wufibug Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 My Magnavox unit failed and I decided to replace it with the separate coil packs. This required changing the ignition control module to one that accepts the separate coils, but also takes the Magnavox style single connector. The Magnavox sealed case has 3 screws built into it that fit the Reatta module mount. The new module did not come with screws. Has anyone mounted one of these separate coil modules that uses the Magnavox plug and if so how did you do it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 The Delco style ignition is a three layer design. The top side is the coils, the middle is the ICM and the bottom is a mounting plate that bolts to the engine casting with three studs that are separate parts. As a matter of fact, the coils do not bolt onto the ICM. The six screws extend through the ICM into the base plate with the ICM sandwiched in between. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 A poor mockup photo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wufibug Posted March 15 Author Share Posted March 15 I'm going to have to look more closely at the Delco style module I got and my old Magnavox to see if I can use the Magnavox base together with the new Module. The new module, as below, did not come with a baseplate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogold99 Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Maybe this link will help: Reatta Owners Journal - Replacing a Magnavox Ignition with a Later Delco Unit 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 8 hours ago, wufibug said: I'm going to have to look more closely at the Delco style module I got and my old Magnavox to see if I can use the Magnavox base together with the new Module. The new module, as below, did not come with a baseplate. If you mean using the Magnavox ICM AS the baseplate, I don't believe that will work. The spacing of the fasteners for the coils is in the wrong place to mate up to the Magnavox coilpack screws. I do believe it would be very doable to make your own baseplate with a piece of 1/4" aluminum barstock about 3 1/2" x 5 1/2". Drill and tap for studs out the bottom and tap on top for the six coil mount screws. The thread doesn't matter as long as you have mating screws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 I think a trip to the junkyard to pickup a baseplate would be the easiest way to solve the problem. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wufibug Posted March 30 Author Share Posted March 30 If I make an aluminum baseplate can I mount the Delco style module directly on it? Are there heat issues such that leaving some open space under the module is advisable? Should I lather some dielectric grease between the baseplate and the module? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 5 hours ago, wufibug said: If I make an aluminum baseplate can I mount the Delco style module directly on it? Are there heat issues such that leaving some open space under the module is advisable? Should I lather some dielectric grease between the baseplate and the module? The factory baseplate is a solid piece, no reliefs or vents for airflow. To grease or not to grease gets bandied about and I do not know if it is good or bad. I do know, I have never seen a recommendation to add grease in the FSM or found an original in the parts yard that was greased? When I have my turbo engine installed, I relocate the ignition assembly by rotating it 90* for harness clearance to the exhaust piping. To do so, I made a plate that supports the ICM which extends out beyond the factory mount, but sideways, to provide the ICM studs something to connect to. This is the Magnavox style, but it has operated in that configuration for going on two decades. Oh, and no grease used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee H Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 6 hours ago, wufibug said: Are there heat issues such that leaving some open space under the module is advisable? Speaking generally, heat is the enemy of any electronic component, and that module is switching quite a few amps. I worked for many years as a quality engineer for a company that specialized in thermally conductive adhesives and greases, and in my opinion, the longevity of your application could not help but be improved by improving heat transfer. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 (edited) 7 hours ago, Lee H said: Speaking generally, heat is the enemy of any electronic component, and that module is switching quite a few amps. I worked for many years as a quality engineer for a company that specialized in thermally conductive adhesives and greases, and in my opinion, the longevity of your application could not help but be improved by improving heat transfer. I agree completely about the need to heat sink most electronic components. This is one of those things that is an open question in my mind: Is the mounting bracket on the engine, warmer or cooler than the ICM itself? I have never done so, but always intended to measure the temperatures of the components to see what's what. 🙃 Edited March 30 by 2seater (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee H Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 Unless there is a heat sink built into the module, I think you’ll find it runs hotter than engine temperature (May depend on RPM/load, so testing at idle may not be valid). 125C (257F) is a pretty typical temp for the life testing of components like this, and that is higher than typical engine temperature. And you are typically OK below that rated temp, although cooler is always better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wufibug Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 The Magnavox case had a bit of heat sink built into the bottom. I am trying to use that base after having removed all the internals and cut down the sides to about 1/4". That 1/4" between the bottom the case and the sides where the Delco style module would sit would provide some cooling. The Magnavox case itself would be mounted to the baseplate as before albeit using shorter screws. I could either support the module on the rails of the Magnavox case and bolt thru to the bottom of the case using spacers which would have the advantage of having that cooling space below the module or fabricate a thin aluminum "cover" for the Magnavox base and mount the module to that with a layer of dielectric grease in between. Not sure which is preferable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 You are in uncharted territory but I admire the creativity🙃 Is there enough material to run bolts through the coils, into the baseplate and sandwich the ICM in between? Actually I am not sure the method of clamping everything together really matters as long as it is solid mechanically and electrically. As far as I know, both greased and non-greased has been used successfully. Any question of longevity is probably hard to answer since the time spans are long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wufibug Posted April 7 Author Share Posted April 7 The Magnavox coil pack wiring scheme is: Top 6 - 3 5 - 2 4 - 1 Harness connector end Not sure how this translates to the Delco vertical arrangement. I'm guessing it would be: Top 6 3 5 2 4 1 Harness end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wufibug Posted April 7 Author Share Posted April 7 I just found this which suggest my assumption is upside down: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 Nope, your first diagram is correct as long as the harness connection is at the bottom relative to the diagram. It does not matter which terminal is connected to each coil as long as they are paired on the correct coil. They both fire at the same time as one complete circuit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 The diagram above is arranged as a RWD would be installed as well as no reference to wiring connection 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 6 hours ago, 2seater said: They both fire at the same time as one complete circuit They call it a "wasted spark" system. It wears out your spark plugs twice as fast! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted April 9 Share Posted April 9 3 minutes ago, EmTee said: They call it a "wasted spark" system. It wears out your spark plugs twice as fast! Yup, and they fire with reverse polarity to each other🤔 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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