1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Should I convert to Direct Fire Ignition?

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Old 03-13-14, 02:37 PM
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Should I convert to Direct Fire Ignition?

While searching for spark plugs, I've seen a few people running direct fire on the leading plugs.

This is how my car was set up when i bought it. Its running 2 6AL's and 2 msd blasters but still using the dizzy on L and T.


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Would there be any benefit in changing to direct fire and run NGK's Leading bur7eq trailnig br8eq14?

Or should I just leave it as is, and run br8eq14 all around.

If i do decide to convert, what other parts am I missing?

Thanks
Old 03-14-14, 08:36 AM
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Wow! I have to wonder how much those MSDs are really helping out. To do that and NOT do a
DFIS seems like a waste of resources. DFIS would definitely help some on the leading.
Old 03-14-14, 09:32 AM
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Lets see If I understand this correctly. The 2 msd's are taking the place of the igniters? So all I would need now, is to add another coil. 1 to the dizzy "T" and the other 2 coils go to the leading plugs? I would also need a pair of 2nd gen wires?
Old 03-14-14, 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by luiml73
Lets see If I understand this correctly. The 2 msd's are taking the place of the igniters? So all I would need now, is to add another coil. 1 to the dizzy "T" and the other 2 coils go to the leading plugs? I would also need a pair of 2nd gen wires?
Basically yes.
Old 03-14-14, 11:35 AM
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You don't need 2nd gen wires. Where will the two leading coild be mounted? If close enough to the engine, the current wires can be reused.

And you can leave trailing exactly as it is but move the wires to the leading part of the cap. It'll make sense once you get started.
Old 03-14-14, 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Jeff20B
You don't need 2nd gen wires. Where will the two leading coild be mounted? If close enough to the engine, the current wires can be reused.

And you can leave trailing exactly as it is but move the wires to the leading part of the cap. It'll make sense once you get started.
Thanks for the help guys. So when I install the 3rd Accel coil, can I just jump power for it from one of the other coils?
Old 03-25-14, 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by luiml73
Thanks for the help guys. So when I install the 3rd Accel coil, can I just jump power for it from one of the other coils?
yes to do the DFIS if I remeber reading it correctly and I am sure Jeff will correct me if I am wrong take the neg off rhe first leading coil and run it to the second positive terminal and then the neg. terminal off the second leading coil to ground I have been told they run better that way... something about waste spark and all. I run mine off 2 J-109 ignitors I beleave is what they are called and i run each coil direct from each ignitor. with having 2 MSD's might want to look into running each coil off one MSD but that might be a waste of MSD power also not sure...
Old 03-26-14, 09:23 AM
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Originally Posted by luiml73
While searching for spark plugs, I've seen a few people running direct fire on the leading plugs.

This is how my car was set up when i bought it. Its running 2 6AL's and 2 msd blasters but still using the dizzy on L and T.


free screenshot


screen capture windows


print screen windows

Would there be any benefit in changing to direct fire and run NGK's Leading bur7eq trailnig br8eq14?

Or should I just leave it as is, and run br8eq14 all around.

If i do decide to convert, what other parts am I missing?

Thanks
I would surely do the dfi. You have all the parts you need basically. Go buy another coil, you can get one right at autozone. While at autozone they sell individual "universal" plug wires. Buy 2 of them for like 10$ and you're good to go. Or if you want to spend more money just buy some accel or other brand of wire sets they have on the shelf and cut your own plug wires. I bought the universal v8 kit because that's all they had. So I have a bunch of wires,ends,and boots left.
Here's the page I used to lead the way of the dfi conversion. It's actually very simple to wire.
http://www.smbaker.com/sand-rail/mazda-rotary-conversion/msd-6a-direct-fire-ignition-for-mazda-rx-7-rotary-engine


