LS1 Coil Setup - RUNNING!

[protosy]

After a few years away from the Sy/Ty scene, I finally got around to putting together my LS1 coil setup.

Parts that I am using
1/ eDist and universal harness pn: 30-5001 ~$300.00
2/ Crane Optical Trigger pn 700-0020 ~$30.00
3/ MSD Adapter harness pn 8876 ~30
4/ 6 LS1 coils with factory brackets ~$150.00
5/ 4.7k ohm resister ~$2.00

I am into to for about $510 bucks incl the shipping on the parts. (I made up coil brackets that allowed the use of std LS1 wires, saving some bucks).

The optical trigger is mounted into the stock distributor cap where the terminal for cyl 1 was and the "shutter" is the existing rotor. When the rotor passes between the trigger it causes the voltage to go high on the white wire. I am using a stock type distributor for the crank signal to the ECU which in turn provides the est line to the edist.

The MSD adapter harness allows me to plug into the stock lines without cutting them to get the tac signal and est. The only wire that is left hanging with no connector on it is the LOW REF line (D2 on edist); this wire i simply put a ring terminal on and put it on the bolt that holds the ICM to the distributor.

I have the edist configured as follows:
dip switches: 1,3,5,6,8 off; 2, 4, 7 on

Tonight, I finally started the truck up with it; and it WORKS! Runs perfectly.

EDIT:
I left off the requirement of the 4.7k ohm resistor. This goes between switched 12 and the EST line. I originally had the truck setup with dip 7 off and no resistor. This caused the timing to advance when the computer was commanding less advance. Setting dip 7 on and adding the resistor set everything exactly how it should be.

EDIT:
I did a quick visio of the wiring diagram, and uploaded the JPEG of it here: click here for diagram

Having done this now, I am 100% confident that this could be turned into a repeatable project/kit leaving little to no fabrication; and be affordable.

Cam sync mockup:


drivers side coils:


cap with no wires


Comments welcome. (on the idea, not the crappy photography )

[93 TY 2185]

Sweet!

Welcome back.

[leroy]

Should work fine.

JIm

[Syborg Twin Turbo]

he is alive - We are going to have to do dinner at the Dream Cruise

[HotRodV6]

Nice write up, i may look into doing this in the future. Do you think there are any performance advantages??

[sean]

Originally Posted by protosy

After a few years away from the Sy/Ty scene, I finally got around to putting together my LS1 coil setup.

Parts that I am using
1/ eDist and universal harness ~$300.00
2/ Crane Optical Trigger pn 700-0020 ~$30.00
3/ 6 LS1 coils, obviously ~$150.00
4/ Custom wires ~$60.00
5/ MSD Adapter harness ~40

I am into to for about 600 bucks incl the shipping on the parts.

The optical trigger is mounted into the stock distributor cap where the terminal for cyl 1 was and the "shutter" is the existing rotor. When the rotor passes between the trigger it causes the voltage to go high on the white wire (in other words, rising edge configuration on the edist). I am using a stock type distributor for the crank signal to the ECU which in turn provides the est line to the edist.

The MSD adapter harness allows me to plug into the stock lines without cutting them to get the tac signal and est. The only wire that needed to be spliced into was the wire on the icm (low ref).

I mocked it all up in the truck and tested that the edist was seeing both crank and cam sync and it looks good so far. All that is really left is to wrap up the wiring nice and neat and fab a couple of mounts.

Below are a couple of crappy/blurry pics ot the cam sync mockup




Comments welcome. (on the idea, not the crappy photography )

if you plan on making more and selling it as a plug and play count me in

[canadian]

With this plan, there's no need for a crank trigger then right?

[protosy]

Originally Posted by canadian

With this plan, there's no need for a crank trigger then right?

No need for an additional trigger. The stock dist still provides the crank signal to the ecu which in turn generates the est signal for the edist module.

[canadian]

Your method seems a lot easier. No need for the crank trigger/machined balancer to tell the eDist where #1 is. Did you have to use a stock year dissy, or a newer style?

[jwaller]

could you not use the later 4.3 dist setup or would that not work? just thinking.

[protosy]

Originally Posted by canadian

Your method seems a lot easier. No need for the crank trigger/machined balancer to tell the eDist where #1 is. Did you have to use a stock year dissy, or a newer style?

Yip, just a plain jane stock style dist.

[protosy]

Originally Posted by jwaller

could you not use the later 4.3 dist setup or would that not work? just thinking.

No idea, I have never personally seen one. If it provides a 1 per 720 degrees of crank rotation that does not cross the est signal, I dont see why it wouldnt. EDIT: did a little research, and it appears the new dist does indeed provide a 1 per 720 signal. However, unlink our distributor it does not appear to provide the crank pulse, which on those trucks appears to come from the crank position sensor on the timing chain cover. This is just what my quick search has come up with.

I was just looking for something that was stupid simple "Plug and Play". This solution eliminates the needs for a new dist, cam plug, or flying magnet wheel.

[protosy]

Updated original post - truck is RUNNING!

[HotRodV6]

Got any pics of under the hood with everything mounted?

Also you never answered my original question about how much better this system would be over the stock setup, or an upgraded stock setup, say MSD Dist, Coil and such.

[dgoodhue]

This will elimate the need for narrow gaps and constant changing of plugs/wires. Even a full MSD Igniton Box/Coil with good cap, rotor, splugs & wires require regular maintenance.

I will leave this thread open for a while longer but I will eventually vault this thread as I this is a cost effective way to run LS1 coils.