Are there any newer Ford EDIS modules that can be used and do I need any
 of
 the other parts of the ignition system ?
 The biggest junk yard here doesn't have any cars later than 1996.
 --
 Karibian


 Karibian, 1995 is the last year for the stand alone EDIS system which
 started in 1988 as the replacement for the DIS system. In 1996 the EEC-Iv
 engine computer (60 pin connector) was relaced by the EEC V  (104 pin
 connector) which had the edis function added to the engine computer. For a
 rotary you need a 36 tooth reluctor wheel, two VR (variable reluctance)
 pickups and two EDIS-4 ignition controllers a 4 coil pack (Ford or Accel),
 and the plug wires. mount the VR sensors 7 degrees apart so that one EDIS
 fires 20 degrees BTDC and the other set fires at 27 degrees BTDC, Have a
 slotted hole mounting plate for the VR sensors for +/- 4 degrees on the
 fixed timing. Feed the two EDIS modules on separate breakers for a
 completely redundant ignition. Power will be down some on a single
 ignition.
           The application of these parts is well documented all over the
 internet, you should research this yourself for a better understanding of
 how many teeth before TDC the missing tooth of the 36 tooth sprocket is
 mounted, clearance of the VR sensor, 8000 RPM limit of operation. This is
 a
 very simple reliable system with only a few wires to sort. Thed EDIS 4
 module is available new from autoparts stores for about $37, Accel coils
 packs are about $69 and the VR sensor is about $18 Everything new for a
 redundant 2 rotor  with plug wires is about $240.
       I plan on using a Ford EEC IV system on the four rotor and am using
 the EDIS 8 to get enough trigger signals to match the 80MM MAF sensor and
 eight 19 pound injectors and two EDIS 4 modules to run the ignition
 separately so that the EEC IV computer max RPM function won't reduce the
 ignition timing. Except for an inline potentiometer on the MAF 4.7 volt
 maximum input to allow lean cruise mixture the EEC IV will be all stock
 programming.


 george grimes


 Wouldn't this setup have wasted spark on the trailing plugs?  I thought
 that
 was a no-no.  Maybe I'm visualizing what you're saying wrong.

 Everett



 Everett,    I am proposing using two of the EDIS controllers , one at 20
 degrees and one at 27 degrees BTDC firing two plugs each from the 4 coil
 pack. I intend to drill a piece of aluminum barstock  tapped with 4 blind
 holes for the waste spark plugs to complete the coil circuit. These will
be
 the waste spark plugs. There is a signal generated by the EDIS sensing the
 field collapse of the coils to verify that the plugs are firing. If a plug
 doesn't fire for a few seconds The EEC-IV would let the EDIS run on it's
10
 degree BTDC    Since I am using the two ignitions with fixed advance. I am
 not using the  variable ignition advance so there is no connection to the
 ECU making the check  signal redundant.The waste spark plugs may be
 necessary for the tach output from the EDIS  to be correct. The EDIS also
 fires 3 times below 1800 RPM and once after that RPM.

 george grimes


George,

You seem to understand the inner workings of the Ford EDIS ignition pretty
well, so I'll direct my question to you.  How would you propose to
implement
a Ford EDIS based ignition system for a 3-rotor?  I'm assuming three EDIS
modules with 6 coils?  How about the CAS... three of them also?  Just
curious.

Mark S.



Mark,  Two EDIS modules with two VR sensors from a V6 engine. The Ford is
even fire on the V6 engines so there will be three spark events per
revolution. The reason for dual EDIS is that we want about a seven degree
delay for the trailing plugs and need a second set of signals. If the EEC IV
computer is used it would need an add on to the J3 port to shift the
ignition and injection timing, however a stand alone ignition just needs 6
plug firings. Three would be at 120 degrees apart and the other three would
trail the lead plugs by 7 degrees. Someone might preffer saving some weight
by using a resistor and capacitor to replace the series connected waste
spark plug, however IMHO just screwing the waste spark plugs  into an
aluminum bar and wiring them in series with the primary plugs guarantees
stock reliability. Also these extra plugs would not have to be  the
expensive surface gap plugs, only something of good quality. A six pack coil
has six plug terminals. They are actually in pairs with both ends of the
high voltage winding  having a plug terminal. The spark goes out to one plug
then thru the block and back across the other plug to the other end of the
coil. Therefore 6 independant plug firings require six coil pairs. It could
be two 6 packs or three four packs. In either case there are a total of six
windings with both ends of each having a plug terminal. The weight looks to
be  similar to a coil on plug systemwhich would also have six coils on a
three rotor. There are just less coils to mount and the two independant EDIS
and VR sensors make a redundant ignition system.

george grimes