EDIS

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The Ford EDIS (Electronic Distributorless Ignition System) is a computer-controlled ignition system that can operate independent of an ECU. This makes it a great low cost system for swaps. The parts are unbundant in American wrecking yards. The 4-cylinder version of EDIS is used on with 1.9 liter CVH engine in the 1990-1993 Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer, US models. You can make your own crankshaft wheel, or adapt one from the Escort, Mustang, Taurus or other Ford models. Unlike other similar system that require a Camshaft Phase Sensor, this uses a simple crankshaft toothed wheel. It is a wasted spark system. This system has been succesfully used on vintage Beetles, recent BMWs, Datsun Roadsters and just about everything else.

The parts from the wreckers needed are about $25-$100:

• Crank wheel trigger
• Crank sensor
• EDIS module with a bit of the wiring
• 4-tower coil pack
• Spark plug wires

About $70 on Ebay for all the above

A brand new EDIS module with wiring connector is about $200.

Using EDIS alone, it outputs a fixed spark timing of 10 degrees BTDC. You can drive the car like this! But it won't be very fuel efficient or particularly powerful. Using a relatively simple timing controller ($89 kit) completes the picture. Optionally you can program an entire spark curve map using a standard PC.

MegaJolt Lite Jr Complete kit (MAP sensor option) $89 USD

For detailed technical information, see Ford EDIS technical information

Our own club member sundat1200 has used EDIS on a 1975 VW Rabbit and a 2002 BMW with "great success"

Crank Trigger Wheel

The trigger wheel on the crankshaft has 36 teeth, with one missing -- the 36-1 style. Any wheel of this style can be used.

• You can make your own crankshaft wheel out of sheet metal
• or adapt one from the Escort, Mustang, Taurus or other Ford models
• Ford UK trigger wheel Part No 1078767 is only 13 UK Pounds, and can be glued or bolted to most crank pulleys

For many details, see KEW Engineering

Dimensions

Datsun A-series crank pulley is 5.5 inches (139 mm) outside diameter.

The Escort/Tracer wheel (as shown in photo above)

• 144.30 mm OD
• 102.80 mm ID
• 9 mm thick at teeth, 7mm thick where it meets the flange
• Cast iron hub: ~28mm crankshaft diameter

To fit this wheel:

1. Using a hacksaw, cut the trigger wheel from the pulley hub. I think it is cast iron. This leaves the wheel on a flat part of the hub. If the cut is not straight, grind/file it flat so that it is correctly balanced.
2. With the 139mm A-series pulley, just take two extra pulley bolt washers to space the wheel in front of the pulley. There is no room to mount it behind the pulley.
   • Stock A-series pulley bolt washer is 34.5mm OD, 0.64 in (16.2mm) ID, 8mm thick).
   • They can be bigger on Outside Diameter if needed.
3. Fit a spacer inside the Escort hold: 0.61 in (15.5mm) ID, no more than 0.37 in. (9.3 mm) thick. You may need to drill/file the hold out a touch. This is just to fit the pulley laterally. The Bolt will fasten it tight.
4. Fit the longer pulley bolt and the last washer.

UK Ford

• 160mm OD

or

• 120mm OD

Mustang wheels are one piece with the crank hub.

Taurus 3.8 Turbo wheels are smaller diameter than the A-series pully:

• 120.65 mm (4.75 in) OD
• 70.36 mm (2.77 in) ID

Parts

• FORD EDIS-4 from 1990 Escort/Tracer 1.9L. Part Number: F1CZ-12K072-A
• new Accel 4-Tower coil pack $56.95 at Summit Racing]