R5 Alpine 123 TUNE Ignition

[malcolm]

The 123\TUNE Distributor is finally available for the Gordini/ Alpine - Classic Auto Elec in France have made a shaft extension to make the standard REN version fit the Mk1 Gordini/Alpine. http://www.classicautoelec.com/allumage ... lpine.html No idea if they will post to the UK but worth an ask.

Allows any advance and vacuum curve to be programmed in from laptop via a USB. Works for the turbo as it can be programmed for vacuum above 1 bar.

Just ordered one for my atmo which is running brilliantly at the moment on 99 octane, but is incredibly sensitive due to worn bob weights in the distributor.

 

[sgreavett]

How did your distributor work out, found the website the other day and was questioning the purpose. Did it fix your irrational bob weight issues? Worth the money? What's the best thing about it?

Thanks

Simon

 

[malcolm]

I've not got around to fitting it yet. Must do that soon.

 

[sgreavett]

Let me know how it goes please!

Simon

 

[malcolm]

Decided to get around to fitting it today. It's a fiddle to fit in a position that allows access to the USB cable without the wires fouling the carb manifold. The vacuum advance needed a 90 degree bend. Also the software stopped working on my computer which had me in a bad mood.

The problem with my car was it liked to run a fair bit of advance at idle and low speed, but that gave it too much advance under load around 2000rpm. I think the advance springs were too slack so it reached full advance too early. The original distributor ended up too retarded at idle, and too retarded at high engine rpm to stop it from pinking in the middle.

The new distributor seems to have fixed that. I've set it to about 12 degrees advance at idle, ramping up to 12+25 degrees at about 2500rpm. It's good in town (can use 4th gear without it shaking around) and good at high speed, and no pinking at mid range. It's not quite right yet but I can have what curve I like so it should be possible to come up with something nice.

Overall positive for the hardware. Running well with a bit more fiddling. Need to get a longer USB lead so I can tune in the car. Found the R5 Alpine curve on the internet which is roughly where I am through fiddling: http://www.leenapk.nl/r230_c34_renault_5_alpine.html I'll try that, reset static timing to whatever works best (going to be around 10 degrees) and work from there is it's an improvement.

Software doesn't work on my windows 7 machine or my XP machine. No apparent support. Hardware would be quite useless if the software didn't work on the other half's machine.

 

[sgreavett]

Thanks Malcolm,

Nice descriptive experience of the distributor. It will just be nice to loose the points and condenser set up of the original dizzy's.
Although the price I see from over here on the website is like 450 Euros, do you recall what you paid for yours and where you got it from.

So all in all a worth while investment from your experience looking at your report. I'll have a look at the advance curve you've listed and see if the manual says any thing different.

Any pictures of it fitted?

Thanks

Simon

 

[sgreavett]

Hi Malcolm,
I've just realised that your site is the one I've read a few times now, really nice work on your welding and fabrication work. I was very impressed. I visited the site a number of times and enjoyed it every time. Great photo's and informative explanations.

Where is the resto at now?
Thanks

Simon

 

[malcolm]

There is a cheaper alternative with a fixed curve for the R5G Atmo. Those are widely available and cheaper in France and Netherlands than in the UK. The one I linked in the first post is the only programmable R5G distributor available at the moment. The place in France makes it's own extension for the shaft.

The atmo engine is in my R4. The R5 TX is on the road. It is a bit lean on the first choke so I'm going to try a carb rebuild kit. The exhaust is a bit boomy and I sill need to paint the bumpers and wheels.

 

[malcolm]

I tried the R5 Alpine curve at lunchtime but didn't get on with it. Pinked at 1500-2000rpm before anything else was advanced enough. So maybe avoid the ones that only have a fixed curve.

 

[sgreavett]

See what you mean about tight fit!

Do the 5's have much of a following in the Netherlands then?

I think I would have to go for the programmable one too, shame the curve didn't work, I'm sure there will be a setting that it likes!!

Simon