34 replies to this topic

[mike.]

The ignition system for my engine was something i sort of overlooked when i was deciding on the spec i was going to build to. But now i've got all the bits and just need to build the engine, i need to decide what i'm going to do with the ignition.

I've been set on getting megajolt for a while, read matts megajolt thread, priced up the bits and read about the features and it was pretty much decided.

But i was down at minisport the other day getting some panels, and thought i'd ask about them setting up my mini with megajolt on their rolling road. Minisport were always going to be top of my list for getting my engine set up because its not far from me and obviously they're experianced at setting up minis perfectly.

But as soon as i mentioned megajolt they're faces dropped. They poo pooed the whole idea of it. They said it would take at least half a day to map, maybe more all charged at £55 an hour on the rolling road. They said i'd have to change the map myself and that they'd have to set the fueling, tell me where to adjust the map, then adjust the fuel again and so on, and they'd have to do that all the way through the revs at different loads! They said they'd done one megajolt mini not long ago and said they set up the fueling basically, sent him on his way for him to make his own map (wouldn't have a clue how to do that myslef really) then had to book him in again to get the fueling adjusted to suit the new map.

They basically said i should just stick with the correct aldon dizzy for my engine spec, with the ignitor leccy ignition. They pretty much guranteed i'd get no damp starting issues with it, i'd get a perfect set up, reliability and said they'd be able to set it up fully in just an hour on the rolling road. Then said stick with something thats been proven for years and if its more power i'm after, spend my money on a weber.

I've got to say, they've got a point; and at the time i was pretty much sold on getting an aldon dizzy.

But i've been doing abit of reading on megajolt again today. Been reading about switchable maps, rev limiters, and been looking at the screen shots of the software, and now i'm just stuck with what to do.

So, basically what i need to know, is how do i map my megajolt my self? How do i know where the timing needs advancing/retarding and how can i test it under different loads?!

Does megajolt really need to be set up fully by a pro? I've looked on the autosportlabs forums and found an aldon yellow dizzy map. So that sounds like a possilbe starting point right?

Just need some general advice about mapping really

[sprintmini]

Have a look on here for maps.
http://www.jamesfawc...p...=3&Itemid=3

[sprintmini]

I was thinking of going down the megajolt route but again its the mapping that has put me off.
Think im going to stick with my Aldon Dizzy and electric internals and just do away with the points.
I have had this system on my old GT and it never gave any problems.

[mike.]

Well i've just looked at the spec of the aldon yellow dizzy: 'A non-vacuum distributor, to suit most tuned engines, using camshafts such as Piper 270/285, Kent 266/276 and 286.'

Sounds about right for my engine, and it'll be cheaper than megajolt.

Although, since somebody has put the aldon yellow dizzy timing on a MJ map, that means i could get the same performance as with the aldon, but still have options like rev limiter, shift light, definatly no damp starts or anything. Also once its set, its never going to move right?

Would it simply be a case of uploading that map and away I go or what? Because with an aldon dizzy i'd still have to set the timing after installing it, so is there no similar process with MJ?

[aston19uk]

Well i've just looked at the spec of the aldon yellow dizzy: 'A non-vacuum distributor, to suit most tuned engines, using camshafts such as Piper 270/285, Kent 266/276 and 286.'

Sounds about right for my engine, and it'll be cheaper than megajolt.

Although, since somebody has put the aldon yellow dizzy timing on a MJ map, that means i could get the same performance as with the aldon, but still have options like rev limiter, shift light, definatly no damp starts or anything. Also once its set, its never going to move right?

Would it simply be a case of uploading that map and away I go or what? Because with an aldon dizzy i'd still have to set the timing after installing it, so is there no similar process with MJ?

whats a megaltjolt?

[mike.]

Read this if you don't know what megajolt is: http://www.theminifo...showtopic=51065

[aston19uk]

sounds like a load of hassle for when you could Just go with an aldon dizzy and and electric start up kit and that would b fine. unless you want to waste money. Its not wasted but you could probably spent it on something you need than something that sounds cool when explaining to your mates.

[mike.]

Thing is, the only time my mini has ever broke down or been running poorly, it has always been down to ignition problems. Even though my ignition system was in good shape, things still went wrong.

Megajolt ensures this doesn't happen, and once its set its set and you've got no more worries. Its just the initial setup thats a pain.

I suppose my mates would much rather me chat about megajolt, than chat about why were sat on the hardshoulder in the rain because my minis packed in because i couldn't be bothered with the 'hassle' of megajolt.

