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Fab9 COPS kit?

Old 12-11-2013, 12:09 AM
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Default Fab9 COPS kit?

Anyone have experience/knowledge of the Fab9 COPS kit?

CDI Coil Conversion Kit - COMPLETE

They claim it works even on the stock ECU because dwell is controlled by an external gadget. I'd like to hear MT opinions of that before I buy anything.
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Old 12-11-2013, 02:12 AM
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id be interested in more info too..it seems good though from what i understand..
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Old 12-11-2013, 11:15 AM
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Bryan told me that there was a bunch of them out there.

He said i could try them, but said they weren't exactly PnP, and used some sort of external ignitor or something. There was a bit of wiring involved, and he sent me some type of diagram. I had already had my toyota COP's so i asked for a good write up / tutorial on installing his but never heard anything back...

If i get information and can get them for the price at or around what i paid for my Toyota COP setup, i'd be more than willing to try them.
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Old 12-11-2013, 12:33 PM
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They look very decent, maybe a Honda or VW pencil coil? They look like they fit far better than the Toyota ones we have been using. I'd like to see PN's for the ignitor box thing and the coils. I've been stranded a looooooong way from home before and availability is what might kill this for me.

Toyota COPs being fired by my stock ECU was awesome, the engine sounded SO much better and idled way smoother. Then I fried a COP and went back to stock. I'd love to find something that actually works with the stock ECU.

Posting instructions/directions would be key. Honestly, this is what sells me on a lot of parts when I'm shopping around for things. I want to know what I'm getting into before I plunk down cash.

Edit: Oh Sexy! I bet its this setup:

http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/mx-5-mi...ug-option.html

Coils: '08-'09 Honda CBR1000RR; Denso p/n 129700-5150
Igniter: Audi A4 (I'm looking for a PN. I bet JKav has it)

The ignitor in the FAB9 kit looks suspiciously like an AEM 4 Channel Coil Driver p/n 30-2840

Last edited by EO2K; 12-11-2013 at 12:57 PM.
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Old 12-11-2013, 12:41 PM
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Yep, that's the bottom line: if all we get are some weird diagram and some weird vague instructions without any support I don't think many will get these.

If we get clear and precise instructions and good support then it looks/sounds like a great setup.

I know Bryan is running these on his car now at 400whp, but no one else and no idea how much it took to make em work and everything.
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Old 12-11-2013, 12:45 PM
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I still have the image he gave me. I'll plop it in here when i get home from work if he doesn't before me.
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Old 12-11-2013, 02:29 PM
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Yeah, Bryan's build thread has a decent outline of what he was working on. I'm digging around for more details. https://www.miataturbo.net/build-thr...39/#post964404

The AEM ignitor box thing MSRP's for $187 and used CBR1000 coils are all over ebay for $35-40 for a set of 4. Assuming new coils and AEM ignitor and connectors, the Fab9 kit looks like a hell of a deal. Not sure I could duplicate that for $250 with all new parts, plus plugs.

AEM products have always bugged this **** out of me with the consistant lack of documentation. I want to know how much dwell this thing is putting out, if its RPM based, etc.
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Old 12-11-2013, 02:39 PM
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Wouldn't mind using these coils with an aftermarket ECU wired sequentially...Wonder if custom harness is available....
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Old 12-11-2013, 03:17 PM
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Those look really nice for the price.
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Old 12-11-2013, 04:14 PM
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Originally Posted by EO2K
They look very decent, maybe a Honda or VW pencil coil? They look like they fit far better than the Toyota ones we have been using. I'd like to see PN's for the ignitor box thing and the coils. I've been stranded a looooooong way from home before and availability is what might kill this for me.
Honestly if you want availability I would be looking into LS2 coils. Every parts store on earth has coils and wires available for fairly cheap. They use stock size spark splugs so you can run the ngk's everyone likes instead of that denso.

Cost wise with getting the bracket and wires from FM and coils from junkyard or ebay you can do the setup for about $250. The only catch is that I am not sure what it would take to get running with the stock ecu.
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Old 12-11-2013, 04:25 PM
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My question would be: Why bother running an aftermarket ignition setup of any kind on a stock ECU?
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Old 12-11-2013, 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by shuiend
Honestly if you want availability I would be looking into LS2 coils. Every parts store on earth has coils and wires available for fairly cheap. They use stock size spark splugs so you can run the ngk's everyone likes instead of that denso.

Cost wise with getting the bracket and wires from FM and coils from junkyard or ebay you can do the setup for about $250. The only catch is that I am not sure what it would take to get running with the stock ecu.
That's my longterm goal. I've got the LS2 Truck coils and a custom bracket, just waiting around for Ballenger to post up the connectors I need so I can build my harness. Then plugwires. Still need ECU to control it though.

Originally Posted by concealer404
My question would be: Why bother running an aftermarket ignition setup of any kind on a stock ECU?
For the same reason I ran COPs on the stock ECU: the failure prone NB1 coil is something like $380 last time I checked, and the COPs made the engine run soooo much smoother. I was able to do the Toyota COPs for $10/ea but the lack of dwell control killed that idea, and the coils. I'm still waiting for my Megasquirt, so I don't have many options currently.
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Old 12-11-2013, 06:16 PM
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This is what i got from him.



I'm not a wiring guru, so i really have no idea what's going on here.
Attached Thumbnails Fab9 COPS kit?-image12112013181218.jpg  
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Old 12-11-2013, 06:27 PM
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It looks like it makes sense. Its doing the same thing I did with my COPs, driving 2 coils/igniters off one input. I'm still interested in finding out what this ignitor module is doing for dwell. What happens when this thing sits between my MSx and these coils? What does it do for voltage drop?

Also, did he say the harness was plug and play? I noticed on the Fab9 site that the business end of the harness is not pictured, nor are the ends for the ignition module.
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Old 12-11-2013, 06:33 PM
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He also sent me this picture, maybe this helps.



I'm almost positive he said they weren't PnP, which also kind of turned me off of it.
But after he stopped contacting me, i lost interest in buying them. If i could get a detailed instruction manual, and a little write up as to how exactly these things work i'd be more willing to buy them.
Attached Thumbnails Fab9 COPS kit?-image12112013182912.jpg  
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Old 12-11-2013, 06:39 PM
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I saw these and was also very interested since I keep on getting a random misfire code that cones and goes. However, the main problem with all of this is the fact that Fab9 and Bryan are notorious for late shipping and non-conmunication.

I bought one of the very first run of the "350 hp" intercoolers and got it on time. However, the Begi airbox from Bryan took something like two months overdue.

All that said, it looks like an awesome kit for a great price!
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Old 12-11-2013, 06:45 PM
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I don't think that other guy has gotten his stuff yet, either...

I'm curious as to what exactly is going on there to copy it for myself, but there's no way i'd buy it from them, unfortunately.

Which sucks, because i really want one of the 550hp intercoolers.
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Old 12-11-2013, 07:38 PM
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I'd actually be interested in buying this as a set of components without the connectors crimped and pinned. It would be trivial to make the harness PNP once you have the correct mating connector for the stock harness. I emailed Fab9 about it through the website, we'll see what they say. If anything.
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Old 12-11-2013, 09:00 PM
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In for responses.
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Old 12-11-2013, 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Chilicharger665
Fab9 and Bryan are notorious for ... non-conmunication.
I had the opposite experience. Last night was my first time contacting them. I sent a message through the email form on their web site. Bryan emailed me back about 30 minutes later, and then sent me three more emails in response to my questions, all within a one-hour period.
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