The 'E' Type Forum

Richard's S1 4.2 FHC has the 123 electronic ignition system installed that has suppressed leads and caps instead of the Champion "bow-ties" that would have originally come with it. He's planning on upgrading the 3.8 FHC in a similar way, I was wondering if there's any way of retaining the Champion plug caps for the originality factor? Can the internals be modified?

Modern Champion 'Bow Ties' are suppressed. Also you don't necessarily need suppressed cables and plug caps - one or other will do. The only thing I have found that is affected by unsuppressed plug caps/leads is the EDIS/Megajolt system and possibly, though never confirmed, SatNav and mobile phones. Radio's are a different matter of course!

Speaking from memory David as I don't have the car to hand! I think it's just the leads anyway

Heuer wrote:Modern Champion 'Bow Ties' are suppressed. Also you don't necessarily need suppressed cables and plug caps - one or other will do. The only thing I have found that is affected by unsuppressed plug caps/leads is the EDIS/Megajolt system and possibly, though never confirmed, SatNav and mobile phones. Radio's are a different matter of course!

So, just to clarify a few things, Could you buy a set of original bow ties (which I'm assuming to be unsuppressed) and use them with the suppressed leads? Am I right in saying suppressed plugs and leads would indeed work, but would just be unnecessary ?

All the white badge Bakelite bow ties are suppressed. There's a small slug of carbon between the base of the HT lead screw and the plug top clip.

Pete

I think the only real issue is making the connections successfully and reliably, either between copper leads and a plugin style distributor cap, or between suppressed leads and Champion caps. Anyone got any ideas?

The Champion 'Bow Tie' WCX 600 plug caps have a screw thread which bites into the centre conductor - easy and reliable: http://tinyurl.com/ndbp4hv

The leads deteriorate after time anyway so simply buy a set of un-suppresed copper leads (or an appropriate total length) and a set of dizzy connectors: http://tinyurl.com/q72uq6r and http://tinyurl.com/q72uq6r and http://tinyurl.com/opzkxar (if you need them. All available from the Green Spark Company.

Heuer wrote:Modern Champion 'Bow Ties' are suppressed. Also you don't necessarily need suppressed cables and plug caps - one or other will do. The only thing I have found that is affected by unsuppressed plug caps/leads is the EDIS/Megajolt system and possibly, though never confirmed, SatNav and mobile phones. Radio's are a different matter of course!

FWIW Ray Livingston recommended I use suppressed wires with the Champion plug caps -- I reproduced the original plug loom for use with his EDIS system. Not sure they are required, but I can confirm that they work just fine with the EDIS/Megajolt system.

Jerry

Hi,

I have the 123/TUNE together with the Rob Beere High Performance Ignition Lead And Separator Kit.

Works great. Also installed NGK's BPR5ES to make the list complete.

Regards,
Richard van den Brand

SEJohnson95 wrote:Richard's S1 4.2 FHC has the 123 electronic ignition system installed that has suppressed leads and caps instead of the Champion "bow-ties" that would have originally come with it. He's planning on upgrading the 3.8 FHC in a similar way, I was wondering if there's any way of retaining the Champion plug caps for the originality factor? Can the internals be modified?

Have just come across this HT lead separator on Ebay - comes apart to fit the leads. Looks like a good alternative to Rob Breere's one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231266296365? ... 1423.l2649

Anyone know anything about it?

?75?!

I made my own separator strip for free. Cut a strip of hardwood off a scrap plank I had lying around, drilled 6 holes in it to suit the HT lead diameter, bent a couple of offcut strips of thin stainless into brackets to fit on the cam cover bolts, screwed the wood to the brackets, bit of yacht varnish - works fine, looks fine.