcclard]

Yeah the odd thing im finding is they are saying that they dont even make the electronic ignition for my distributor which it sounds like some of you obviously had it on your bus.

[Wildthings]

[allanmcclard]

So is there a pertronix ignition that they make specifically for the FI that you know of ?

[Slip356]

Bought mine from Amazon, put in type of vehicle, make, model, engine size & year. They will tell what Pertronix to order. Or just call Pertronix but have your distributor number handy if it’s not original.

[SGKent]

[raygreenwood]

[metahacker]

Just put a 123 distributor (ideally, the Bluetooth model) and get rid of all that hacked electro mechanical garbage running a stock distributor with some chinese module.

It has a MAP sensor, a Hall sensor and operates perfectly and simply.

You can use this map I made over a period of many hours of testing.
(shout out to my friend John Connolly of ACN for working with me on the base map)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dfyro0c26xr1aq9/metahacker%20VW%20Type%204%202L%20Tune.123?dl=0

And you can use all that precision and immediate responsiveness of the digital control to tune it like a modern EFI and get your AFM set up to run 16-17:1 on lean cruise (which requires you to really pump some serious vacuum advance in there to run correctly).
16-17:1 will run cooler than rich or stoic, and improve MPG.

As a bonus, you can monitor your approx. oil temperature (using the 123 shaft temp reading), vacuum, voltage and RPM using the app...

I am sure there will be some haters who will say to stick to points, or stick to an that electro-mechanical piece of shit run with weights and springs and a rubber vacuum diaphragm. That is fine. There really isn't any advantage to engine operation running something like that. But to each their own YMMV and all that. I am personally not a fan but I am also a "tech guy" and comfortable setting up custom EFI, and you know.... opinions are like assholes.

The 123 with a well tuned AFM and a properly functioning AAR, TS2 and TTS/CSV will run just like a brand new modern EFI system... all except for over-run fuel cut... but you don't really need that except to save MPG.

It can do 16-17:1 cruise, 12-13:1 WOT .. and idle perfectly at ~14:1.. and have all the proper ignition timing values to do so, without any compromises.

Just get a Wideband like the "PE" bluetooth one and start tuning that AFM.... and it can be basically perfect.

The late Bus L-Jet system is great. The distributor is the only technology laggard in the whole setup.

If you look at the 1980s 911 with the 3.2L - the US late Bay window is basically running the same setup. Same flapper door AFM and all that shit, similar looking airbox. The 911 "Motronic" is just our L-Jet with a flywheel crank sensor magnet on it to run the ignition control system that they added. Clearly, Porsche had similar sentiments about that old fashioned distributor. The L-Jet is a great system, and we are lucky to have it. In Europe, they still used carburetors on these buses... but the L Jet and the mechanical distributor are not the most appropriate match, albeit stock and working fine on most buses... it is really the only area where you can see some nice improvements in how the engine management is implemented.