18 replies to this topic

[MINI 1]

hi , just finished the 1380 engine , still have a few things to buy before i can start it up . one being is a distributor the of the engine is

A-series block bored to 73.6mm , cross honed and had new cam bearings fitted and reamed. 11 stud fitment.
Standard crank, balanced.
1275 con rods
AE Hepolite Triumph pistons with a 10cc dish
Steel centre main strap
Glacier Shell Bearings, Vandervell mains and big ends bearings
Minisport CA4 road/rally cam , same grind as the supersprint 544 camshaft
Piper cam followers
Mini Sport Oil Pump Spider Drive
Mini Sport Lightened Duplex Timing Gear & Chain Set
High Capacity Water Pump
MG METRO 1275cc A+ 12G940 BIG VALVE HEAD 36mm inlet valves and 31mm exhaust valves, 11 stud, Extra Strong Single Valves. Ports slightly polished.
MED LD 1.5 Roller Tip Rockers
All new pushrods
Verto clutch set up
New clutch kit
Heavy duty clutch plate
Lightened and balanced Verto flywheel
New seals and gaskets all around
Performance Head gasket Mini - Turbo 1275/1400
1275 A+ Gearbox with 3.4 final drive


i have been looking at the aldon distributors http://www.aldonauto...s...ID=&P_ID=99 . the one i think i need to buy is A Series - Yellow 100AY but with Aldon 'Ignitor' unit fitted. do you think this will suit my engine ? and what other distributors do people recomend?

thanks ash

[mk1leg]

Try the 123 dizzy wich has 16 built in curves .....................

[MINI 1]

had a quick look at this on minispares , looks a very good distributor how would you compare this to the aldon one?

thanks

ash

[dklawson]

They are both electronic ignition type distributors. They both cost more than a standard distributor. Beyond that they are only similar in being distributors.

The Aldon unit will house the Ignitor module. It's advance curve will still be based on mechanical cams, bob weights, and springs. Aldon will have chosen one advance curve that they feel is good for a certain type of engine build.

The 123 houses its own unique ignition module. It uses a Bosch cap and rotor (VW I think). Both the mechanical and optional vacuum advance mechanisms are electronic, not mechanical. There is a selector switch accessible through the bottom of the billet housing that allows the user to select any one of 16 different advance curves. The curves were developed by Marcel Chichak based on dyno testing various engine configurations. You try a curve and if it's not what you want you select the next one until you're happy. (There are guidelines suggesting where to start). Short of a custom built distributor tweaked by rolling road work, you won't find a more optimized system. (Megajolt users... remember you have to tweak also... consider my statement a generalization). However, you'll note that the 123 comes at a price.

[MINI 1]

ok thank you , is anywon using the 123 distributor and what are your thoughts on it ? is it worth the money and is it easy to set up?

thanks

ash

[MINI 1]

anymore suggesttions?

[dklawson]

I have several friends who are using the 123. These guys are in the U.S. and Canada and don't frequent this board. I don't wish to direct traffic away from this site, but if you don't find the answers you want here regarding the 123 you may wish to visit the MiniMania forum and search old threads there. If you still don't find the the answer you're looking for on MiniMania, you may wish to start your own thread there on the subject.

For starters, see:
http://www.minimania...1/msgthread.cfm
(User "chichm" is the guy who developed the 123 advance curves).

[MINI 1]

ok thanks for your advice . if not alot of people know about these dizzys , what distributor's are people using insted?

ash

[dklawson]

I think the price of the 123 dizzy is why there aren't more people using it. However, the 123 concept is not exclusive to the A- and B-series engines. Visit their web site and you'll see they make these for numerous makes and models... each with its own unique set of advance curves to choose from.

See their web site:
http://www.123ignition.nl/

[minimanclive]

A friend of mine with more money than me bought a 123 for his Mini. He reports easier starting and better running when compared with the Metro Electronic ignition setup.

[partsguy1]

I've been using a 123 A+ with vac advance on my bog stock 1275 for about 5000 miles .................. absolutely a stunning bit of kit. I would not use anything else, my mini starts better, shuts down without run on, and I have been getting a consistent 40+ mpg. Plus the thing is just dead sexy to look at. Money well spent IMHO.
Terry

[icklemini]

megajolt

the 123 is a damn good distributor...lots of different advance curves to play with.. once you have found one suitable job done...
the aldon - again a good distributor.. but the only difference between that and any old dizzy is that it has a (tame) advance curve..
an alternative would be to recurve a electronic distributor to suit your specific engine.

you pays your money and takes your choice..

[dklawson]

Terry... 40+ MPG... in U.S. gallons? I think I'm going to be sick. I know I'm turning green with envy!

[partsguy1]

Doug, that is Imperial Gallons. Of course brand new carbs help to achieve those kind of numbers. On the way to MMW08 I averaged 42 MPG at 65 to 70 MPH. 3200 Miles round trip.
Terry

[SolarB]

I'd have a good lok at Megajolt before making any decision.