[Surfbluegarage]

hi there im going to be using megajolt on my engine which is a 1380 supercharged a+ my question is... as stupid as it sounds right now is that ive just bin on the link provided for the maps, signed up to the website and everything but when i click the download button on the maps it just comes up with a webpage or a picture from paint with around a 100 numbers in rev bands? i thought a MAP for megajolt was upoaded onto the ecu not manually punched in??

[Kerrin]

My 1380 motor has been running Megajolt for about 500 miles now.

I had the same concerns before I bought it but decided on the MJ system mostly because I was interested in doing something different.

If you take the time to wire it all in correctly then it should be reliable, I am not an expert in mini tuning, but logic says you will get exactly the same performance with an aldon yellow dizzy in your motor as you will with a yellow map (as long as it is accurate) in your megajolt.

The benefit with the MJ is that you can improve the map and tailor it to your engine to possibly improve the performance when you find someone who can do it for you.

AC dodd seems to have experiance in mapping MJ and would be my first stop, but its a boat trip and a big drive down for me too. He will also re-curve standard dizzies to suit your engine.

If you fit a yellow dizzy you will fit and forget, but check what coil is needed and bear in mind they come wth points as standard and you pay more for the ignitor kit.

Try h-h-Ignitionsolutions.co.uk as they will do mail order modified performance dizzy kits to suit your engine.

My MJ was cheaper than an Aldon Dizzy in the longrun as I got the Ford bits for free of a mates scrap car. and I would do it all over again.



Edit. My map is the 1380 286 etc map from the MJlabs site it seems fine, but I plan to tune it next time i have the mini in the mainland UK

Edited by Kerrin, 02 July 2009 - 09:34 PM.

[mike.]

hi there im going to be using megajolt on my engine which is a 1380 supercharged a+ my question is... as stupid as it sounds right now is that ive just bin on the link provided for the maps, signed up to the website and everything but when i click the download button on the maps it just comes up with a webpage or a picture from paint with around a 100 numbers in rev bands? i thought a MAP for megajolt was upoaded onto the ecu not manually punched in??

Yeah, I imagined it more as a file that you just upload... I suppose it doesn't really matter though.

The main plus point for me of megajolt, over an aldon dizzy. Is that it can be adjusted if i make any changes. I'll probably be looking at a supercharger within the next couple of years, and i can get the map adjusted to suit. I can also transfer the MJ to other engines.

Running the MJ on the aldon yellow map would be great for getting the fueling set, running the engine in and it'll also be fine for use. Like you say, until i have the time and money and can take the car to a specialist to set the MJ perfectly for my spec.


So, the MJ adjusts the timing under vacuum load. How does it do this? Does it just take a guess at how much advance is needed or is that another thing that needs to be mapped to suit?

[Ethel]

You can download the software off the Autosport Labs site and have a play even if you don't have a MJ unit.

An ignition map is just a table you fill in with the advance you want at a specific rpm and load (throttle opening or manifold pressure). You can save maps to your pc in their own format - writing them to the MJ is much the same as writing a file to a memory stick. Those you see online will just be screen grabs for convenience and to save uploading/downloading files.

Any distributor can be copied by MJ but it can also do things that no mechanical dizzy can - say you got pinking as you went from 3.5 to 4k revs, with programmable ignition you could retard the ignition just where it's needed and return it to optimum as soon as you're out of the danger zone. A Mechanical dizzy is stuck with one smooth curve.

Wasted spark (as provided by a coil pack) will always cane any conventional coil 'n dizzy set up, as there's 2 coils they get twice as long to charge between sparks and don't have a rotor arm sparking away.

I can't see how anyone can claim it's harder to set up than a dizzy - with a dizzy you twiddle it about blindly hoping to tune it in at optimum advance then try and read whatever that is with a strobe so you can spend hours tinkering with springs and bob weights - or more likely set it just for maximum bhp (and pub bragging rights) & hope it doesn't cause your engine to melt itself at any other revs and throttle opening. With MJ it's as easy to alter your ignition at any point as it is to type a post to this forum - and see the effect instantly, be it on a rolling road or the real one.

If that's so glowing an endorsement that you're now wondering if I'm on commision, I will point out that there are some new versions of MJ in the pipeline so if you can wait until maybe next year it might be worthwhile - checkout the autosportlabs site for the details.

[Rosslin Racing]

Ethel Has made the point i was going to make, I agree totally MJ all the way!

[Retro_10s]

ML Motorsport are now (i think they're doing it now but i'm not 100% sure - might be in a couple of months) Offering full Megajolt Mapping set-ups on the rollers...

Walk away from Minisport - they fear the EDIS! AC Dodd is one with the 'Jolt.

[Shifty]

Do Southam do megajolt?

I'm almost certain they do.