• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.

    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Midget 1500 electronic ignition?

Joelb

Jedi Hopeful
Offline
I was looking at getting a new distributer with electronic ignition for my 79 Midget. Does the 79 Midget come with electronic ignition? I am 7500 miles away from my car or I would check it myself.

Would I benifit much from installing a new distributer?

Howdy to Jack and Mickey, it's been a long time.
 
Hi guy, thought you disapeared.

I would suggest that you need to check the old dizzy to determine its condition before jumping over the moon.

However, check with Jeff for a rebuild. He of course does excellent work for a reasonable price. In fact your old dizzy should be in top shape before installing an electronic unit as well. After 30 years your dizzy is ready for a bit of expert maintance in any case.
 
Thanks Jack, I didn't dissapear, I'm just on an extended vacation in Afghanistan.
 
The '79 originally came with electronic ignition, but it was so crappy and unreliable that almost all stock ignition systems have been replaced. Soooo... you will have to send a buddy 'round to figure out what you have.

I agree with Jack's comments.
 
In any case, welcome back. Hope you had fun :smile: I know you did, nothing like the real thing.
 
Ahhh, if only I was back Jack, got a few more months in me yet!
 
Ha, okies. Try to enjoy the time left. I know, I know you are away from your family but this is what you train for and work toward.
 
Down here in sunny Johannesburg

With reference to Jack's comments - I had my distributer (1977 1500) repaired and standard points put in. I then came across the electronic conversion kit and it took me about 5 minutes, including washing hands afterwards, to replace the old points. This was about 3 years ago and I have done no maintenace nor timing since. For the life of me I can't remember the name of the kit but it works like a charm.
 
I bought one of these ignition

have had no problems with this and the car has never run better.


mark
 
I went ahead and bought a new dizzy with electronic ignition. I got the flame thrower model for a 1500. I also bought some headers and will put them all in at the same time so I can get the weber carb jetted correctly. Thanks for all the input. It will be a few weeks before I am home to install, but will post with results.
 
Joelb, I did exactly what your going to do on my 78 1500. Runs like a champ and gets up to speed really quick. Kinda surprising.
 
Back
Top