OMC King Cobra 454 spitfire EEM question

[zombiescustoms]

I have a 1991 Four Winns 315 vista with twin King Cobra 454ci and cone clutches, and the dreaded spitfire EEM ignition, the boat starts up and runs fine when cold but after it warms up and you turn it off, the starboard engine will not start (has no spark). After it has cooled off it starts right up, I know that there are no parts available for this set up so I was thinking of converting it to an MSD or other distributor type ignition set up.

But could it be the pick up on the flywheel, or it most likely the ignition module???

 

[Windykid]

Re: OMC King Cobra 454 spitfire EEM question

Thats a good one. It sounds more like a module to me.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: OMC King Cobra 454 spitfire EEM question

I would think there are after market Marine ing. systems available for that application. But if not I'm sure a Mercruiser ing system could be adapted to work. Although it may be pricey.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: OMC King Cobra 454 spitfire EEM question

This is one of the reasons a lot of us on here usually tell people to "RUN quickly" away from the older King Cobras. Especially both (460/454) BB electronic ign models.

Unless you can find a supplier with a new old stock "module" etc. you're probably going to have to put a distributor on the engine. A Mercury Thunderbolt V or similar might probably work just fine. (actually Doug Russell shows the module as available......but it doesn't mean they really have it!)

If I had that set up I would put MSD or equiv marine distributors/ign on both engines and "Ebay" the parts you take off so someone else with one can fix theirs. I don't know if the MSD models interface with knock sensors so you may have to permanently retard the timing and accept the slightly lower performance.

I sold the old points type distributor I took off my 87 460 King Cobra engine to a guy with a newer (Cone Clutch) King Cobra 460 that had that very same system. His was "dead in the water" and he couldn't find ANY ignition parts at any price for it.

Good luck!


Rick

I would think there are after market Marine ing. systems available for that application. But if not I'm sure a Mercruiser ing system could be adapted to work. Although it may be pricey.

 

[danond]

Re: OMC King Cobra 454 spitfire EEM question

Any 15yr old car would require service like a distributor sooner or later. This isn't a "ditch your whole boat" situation. Hot rodders do this kind of stuff all the time, it's no big deal and not horridly expensive.

Rick's right, if your module is toast, don't replace it, just get new marine ignition setups for both engines and eBay the old stuff. Poof, your ignition is now future-proofed.