Next up on Jeremy's endless parade of "gotta upgrade that too" turbo build is ignition. It's a VVT motor going in a 1993 chassis with a MS3 computer. Due to the oil feed lines on the back of the head, I can't use the original 1993 coil pack and the donor didn't come with anything.
So it looks like Fab9 tuning sells a kit and Good-Win Racing sells another. Wiring isn't my strong suit so more straightforward is generally better. I'll be setting it up for about 12 psi so nothing crazy needed for big spark.
miataturbo.net is filled with horror stories about customer experience at Fab9, so I would probably steer clear of that. GWR generally sells quality stuff, although I haven't used their ignition kit.
I have the kit that Flyin' Miata sells to mount LS3 coils on the back of the head, I think to use it with VVT you swap out the hard line for a flex one. I've been pretty pleased with those coils.
In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
Thanks. I was really wanting to avoid modifying the oil lines.
Ah, it's not a difficult mod.
I'd focus on the plugs first myself. Easiest COP setup for a VVT head was implemented by Mazda.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Can you expand on that a bit please?
I'm an electrical novice and the wiring for Toyota COPs was a cakewalk. I haven't seen that it's neccessary unless you're running BIG boost. I honestly did it as a a reliability measure. Toyota COPs are $10/each and easy to find at any junkyard, as opposite to the OEM coilpacks that are $150/ea and a relative PITA to swap
KyAllroad (Jeremy) (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Can you expand on that a bit please?
The VVT Miatas came from the factory with COP. And they seem to be reliable, unlike the 1999-00 units. They're also cake to swap - one bolt and pull.
About the Toyota coils, IIRC someone (Randy S?) tested them and found they were no stronger than stock. It's not difficult wiring, it's just maybe not necessary. A set of resistorless race plugs will have a bigger effect.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
I didn't know that. The motor I bought didn't come with any ignition parts on it. And without having seen this setup before it's a bit like building a jigsaw puzzle without the picture on the box to suggest where things go. (Lot of things like that actually, hoses and such)
So does FM sell the part I need? Link?
Keith Tanner said:
KyAllroad (Jeremy) (Forum Supporter) said:
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Can you expand on that a bit please?
The VVT Miatas came from the factory with COP. And they seem to be reliable, unlike the 1999-00 units. They're also cake to swap - one bolt and pull.
About the Toyota coils, IIRC someone (Randy S?) tested them and found they were no stronger than stock. It's not difficult wiring, it's just maybe not necessary. A set of resistorless race plugs will have a bigger effect.
I've always thought it was stretching things a bit to call the NB2 VVT ignition system "COP". It's still 2 coil, waste spark, it's just that the 2 coils are mounted in between the cams on the head rather than in a bracket at the back.
My understanding is that the Toyota COPs do not fit very well on the VVT valve cover because it has extra bumps in it (for mounting stock coils) compared to the 94-00 valve covers.
If you can get a stock VVT setup cheap that's certainly the easy option. If the price starts to approach that of the various LS-based coil setups out there then I'd say skip the intermediate step and go straight to the good stuff.
True, it's 50% COP. Two coils are mounted on the plugs with a lead for a second plug. So still waste spark which means a shorter recharge time if that's a limiting factor.
FM does not sell the stock VVT ignition setup. We do sell an LS coil swap kit.
There is definitely a difference in the depth of the plug wells on the COP valve covers (MSM and VVT). Some grinding could fix that.
Remind me during the work week and I'll see if I can come up with an exploded diagram of the VVT engine's externals.
