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Ignition upgrade?

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3.6K views 9 replies 8 participants last post by  bradsescort  
#1 ·
What are the advantages to an ignition upgrade? What exactly does this do? I assume it adds more horsepower and maybe some better mialage? Any topics on this? I have a 97 escort so if anyone has done an upgrade on caps, plugs, injectors, etc. let me know what you upgraded with and how it helped you escort.
 
#3 ·
Actually you don't have a distributer cap, you have a box that, between the computer and the crankshaft position sensor, tells the integrated coil when to shoot.

For maximam power and efficiency, you want to burn as much as your fuel entering the cylinder as possible each stroke. Having a larger spark plug gap helps you acheive this. However, the stock ignition coil can only give you so big of a gap before the spark says, "f--- that, I aint jumping that far!"

MSD and Accell both make more powerful coils (4 bolts, 5 or 6 wiring harnesses including plug wires = very easy install), and many companies sell plugs and wires. Wires with more insulation prevent the spark from jumping through to the block, and also reduce radio static (mostly AM). Wires with less resistance allow more energy to be transfered to the plug.

Plugs with multiple nodes are bogus, because the spark will always take the path of least resistance (shortest). The advantage I see in them is that when one node become worn away, the other takes over, giving you longer plug life. Many people will argue about the material of the conductor. Some last longer, some perform better, someone else will have to help you with the particulars of that. I recommend cheap ones, just because they are so easy to get to in an Escort, but remember to gap them!

I definitly noticed a small gain in proformance with an Accell coil and new cheap plugs, gapped at .065mm, I think, maybe bigger. Holy hell, what a comma splice!

I think the general consensus is that your injectors are fine unless your turbo'ing, or spinning the piss out of your engine. There was some debate a while ago about replacing the 2.0l SPI's injector with the 1.9L's, but I beleive that was debunked.

If your looking for proformance, the responses you'll get (besides "USE THE F'ING SEARCH BUTTON"), are cold-air intake. I think people have had good luck modding ones for some Honda's. The mass air flow sensor or MAF out of a mazda RX7 allows more air to enter the engine with less restriction as does the throttle body off of any Ford 3.8l V6. Also the old 1st gen 1.9l HO (the old old one, not the 91-96 CVH) exhaust manifold makes for a less restricted exhaust. And while your at Joe Shmoe's muffler shop, get a high flow cat and muffler with 2 1/2" pipes.

If you're not ready to reroute your throttle cable with a new throttle body, there are some folks on the forum adding a switch onto the brown wire on the secondaries of the SPI's throttle body to get them to open on command, rather than at, like, 2500, I think.

Also some folks have done the POTS mod. This involves adding a 100 ohm potentiometer to the white wire on your intake air temperature sensor to comfuse it into dumping more fuel. This has had mixed results, and even check-engine lights.

A smaller pulley on your crankshaft, called an underdrive pulley because it turns your accessories like AC, power steering, and alternator slower, allows more power to be directed to your wheels. Check EscortFocusRacing.com for more info.

If you have and auto, you might want to look into transmission contollers, which lock the torque converter for more power and efficiencym; or a shift improver, which forces the transmission to shift faster, and spend less time in between gears. If you ever need to rebuild your trans, you can use some internals from a '96 model TX (preferably) or TJ transmission for higher gear ratios, higher top speed (with regulator disabled), and better mileage

If you have a standard, a lightweight aluminum flywheel will help acceleration, and a clutch will aid in transferring the power to the wheels. I believe the trans from the ZX2 coupe models offers a more aggressive gear set, and I think it bolts up with a combination of parts from both cars. Many people also uses the Protege's shifter for a shorter throw.

The sway bar out of the wagons ins larger and siffer that that of the sedan's. This will reduce body roll and increase handling, as will polyester bushings and a strut bar. I'm pretty sure that the suspensions in 2nd gen GT's, LX's, 3rd gen sedans and ZX2's are interchangable. If this is the case, I recommend a swap from a ZX2 S/R (look for the yellow one in the junk yard) I think Eibach and Tokiko both make comprable coil/spring combos.

