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Direct Hits: Spark enhancer for subies


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I'm pretty sure that you all have heard of this system. It enhances spark output at the plugs via capacitors that mount between the spark plug tops and spark plug wire boots. It claims to increase your torque and horsepower, which in turn, improves your acceleration. The systems are not for the faint of heart(or the light of pocketbook) as they can be very expensive(*theatrical doom music plays*), who would've guessed? Is there anything to these systems, or is it just another fad? You'll have to decide for yourself. But for those of you that are thinking about purchasing the Direct Hits system, here is the link:

 

http://www.directhits.com/index.html

 

If nobody tries it, I'll try it myself and post the results. But everyone might have to wait for those, as I won't be back in the states for 4 years. Anyhow, I just figured that I would let everyone know.

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Hey, do you have Nology plugs and plug wires installed on your car?

 

i have the silvercore plugs in my impreza, made a noticeable improvement on stock wires, i couldnt afford the nology wires.

 

 

ive seen the difference between stock wires and nology wires, they produce a much brighter and hottter spark.

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I looked at the link and it's all lies, 500 amps through a sparkplug? These guys are on drugs! Sparkplugs use high voltage and low current circuit's, 500 amps at 12v would cook your battery and you'd need sparkplug wires 500kcmil about 3 "s thick stranded. The "how it works" write up was full of holes too.

NGK's, good wires, a high voltage coil, and a larger plug gap and you'll notice more power than there set up would ever put out. Better yet get rid of the disty all together.

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These have been discussed before (http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=38471), and my belief is that they are snakeoil. Capacitive discharge can help with an engine that has fouling issues, but it trades higher voltage for shorter spark duration (reduces the chance that the mixture will ignite).

I looked at the link and it's all lies, 500 amps through a sparkplug? These guys are on drugs! Sparkplugs use high voltage and low current circuit's, 500 amps at 12v would cook your battery and you'd need sparkplug wires 500kcmil about 3 "s thick stranded. The "how it works" write up was full of holes too.

NGK's, good wires, a high voltage coil, and a larger plug gap and you'll notice more power than there set up would ever put out. Better yet get rid of the disty all together.

I agree with what Vanislru says. Pretty much voodoo science. High quality components will work just as well if not better.

 

Well, I agree with most of what he typed. There are a couple esoteric nitpiks of a non-practical nature. Starters on big engines often pull 500 amps. And it is possible for a sparkplug to handle 500 amps, and for a capacitor to deliver it... but only for afew nanoseconds or perhaps a millisecond. Nit...nit...nit. :)

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Well, I figured that I would leave it up to everyone to decide since I don't have any personal experience with this product. I just happened to look up an 88 Subaru with 1.8L MPFI/turbo and it brought up a part number. Too bad these capacitors don't have their own individual grounding wires. That would make the power enhancement aspect a little more believable, considering that Nology produces spark plug wires with capacitors(w/individual grounds) in them and they are dyno tested(did a little bit of internet research). I guess I could always get the universal spark plug grounding kit that they sell over here. It allows you to run extra grounds directly to the spark plug base.

 

I wonder if what would happen if they were used in tandem with an MSD set-up w/ aftermarket coil?

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If you are going to use the MSD, I would first phone the MSD people and explain what you are thinking about...you need to make sure that there is not to Much resistence in the electrical path from the box to the plug...to much resistence makes the MSD work harder, thus a shorter life span....there is a host of other problems that can be developed....best to stick with a companies System of spark developement, then mix and match...a good read on the subject... www.centuryperformance.com

Well, I figured that I would leave it up to everyone to decide since I don't have any personal experience with this product. I just happened to look up an 88 Subaru with 1.8L MPFI/turbo and it brought up a part number. Too bad these capacitors don't have their own individual grounding wires. That would make the power enhancement aspect a little more believable, considering that Nology produces spark plug wires with capacitors(w/individual grounds) in them and they are dyno tested(did a little bit of internet research). I guess I could always get the universal spark plug grounding kit that they sell over here. It allows you to run extra grounds directly to the spark plug base.

 

I wonder if what would happen if they were used in tandem with an MSD set-up w/ aftermarket coil?

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I understand. I'm still in the gray area about where I'm wanting to go with my ignition system. MSD makes really great ignition systems. I don't know, I may wind up giving an MSD setup a whirl in the old wagon. I kinda like the idea of having the multiple spark during each cylinder combustion cycle. That should unleash some ponies considering that I have plenty of fuel to burn(42psi worth from an AFR plus a new fuel pump that is putting out 95psi of line pressure before the regulator). The only thing that I am running right now for an ignition upgrade is an ACCEL Super Coil and some NGK Iridium plugs. Everything else is still stock. We'll just have to see how the money situation goes when I come back.

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I think you need to read www.centuryperformance.com ...they sell the Mallory line of multi-spark units...but more importantly they give you the info/education to determine if you really need one...one of the great MYTHS of the multi-spark units is that you will gain more power ... this is only true if you have still have unburnt fuel in the cylinders after combustion, which in most cases is due to other related areas of the ignition/fuel delivery system...

I understand. I'm still in the gray area about where I'm wanting to go with my ignition system. MSD makes really great ignition systems. I don't know, I may wind up giving an MSD setup a whirl in the old wagon. I kinda like the idea of having the multiple spark during each cylinder combustion cycle. That should unleash some ponies considering that I have plenty of fuel to burn(42psi worth from an AFR plus a new fuel pump that is putting out 95psi of line pressure before the regulator). The only thing that I am running right now for an ignition upgrade is an ACCEL Super Coil and some NGK Iridium plugs. Everything else is still stock. We'll just have to see how the money situation goes when I come back.
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