Interference can be thought of as stray voltage leaking from the wire. Some may argue that since electricity takes the path of least resistance, thicker insulation is required to keep the electrons flowing to the spark plugs on high-cylinder-pressure applications, and that's true. But don't look for any gain on your 350hp ride by switching to a wire with a thicker insulation unless the conductor resistance is substantially less.
The Best RateAlmost every enthusiast leaves a good deal of performance on the table by not paying attention to the rate of ignition advance. The rate at which the advance comes in is just as important as the total and is crucial on engines operating under transient conditions, such as a street/strip car. The best place to start this task is to have a shop with a distributor machine set up a basic curve and then do your fine tuning at the track or on a chassis dyno. Most major ignition companies offer spring, weight, and adjustable vacuum-advance canisters for most American-produced engines.
Do not forget to also check the distributor bushing for wear along with the distributor gear. The bushing is best checked on a scope or a distributor machine, but it can be diagnosed by grabbing the rotor and trying to move the distributor shaft side to side. Any movement will alter the point-open (or ignition-model on) time and create a different amount of ignition timing on each bore. Many engines are detuned to eliminate detonation that is only occurring on a few bores due to a worn distributor bushing.
Magic BoxesThere are many companies that manufacture ignition boxes or amplifiers, more commonly known as capacitive discharge (CD) ignitions. Most if not all CD systems offer a higher coil output since they convert ignition from inductance to capacitance. In addition, they usually offer multiple ionizations (firings) of the spark plug below 3,000 rpm. Since electricity is passive, an ignition system will use only what is required to get the job done. At idle the task is very easy, but as engine speed and cylinder pressure increase, the ignition system becomes strained. Simply put, if the cylinder pressure your engine creates is within the capability of the stock ignition, no power will be found with a CD box. If not, then the longer burn time and higher current (amperage) flow will really wake up your ride. A side benefit of the multistrike function is it masks fuel-distribution problems at low speeds for a better idle and helps keep the spark plugs clean when used with a cam ground with excessive overlap.
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IDA Automotive Inc.
600 Texas Road
Morganville
Ne
07751
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