Originally Posted by Dave.Martin2008
yes to do the DFIS if I remeber reading it correctly and I am sure Jeff will correct me if I am wrong take the neg off rhe first leading coil and run it to the second positive terminal and then the neg. terminal off the second leading coil to ground I have been told they run better that way... something about waste spark and all. I run mine off 2 J-109 ignitors I beleave is what they are called and i run each coil direct from each ignitor. with having 2 MSD's might want to look into running each coil off one MSD but that might be a waste of MSD power also not sure...
I posted a question about this but had no reply. My coils jump positive to positive and negative to negative. I assumed that was correct from what I've read. Is there any benefit from wiring them the other way?
Old 03-26-14, 09:46 AM
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FWIW I've read that running 2 coils off a single MSD does cut the power to them slightly, however I've been doing it that way for 3 years and have not had any issues.
Old 03-26-14, 10:12 AM
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I posted a question about this but had no reply. My coils jump positive to positive and negative to negative. I assumed that was correct from what I've read. Is there any benefit from wiring them the other way?
as far as I have read you get a better charge running them in series instead of parallel. I have mine pos to pos and neg to neg right now also. This is something I have come across recently.
Old 03-26-14, 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by TheRX7Project
FWIW I've read that running 2 coils off a single MSD does cut the power to them slightly, however I've been doing it that way for 3 years and have not had any issues.
Just think of an MSD as a fancy ignitor. Using a single one will be less effective than
using one per coil for the leading. How much less? May be negligible.
Old 03-26-14, 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Dave.Martin2008
as far as I have read you get a better charge running them in series instead of parallel. I have mine pos to pos and neg to neg right now also. This is something I have come across recently.
So msd orange to first coil positive,msd black to first coil negative. Jumper wire from first coil negative to second coils positive and second coil negative to ground. I will have to try this out when I get home. Make sense there would be more power ran in series. If it works like batteries in series it should technically double the voltage right?
Old 03-26-14, 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by black82gsl
So msd orange to first coil positive msd black to first coil negative. Jumper wire from first coil negative to second coils positive and second coil negative to ground. I will have to try this out when I get home. Make sense there would be more power ran in series. If it works like batteries in series it should technically double the voltage right?
No orange to pos first coil neg to neg on second coil. From MSD then jumper wire from first coil neg to pos on second coil.
The way you typed it you would not power the second coil at all. But you also had it right in thought of batteries. Not sure that it doubles but you end up using what piston engines call waste spark.
Old 03-26-14, 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Dave.Martin2008
No orange to pos first coil neg to neg on second coil. From MSD then jumper wire from first coil neg to pos on second coil.
The way you typed it you would not power the second coil at all. But you also had it right in thought of batteries. Not sure that it doubles but you end up using what piston engines call waste spark.
Oh ok. Duh. I don't know what I was thinking. Same way I had to wire my trolling motor on my boat. So does this make a difference over parallel?

Sorry don't mean to hi jack a thread here!
Old 03-26-14, 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by t_g_farrell
Just think of an MSD as a fancy ignitor. Using a single one will be less effective than using one per coil for the leading. How much less? May be negligible.
I called MSD to ask about that. Was told that it would not cause undue wear/harm to the msd box, but that each coil would get only 1/2 the voltage. I run MSD into a 2nd gen coil for mine.
Old 03-26-14, 05:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Cookboy
I run MSD into a 2nd gen coil for mine.
Me too.
Old 03-27-14, 08:24 AM
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Originally Posted by black82gsl
Oh ok. Duh. I don't know what I was thinking. Same way I had to wire my trolling motor on my boat. So does this make a difference over parallel?

Sorry don't mean to hi jack a thread here!
I'm running mine parallel, pos to pos, neg to neg as if they are one coil off the MSD. Seems to be fine.
Old 03-27-14, 09:14 AM
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That's how I had mine. Now I have it in series. Don't know if it really made a differance or not?
Old 04-02-14, 09:01 AM
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Here's a question for you guys. What do I need to do, to eliminate the 6al's all together? They make a lot of noise in the cabin and take up too much space. Plus, it looks horrible.

Switch to a newer distributor with igniters?
Old 04-02-14, 09:24 AM
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Go HEI instead. See the TFIDFIS link in my sig.
Old 04-02-14, 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by t_g_farrell
Go HEI instead. See the TFIDFIS link in my sig.
So I eliminate the both the yellow Accels and msds with this setup, but still need a FB distributor?
Old 04-02-14, 01:55 PM
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The hei ignitors replace the msd boxes.
See the thread mentioned above.
Old 04-02-14, 02:53 PM
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My question really is, can I still use my Yellow Accel Coils? Or do I need to replace them with Ford coils you guys are using?
Old 04-02-14, 03:12 PM
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The accels will be fine. T. Farrell used the TFI's because he was in a junkyard and they suited his whim, near as I can figure. You can use his thread to wire the HEI ignitors to your coils and it should work just as well.
The debate over which coil is best is an exercise I choose not to pursue. I'd rather drive.
Old 04-03-14, 08:00 AM
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Is the only reason for using the HEI over the J109's is price and availability? My buddy says he has around 50 of those109's in his shed.


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