Convert First Gen Mark to Coil ON Plugs

HOTLNC

HOTLNC

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If a guy with a spare set of coils were to change the ignition module and the plug harness could that guy convert his first generation ignition wired motor to a more modern coil on plug configuration?
 
So each coil "pair" is ran in series. Interesting. That would make the #1 and the #6 plug fire at the same time. Cheap and dirty conversion. Thanks.
 
Thats how ALL Marks work, two plugs always fire at once. Its part of the emission system, apparently is to ignite any leftovers.

I converted mine to COP long ago. Its easy to do, but you need COP valve covers, regular cover will not work - no room to house the COP head.
 
unity said:
Thats how ALL Marks work, two plugs always fire at once. Its part of the emission system, apparently is to ignite any leftovers.
Click to expand...

Thats how ALL CARS work, not just the Marks. It has nothing to do with "igniting the leftovers" because its two different cylinders.

Every car fires 2 cylinders at once, also known as "companion cylinders". On V6/V8(etc) the companion cylinder is on the opposite bank(or side). If the engine did not have a companion cylinder setup, it would vibrate like hell. Two cylinders firing at the exact same time on opposite sides of the engine/crank creates double the power(in theory) and keeps the engine running smooth. Imagine trying to pedal your bike with on crank arm longer than the other...not going to go over very well.

Ever wonder why the NON CoP Marks have 2 spark plug wires that run close to the coil and 2 SUPER long ones that run all the way over to the other side of the engine? Thats because those cylinders on that single coil are the companion cylinders. #1/8, 4/7, 2/6, 3/5 or something, hah.

You could check the local parts store and purchase some boots for the 5.4 Triton engine, or possible some of the other ford models(Contour/Escort) that have longer boots so the CoP's will sit higher on the engine, but you'd have to figure out a way to mount them.
 
Well for one, my 73 DID not have a companion spark plug setup. That i know for sure - besides, with a distributor and a single rotator its nor physically possible to fire two at once. So not ALL cars :p

Also, two cylinders do NOT detonate at the same time, its one at a time, but yes two spark plugs fire. One piston fires at a time, there are not two firing to create more power.

Its called a wasted spark system. I thought I read it was to burn off extra crap leftover, guess not! :)

"A wasted spark ignition system in a piston engine fires cylinders in pairs, whether or not it is the ignition phase of the cycle. The extra spark has very little effect and is thus "wasted". This design is simpler than a conventional one, but the extra sparks reduce the lifespan of components."
 
Unity....sorry I was talking about EDIS systems :D

The "wasted spark" system is something completely different, and not on all cars, mainly on 4 cylinder vehicles.


EDIS systems.......
"On all engines the complementary coils are connected to the cylinders that are 180 degrees apart in the firing order.

Example: Ford firing order for HO 5.0L and 351 engines is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. You would connect cylinders 1 and 6 to the same coil, 3 and 5, 7 and 4, and 2 and 8. Follow the same approach on 6 and 4 cylinder engines. "


Check out this product....you're OWN chip/programmer?!

http://megasquirt.sourceforge.net/extra/index.html
 
J, two spark plugs fire but only one ignites the mix and causes the piston to push down. Thats what I am getting at.

http://www.dainst.com/info/edis/edis.html

"Ford EDIS technical information ... This system is completely standalone and will properly ignite 4, 6, and 8 cylinder engines using the wasted spark method."

Take that! :p LOL
 
Lol, thats the link that I got my info from. I don't know....maybe you're right, but when a coil fails....it fails on two cylinders. I understood it as both fired(same as your theory) but if the companion cylinder isn't firing(or detonating), the engines harmonics(or perpetual motion) would be out of balance, cause huge vibrations.
 
Well yes, two spark plugs fire - like I said before mister :p BUT, only one is detonating a mixture, the other spark occurs at the companion during exhaust.

I know where you getting about the imbalance, but thats not the case - however, that is the case with a 4 cylinder and hence the reason you see no (or none that I know of) V4s - just "flat" fours.

In a V6 and V8 there less time between the firing of each piston and in the case of a V design, there is one firing just a very short time on the opposite side - usually. As you know, there is always 2 that are on the same bank firing right after each other....
 
I may live in the dairy-land, but even on my worse days only people in Michigan complain about my smell - there is NO way you can smell me all the way in Cali! :p
 
Wind would be blowing in the wrong direction to get to you J, but this does explain that smell that we have out here in CT. I just always figured it was just NJ! LOL
 
This is an interesting thread. I never heard of this "companion" deal. I always thought that one cylinder fired at a time and that the sequence was so fast from left to right bank and so forth that that is why the engine runs smooth.
 
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