Developed for the classic race and rally scene, CSI ignition offers a complete replacement solid state ignition system housed within an original Lucas style distributor body. A CSI ignition retains the external look of the original distributor but dispenses with the point, condenser and mechanical advance mechanism; offering vastly improved reliability, smoother running and increased performance. Maintenence free, a CSI ignition incorporates 16 selectable ignition curves, concealed beneath the distributor cap and optimised to suit your engine and stage of tuning.
Vacuum Advance, do I need it?
When purchasing an electronic distributor, you may notice that distributors without vacuum advance function are offered at lower cost to those with the advanced distributor function, but you should think carefully before dispensing with the vacuum advance function for a normal road going MG. The vacuum advance fitted on standard mechanical distributors and offered with electronic replacement distributors (CSI & 123) enable the distributor to deliver spark timing proportional to the load and speed output of the engine. The vacuum advance function is to provide normal road going cars with improved idle, fuel economy and throttle response delivering an improved drive particularly at lighter loads when cruising or at idle. These benefits are of little benefit for competition applications, where spark timing is delivered in proportion to speed only and not load, for these cars its fine to fit a distributor without vacuum advance.