LS Coil Location
#1
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LS Coil Location
I've been interested in putting LS coils on my Miata for quite a while. I've read the info in the sticky and still have some questions. My car is an '03 meaning 1.8 VVT, and has an FM2 turbo kit with a Hydra 2.7. The Flyin' Miata kits are too expensive and locates the coils in a pretty tight area. Other kits that I've found seem to have limitations for me due to the Hydra or the VVT.
I bought the coils and a generic relocation bracket that, after some tweaking, fits the coils well. Location on the engine is my concern. I'd prefer to mount the coils on the intake side but it is pretty crowded. I have enough space, it appears, to mount the coils and bracket on the exhaust side, more or less where they're sitting in the attached photo, using the existing bolts that hold the stock coils in place. There is enough clearanc under the hood and the bracket can stand off of the valve cover about 1/8 - 3/16" . My concern is heat from the turbo and routing of plug wires.
What say you experts and DIY guys out there? Does this look viable?
Thanks,
Paul
I bought the coils and a generic relocation bracket that, after some tweaking, fits the coils well. Location on the engine is my concern. I'd prefer to mount the coils on the intake side but it is pretty crowded. I have enough space, it appears, to mount the coils and bracket on the exhaust side, more or less where they're sitting in the attached photo, using the existing bolts that hold the stock coils in place. There is enough clearanc under the hood and the bracket can stand off of the valve cover about 1/8 - 3/16" . My concern is heat from the turbo and routing of plug wires.
What say you experts and DIY guys out there? Does this look viable?
Thanks,
Paul
#5
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Mount them under the intake manifold and run the high tension leads through the spaces between the intake runners. But seriously, why not mount off the valve cover bolts on the intake side in a way that puts the coils over the gap between the intake and the valve cover and the high tension lines could go over the vvt tube to the plugs?
#6
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I was trying to avoid removing the strut between the shock towers. Is it not worth the trouble to keep it? That's the main impediment to mounting on the intake side. The Sadfab bracket will work fine without the strut ( or whatever it's called )
The FM kit is not only $$$ but requires getting rid of EGR, engine lifting eye and removing VVT oil feed line and cutting and tapping the fittings and replacing with a SS hose. It's pretty tight in the location they use. Turbo oil feed runs back there and my gauge wiring as well. I don't care about the EGR, but no real reason to eliminate it that I can see.
Shock Tower Brace? Worth keeping at the expense of coils on hot side?
Paul
The FM kit is not only $$$ but requires getting rid of EGR, engine lifting eye and removing VVT oil feed line and cutting and tapping the fittings and replacing with a SS hose. It's pretty tight in the location they use. Turbo oil feed runs back there and my gauge wiring as well. I don't care about the EGR, but no real reason to eliminate it that I can see.
Shock Tower Brace? Worth keeping at the expense of coils on hot side?
Paul
#7
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I just realized that the Hawley kit WILL work for me. I had e-mailed them inquiring and didn't get a response, but searched again and found that they are VVT compatible. Already ordered them. Thanks everyone.
Paul
Paul
#9
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Flyin' Miata
I'm a big FM fan. Just got back into messing with cars a few years ago at age 67, so I like having it all thought out for me. But the ticket for the Big Spark just was more than I could take, when I know it could be done much cheaper. Kind of fun learning how to do it all again except on a little 4 banger instead of the old V8 muscle of my youth.
Paul
#11
Here's a link to a thread here with a copy of better photos of the coil braket.
https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-pe...n-wires-63058/
https://www.miataturbo.net/engine-pe...n-wires-63058/
#13
Regardless, OP doesn't want to use fm setup due to price and complexity on his vvt. I over looked that part. But removing the engine hoist hook isn't really an issue.. Your going to remove you ignition coils anyways if you ever pull your motor, takes another 2 seconds to bolt on the hook again.
#14
--Ian
#15
It sounds like Paul already has a solution, so to a certain extent this is threadjacking. I just wanted to clarify that the FM kit includes a set of custom magnecore wires ($90), a pre-made GM LS3 coil subharness (4 coil connectors going to one bigger connector, $50), and another pigtail harness to put that big connector in your car ($20), in addition to the bracket. So yes, it's an expensive kit, but it's not $300 just for some 16 gauge wire.
--Ian
--Ian
#16
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Actually, I'm still trying to figure out the plug wires. Suggestions? I'm not in a hurry and I'm a pretty good do it yourself guy if there's a solution in that realm. This forum is great if you don't mind being smacked around a little here and there.
Paul
Paul
#17
The information you seek is in the https://www.miataturbo.net/diy-turbo...-thread-82744/ thread - or SHOULD be, it's a nice central repository for all the info regarding LSx coils.
#20
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The information you seek is in the https://www.miataturbo.net/diy-turbo...-thread-82744/ thread - or SHOULD be, it's a nice central repository for all the info regarding LSx coils.
Paul