Electromotive HPV vs HPX vs XDI

L

Larry Frankenstein

Well-known member
OK guys I am at the point where I should upgrade my ignition system. I want to go distrubutorless and it looks like either the HPV or HPX or XDI are my best route. What I need to know are the advantages / disadvantages of each. This is for my HP Fiat 850.

Also, I have an unused TEC 2 which as I understand it is better suited for injected engines. So if anyone has a good, possibly unused Electromotive unit they would want to do a deal for let me know.

Thank you,
Larry
 
Larry

My 2 cents. Assuming ignition only I would either buy a really good HPV-1 knowing that Electromotive will no longer support or service them. Or I would by a brand new unit from Electromotive. There were some issues with some "in-between" models and I don't know a good way to tell which ones. Also buy a pickup from Huffaker. Measure the resistance on it new and then from time to time after and you will be able to tell when it begins to deteriorate The Huffaker one will last a long long time
 
I am in the middle of just such an upgrade as well. I spoke to Uwe at Electromotive today and got the skinny on some things.

They haven't made the HPV's since 1998 and can't support them anymore. They can replace coil packs if those are shot but not the boards. Whereas the HPV's were all one piece, the new XDi and XDi2's put the brain and the coils in separate pieces. The XDi is $600. The XDi2 has the capability of connecting to a PC to download settings for an extra $300. The coil packs are $150 for a four cylinder motor. The new hardware connects to the same triggers, etc. so no need for new pieces there.

That's what I know.....for now. I'll be dynoing a new motor on Sunday with a borrowed HPV-1 that may or may not work. We'll see how that goes.

Dayle
 
What are the advantages of the electromotive over a simpler ECU like say the MSD6? Seems on the expensive side with iffy reliability, even with the upgraded Huffaker pickup. More torque on the dyno.......or what? Ability to vary timing by cylinder? Built in starting retard? Ability to define an advance curve? Multispark? Just trying to learn.
 
Jay Lutz":26lnpsf7 said:
What are the advantages of the electromotive over a simpler ECU like say the MSD6? Seems on the expensive side with iffy reliability, even with the upgraded Huffaker pickup. More torque on the dyno.......or what? Ability to vary timing by cylinder? Built in starting retard? Ability to define an advance curve? Multispark? Just trying to learn.
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More accurate and reproducible spark. No mechanical drag from a distributor. Variable timing across the rev range. Those are the things I'm looking for.

Read this link....

http://www.distributorless.com/products ... nition.php

Dayle
 
Hi Dayle,

Thank you for the info. Did it seem like they can’t support the HPVs as far as parts, or as far as info, or both? Is the XDi still being made, and supported?

Thank you,
L
 
Larry Frankenstein":4ke11v2e said:
Hi Dayle,

Thank you for the info. Did it seem like they can’t support the HPVs as far as parts, or as far as info, or both? Is the XDi still being made, and supported?

Thank you,
L
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If the coil packs are toast, they can replace those as they (the coil packs) are the same parts then as now. The boards that drive the system are no longer available. The XDi is currently been made and supported.

Call Uwe and he'll can fill you in on specifics (703.331.0100x217).

Dayle
 
Hey Daryl,

I spoke to Uwe last week, probably should have a while ago. He gave a good deal of info and it looks like the best way for me to got is with the XDI.

L
 
FWIW, I run the XDI's on all carb'd cars and some rotaries and they work well. The regular XDI has the knobs like the earlier HPV1's and the XDI2 uses a laptop like Dayle said. Pretty cool if you need to run trailing split like on a rotary and the spark is dead accurate. On another note, if you install your crank sensor properly you'll really never have any problems with the Electromotive pickups. I use they're 1/2 inch sensors with zero trouble. Most sensor problems are in the type of installation. Use a squeeze bracket made out of aluminum and secure the sensor wire right to the engine before it heads off to the ecu and you'll be fine.
 
Jesse Prather":sebkis81 said:
FWIW, I run the XDI's on all carb'd cars and some rotaries and they work well. The regular XDI has the knobs like the earlier HPV1's and the XDI2 uses a laptop like Dayle said. Pretty cool if you need to run trailing split like on a rotary and the spark is dead accurate. On another note, if you install your crank sensor properly you'll really never have any problems with the Electromotive pickups. I use they're 1/2 inch sensors with zero trouble. Most sensor problems are in the type of installation. Use a squeeze bracket made out of aluminum and secure the sensor wire right to the engine before it heads off to the ecu and you'll be fine.
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Good to know, thank you Jesse.

Larry
 
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