Your wheel pattern is 4x100, meaning wheels from almost any import will fit right on with spacers. If you see it on a 4-lug Civic, it could be on your 'Scort. People have put wheels up to 18" in diameter on their cars, but I think 16" is as high as I would go.

When you've squeezed all you can out of your 2.0l, consider a swap: 1.8l from 91-96 GT's are a Mazda engine and have a dual overhead cam and are traditionally the choice for turbo projects. Remember that if you want to keep your OBDII diagnostic sytem, that you should use the 96 model. You can also swap the rear disk brake setup off of the GT or the ZX2. FlyingMiata.com offers a stroker kit to increase the displacement to 2.0l, and the similar GTX (Japan and Australia only) is designed for turbo. Check Corksport.com for more info. The 1.9l CVH's are the predacessor to you engine. I have heard that a 1.9l with a 2.0l head is a good, low-compression choice for boost, but I don't think trading 88HP for 110HP is a wise move. Next, the 2.0l Zetec DOHC out of the ZX2's is about 140HP and has the Focus's supercharger being reverse engineered for it by someone on the internet.

Remember, you can add options from better equiped vehicles, like cruise control, an internal trunk release, and fog lights. Ebay.com fequently has clear-cornered head lights (check you local laws). I think AndysAutoSports.com has the best selection of body kits. Most of them are modified Mercury Tracer front bumpers. Ebay.com also has a variety of mirrors for the Mazda Protege, which, with a drill, will fit. Or you can paint the ones you have. If you want a stock wing you'll need to find a Sport or Trio model, but I suggest bringing your tape measure to the junkyard.

And if you want better noise maker, you have to pop that dash pimple Ford calls a headunit. Adapter plates are available in many locations online. I recommend building you own sub enclosures to fit behind the wheel wells, that way you can still haul long cargo with the seats down.

Oh my, this got long. Well, if there's anything else, let us know. I hope I could help.
 
#4 ·
A lot of peeps on other model and interest specific auto forums talk trash on the accel wires, say they keep going bad. It was said that if you buy a set of them it's an even chance that one wire is iffy out of the box. So dunno if they had a bad patch or whether they're still like that.
 
#7 ·
you may "feel" more power but it wont add more power, it will give better combustion aka better fuel mileage, improved throttle response and possibly a smoother idle

upgrading isnt a bad idea but its one of those mods you could leave to the end, ie if your going to do small mods like this invest the money into intake, short throw maybe advance your timing then do this

but yes a improved ignition does feel better
 
#8 ·
I was reading last night on some MPG forums and about high mpg plugs and mods, and there seemed to be some consensus that the Ford EDIS was pretty good, and didn't need an upgrade to cope with plug mods. So, I'd say the best bang for buck would just be a good wire set if you've got the ford coilpack in there. If you've got some aftermarket basic replacement, then you might feel more diff with the medium priced performance coilpacks. Seemed like you've have to go high spendy to see any useful improvement over the ford unit.

Thing is, most people get a coilpack and wires together, so say there's a useful improvement. It might all just be in the wires. However, I think the ford unit might not be the best for higher RPM, so if you're revving over the stock 6K redline, then hi-spendy coilpacks might be what you need. Close to 8k, the ford coilpack might miss, high performance coilpacks might get you 2 discharges up there still.
 
#9 ·
is that rx7 MAF 3" both ends or is it the 2"1/2 on one end and 3 on the other like the escort? I have a cool air using stock MAF and it would be nice if it were just a direct replacement rather than having to replace all of my piping to 3" pipes. My filter is right where the old one used to be but I'm thinking about moving it entirely away from the engine bay and down near the ground. I haven't looked closely yet but can I remove the big piece of metal just below where the resonator used to be or do I have to cut right through that in order to get the piping down out of the engine bay?