The two connections bottom left... Switched Hot and to points/Ignition module...
That's basically the switched power that goes to one side of the coil, and the switched ground that the ignition sends to the other side of the coil right?
Just wanted to double check my assumptions before I let the magic smoke out.
In 1989 (35 years ago) I installed a Jacobs Energy Pak ignition system on my FJ60 2F engine. They were an active and ‘cutting edge’ company way back then.
They no longer exist now.
I noticed that the engine seemed to run maybe a little bit smoother at higher RPMs but that’s it. Nothing spectacular. Maybe it was my imagination.
When everything got gross & dirty after 30 years, I removed it and went back to the OEM stock ignition — and I couldn’t tell the difference at all.
Like a lot of aftermarket “engine upgrades “ most are preceded by megatons of media hype.
If I had the choice to install another Jacobs ignition system- I wouldn’t bother.
Here’s an excerpt I grabbed off another forum explaining its demise:
“They were bought out by Presolite. At first, Presolite came out with a new generation of Jacobs boxes, but either they didn't sell well or they concluded that three separate ignition control brands was two too many. They decided to axe the Jacobs line and use the Jacobs technology in the newer Mallory ignition boxes. There may have at some point been an Accel branded ignition box like this too
Now that Presolite's performance line got bought by MSD, it looks like the Mallory products are going to go away once they run out of available stock, making the Jacobs ignitions even deader.“
It's already installed by PO, except for the two connections above.
He was chasing over heat issues that turned out to be head gasket when I dug Into it, so I figure it still works and I should give it a shot... I want to rig it for easy A/B testing. It seems a waste to just pull it off without at least trying it.
I ran an MSD and coil on my previous 60, and it was noticeable seat of the pants improvement... But not a lot more than that... I'd take that for free, 100%, Not sure I'd spend a grand on it again.
I bought Jacob's book on ignition 30 or so years ago, and it was worth reading.
I also later bought and installed the whole Jacobs system on a 3FE in an FJ80 that I owned at the time. Like @OSS, it seemed a slight improvement to me at the time. Also like him, I've never bought another one and doubt I ever will.
The biggest (only real?) advantage of the system IMO is a larger, more powerful coil, which allows you to open up the gaps on your spark plugs, but you can do that yourself by using a late electronic distributor and in some cases a larger coil.
In 1989 (35 years ago) I installed a Jacobs Energy Pak ignition system on my FJ60 2F engine. They were an active and ‘cutting edge’ company way back then.
They no longer exist now.
I noticed that the engine seemed to run maybe a little bit smoother at higher RPMs but that’s it. Nothing spectacular. Maybe it was my imagination.
When everything got gross & dirty after 30 years, I removed it and went back to the OEM stock ignition — and I couldn’t tell the difference at all.
Like a lot of aftermarket “engine upgrades “ most are preceded by megatons of media hype.
If I had the choice to install another Jacobs ignition system- I wouldn’t bother.
Here’s an excerpt I grabbed off another forum explaining its demise:
“They were bought out by Presolite. At first, Presolite came out with a new generation of Jacobs boxes, but either they didn't sell well or they concluded that three separate ignition control brands was two too many. They decided to axe the Jacobs line and use the Jacobs technology in the newer Mallory ignition boxes. There may have at some point been an Accel branded ignition box like this too
Now that Presolite's performance line got bought by MSD, it looks like the Mallory products are going to go away once they run out of available stock, making the Jacobs ignitions even deader.“
Interesting that their tech was "absorbed" by Mallory. I wonder if this happened before or after I bought my HyFire 6AL.
Given the decreasing availability of OEM igniter units for the 62 (are they still available and reasonably priced for the 60 or are those going away too?), I've been wanting to find a way to use the ignition signal directly from the ECU to trigger aftermarket ignitions (whether bougie high performance units, run of the mill Mallory/MSD/Accel stuff, or even "slap it in and go" HEI modules), but need to experiment with finding a transistor (or possibly a MOSFET) that will pull down the IGF lead to ground on every "trigger" pulse from the ECU. Without that, the ECU shuts down the engine since it doesn't think the ignition is firing.
