| Author | Message | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 4657 Registered: 8-2002 |
Peter, I have a single strut so it was not an issue for me. I never looked at the plates anyway but they do look cool. The 3000's are longer. I just cannot believe the difference. Matt | ||
| Peter Cyr (Pete04222)
Junior Member Username: Pete04222 Post Number: 51 Registered: 6-2002 |
Matt, Nice looking installation. I thought about putting them there but didn't want to cover up the info plates. Also, I was worried about the gas struts for the engine lid hitting them. Glad to see it works. Hard to tell from the photos but it looks like the 3000 modules may be a bit longer than the 700. I think I will go get some of that black wire loom to cover up my wires like you did on yours. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1266 Registered: 4-2002 |
I bet he was 'homemade'. <g> | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 4631 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hans He was an accessory Matt | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1265 Registered: 4-2002 |
RE: Pic #4 - Did the small child w/soccer ball come with the ignition kit? | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 4629 Registered: 8-2002 |
Here are the pic's     | ||
| Peter Cyr (Pete04222)
New member Username: Pete04222 Post Number: 50 Registered: 6-2002 |
Steve - Good tip about the increased current. I'll give that fuse box a look at. Dave - The manual didn't say anything about not mounting them side by side. I was more worried about heat than "cross talk". I haven't had any problems. Mike - I was more concerned with reliability than performance. That direct-fire was something like $1500. I purchased 2-XR3000 units, 2-PS60 High power coils, Magnacor Electrosports-70 ignition cables and new NGK plugs all for less than $500. You still retain the stock distributors, the optical trigger for the Crane ignition replaces the points. | ||
| Mike Procopio (Pupz308)
Member Username: Pupz308 Post Number: 359 Registered: 10-2002 |
This looks great. What are your thoughts about this setup vs. Nick Scania's Electromotive HPV direct-fire setup? I know this costs less--does it perform as well? You keep your distributors with this setup, yes? | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 712 Registered: 5-2001 |
Have they improved the sheilding on the XR3000's? I recall that Crane used to discourage the use of two units in the same location as they would "cross talk" and cause ignition troubles. Obviously Peter is running them with no troubles, so what gives? | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 4623 Registered: 8-2002 |
I do not think they used ballast. Not sure what they did actually. They originally mounted the boxes like the picture shown. I drove it about 4 miles and shut it off. I turned it back on about 3 minutes later and I lost a bank. I called AAA and towed it back. One box was dead. They fired it up this morning and it worked. We assumed the heat from the headers cooked the box. They replaced it and moved it. So far, no problems. Should I worry? Matt | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
Intermediate Member Username: 91tr Post Number: 1776 Registered: 1-2001 |
I just want to remind you guys that adding the XR700s or XR3000s will increase the current draw flowing thru the 308 fusebox from the upper terminal of fuse #2 (large azure wire) to the upper terminal of fuse #1 (large yellow wire) so it might be a good idea to add some busbar to connect the upper terminals of the #1, #2, and #3 fuses together so that you're not totally dependent on only the flaky rivets/plates on the backside of the fusebox -- just a thought (I melted the upper corner of my ex-fusebox after adding XR3000s)... | ||
| Peter Cyr (Pete04222)
New member Username: Pete04222 Post Number: 49 Registered: 6-2002 |
I went with the XR3000 ignition and high power coils so I could do away with the ballast resistor altogether. Here is where I installed the modules on my '79 308 GTS:  | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1261 Registered: 4-2002 |
Matt: Isn't that what GT"4" stands for? Or am I missing something? Oh, BTW, my Crane boxes are mounted to a custom made, but very professional looking plate directly under the coils. | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 4621 Registered: 8-2002 |
Don, it could also be a vacumm leak. I had a similar problem a couple of years ago. Matt | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 4620 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hans, 4 cylinders? Don, Mine were mounted on the flat panel next to the engine plate on the oil cooler side. There is more then enough room there when the desk lid is closed. I did not wire it, My mechanic did. I had a MSD unit in there and I was not happy. I am not sure of the coil setup but I will post a pic tomorrow. Has for your #8, did you remove the Distrib cap and clean the rotor and plug? Matt | ||
| Don McCormick (Dandy_don)
Junior Member Username: Dandy_don Post Number: 74 Registered: 2-2002 |
"The Don" I too just completed the XR700 addition. Did you use the stock ballast resistors? and if so did you rewire them so that they were on the positive side of coil feed instead of on the negative side of the coil as wired stock. I tried mine on the negative side and the modules did not get any power so I rewired them to the positive and it worked fine. I also had difficulty finding a place to install the two modules so that they were mostly out of view and ended up building a set of mounts so that the modules hang directly under the coils with the LED's visible. How did you mount yours? I would love to see your pics. Mine now runs fine as well although I am having a firing issue (not related) in my #8 cylinder which I am trying to fix without a lot success. Don | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1260 Registered: 4-2002 |
I'm thinking of upgrading to a Fiero body, as the local, err, peacekeepers may be looking for this one. OK, on topic: My Crane w/optical triggers have been totally trouble free. I get great plug life, and all 4 cylinders fire perfectly. | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 4614 Registered: 8-2002 |
Like what Hans, Oil leaks and rust? | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1258 Registered: 4-2002 |
With a few more upgrades, it will soon be up to GT4-spec. | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Advanced Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 4610 Registered: 8-2002 |
I finally installed the dual crane xr700 unit's on my 78 308. What a difference. I rev's to redline freely, it starts without problems and I finally go rid of the points!!!. Installation was only a couple of hours. I could not be happier. I will post pic's of the install tomorrow. |