Electronic Ignition

Think I've asked this before but I must have forgot.

At the moment my '79' 1.1 has points and want to upgrade to electronic. Is there a dizzy out there that will fit and work? Lets say, off a later polo or something?

Cheers,
Rob.

You need a distributor of a saab 900, not sure of what age or mode; but by looking at the dizzy you will know its the correct one because they came in two forms, a gear driven one and one that has 2 notches on the cam end like what your golf has now, and u also need an ignition module (TCi unit?) and an ignition coil to match, this can be taken from most cars that uses a stand alone ignition circuit.

Oh right. Not as easy as I thought then…..

I had a Coupe S and that had a dizzy that looked identical. Are they driven different?

you can get something called a petronix ignition system from the states a lot of people in bugs and campers use them.
basically they replace your points and condensor and sit where your points sit now.
everything wires up the same and you set them to the correct gap (not sure how the gap sizes work i don't think there the same as your points gap)
it works like an electronic ignotion and doesn't tap together and wear out quickly genius!
i'm in the process of sourcing one now so i'll let you know how i get on.

Robmk1 said

Oh right. Not as easy as I thought then…..

I had a Coupe S and that had a dizzy that looked identical. Are they driven different?

It's also really not that hard at all, myself have done the conversion on my driver, but i brought the kit with the wiring loom all in place, i just had to extend it to reach, if you can source the correct distributor then your already halfway there, all you need next is a coil and module and loom, which can be found on most vw engines post 1985 and prior 1990 (me thinks?) should'nt be too hard to find in the scrappies?
Have a read through these:
http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=94329&hl=0
http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=6042
http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=97750&st=0

To answer your other question correct me if im wrong, i think your coupe S had a hydraulic head? Hydraulic head dizzys have different type of notches in the cam end.
And also the pertronix kit is quite pricey imo, its cheaper to do the saab conversion.

Yeh the coupe S head is hydraulic and the dizzy has a single little nipple which fits the cam, unlike the two notched one on yours. Either change the head with the cam n dizzy n ignition system from a coupe S, which are pretty darn easy to get hold of, or just find a saab one as above.

Or just get some sort of aftermarket elec ignition such as megaspark(think thats the name)

pertronix is only ?65 and from what i've heard they last forever!?

have you tried lumenition buddy??

they,ve been making conversions for years using a beam and fan system instead of points.

just a thought

I've only seen these for big block engines?

try a firm called h and h ignition solutions ,

they,ve a website and supply alsorts of conversion goodies!!

MY SON HAS AN 1.1 GOLF WIH A POINTS IGNITION. I HAVE READ THAT A SAAB 900 ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTOR WILL FIT. HAS ANYONE FITTED ONE AND COULD GIVE ME THE PART NUMBER OFF THE SIDE SO I CAN GET THE CORRECT ONE. ALSO A PICTURE OF THE MODULE OR THE SUGGESTED DONOR CAR SO THAT I AM AGAIN ARMED WITH THE CORRECT INFO. I ASSUME A MK2 GOLF COIL WITH ELECTRONIC IGNITION WII DO THE JOB FINE. ALL HELP GREATLY APPRECIATED. CHEERS ANDY