TFI IV ignition: what works?

[pstrbrc]

For those of you that have the TFI IV, also called the EEC IV ignitions:
What has worked for performance mods? I mean, after rotor, cap, plugs and wires, have other add-ons made a difference?
MSD-6? Any brand of coils stand out as better?
I ask this because I'm aware that the CFI that my car has isn't known for optimal mixture control :jawdrop: so I'm assuming any ignition upgrade will be a help. Wadya think?


(btw: who's responsible for the smilies available on this board? )

[gadget73]

The basic ignition parts are all more or less the same. Caps are caps, rotors are rotors. Brass terminals hold up better, but theres not much gain to be had there honestly. I can tell you that CFI seems bitchy about plug wires. I just spent 2 days chasing demons with an 84 and it turned out to be the nearly brand new Belden plug wires. Used Ford Racing wires made it run just fine. Hotter coils help some, but you really need to get beyond the capabilites of the stockish engine before its going to be noticeable.

[85MercPark]

<thread hijack>

I can tell you that CFI seems bitchy about plug wires. I just spent 2 days chasing demons with an 84 and it turned out to be the nearly brand new Belden plug wires. Used Ford Racing wires made it run just fine.

Great work on that by the way...

</ thread hijack>

[Archangel]

That '84 was Jan's car, wasn't it? That effin bitch (car, not Jan) was a perfect proof of why all CFI should have been recalled from Ford and converted to MPFI, even batch-fire runs better than that nightmare...

To the OP - factory ignition stuff is actually rather good, its the evil hell-spawn CFI that you should be looking into getting rid of for all eternity! lol

[gadget73]

That '84 was Jan's car, wasn't it? That effin bitch (car, not Jan) was a perfect proof of why all CFI should have been recalled from Ford and converted to MPFI, even batch-fire runs better than that nightmare...

Runs like a watch with Ford wires and a new O2 sensor on it. CFI is good when its good. When its not good, its horrible.

[pstrbrc]

To the OP - factory ignition stuff is actually rather good, its the evil hell-spawn CFI that you should be looking into getting rid of for all eternity! lol

LOL! Yes, I've been through the weirdness under the hood that is the cfi system. I'm a MegaSquirt geek, and have an extra unit in the garage that I'm gonna use on this, so most of the troublesome components will end up in my favorite dumpster.
But, you see, it's the challenge of making work that which everybody else gives up on. That's why it's been 25 years since I hotrodded a sbc. That's why I spent most of my life massaging AMCs. If everybody else has done it already, where's the challenge?

[Archangel]

Runs like a watch with Ford wires and a new O2 sensor on it. CFI is good when its good. When its not good, its horrible.

And how the hell did you even think of trying new sparkplug wires? I'd have never guess they could be the issue, especially since they are like few months old...

But, you see, it's the challenge of making work that which everybody else gives up on. That's why it's been 25 years since I hotrodded a sbc. That's why I spent most of my life massaging AMCs. If everybody else has done it already, where's the challenge?

Actually I don't think the CFI setup alone is bad, after all it's essentially the same as the TBI that GM ran forever, it's just the extra emissions shit that overloads the whole system. With a Megasquirt, or really any other ECM that don't look for emissions crap, I can see it working good.

[visionmercury]

i agree with the cap and rotor , but spend the money on better wires like ford racing . a hotter coil we help but its not going to be put you in your seat power , the msd box helped a good amount , i felt a good increase out of it and saw a 1.3 mpg increase. but i have some other things done to my car too . so take this with a grain of salt , you may not have the same results as i did . but if your wanting to know i have msd cap, rotor, coil,6a box, ford racing wires , and autolite plugs !!!

[85MercPark]

Runs like a watch with Ford wires and a new O2 sensor on it. CFI is good when its good. When its not good, its horrible.

<Knocks on wood>

My CFI has been great. The only problem I have had was the TFI, which isn't even related.

Sure, it's not the best, but when people know how to fix it , the system works well.

It's like a woman, needs proper care...

[gadget73]

And how the hell did you even think of trying new sparkplug wires? I'd have never guess they could be the issue, especially since they are like few months old...

Wasn't anything else left TO try. I wouldn't have ever suspected them either to tell you the truth, and theres no reason they should have been bad.