I was woundering what could be done about the stock ignition because it just has the little coils over the spark plugs and I have seen others do MSD coils with wires running under the cover for the engine. I was woundering how this was done and if this has a profound effect on the spark provided and if it is a good gain for the engine. So if I could get some feed back that would be great and what others think. Thanks........

I could be way off here but the ignition timing is gathered from various sensors on the motor, the readings are then converted by the computer and the cylinders are fired accordingly with the change in rpm of the engine. So i'm guessing that some how an msd dis " Direct Ignition System" Box is hooked up and controls more power full coil packs that the wires are run to from under the cover atop the engine. My input i hope someone else can help you further id love to know more about it as well.

Ben Holmes wrote:I could be way off here but the ignition timing is gathered from various sensors on the motor, the readings are then converted by the computer and the cylinders are fired accordingly with the change in rpm of the engine. So i'm guessing that some how an msd dis " Direct Ignition System" Box is hooked up and controls more power full coil packs that the wires are run to from under the cover atop the engine. My input i hope someone else can help you further id love to know more about it as well.

"Distributorless Ignition System"...but close enough. And he isn't asking about the MSD DIS-II. He's asking about different coils.


For the OP... What year 2.3L are we talking about? 92 (maybe 93) and earlier GM DIS systems are a little different from the newer 2.3/2.4 DIS, but still swappable to external coils (like the ln2 motors and the Iron Dukes have). You can either rewire to the other ICM "Ignition Control Module" and coil setup, or you can use your stock ICM interfaced with the external coils...then run the wires to the spark plugs.

If you have a 94+ quad 4, then use that fancy search feature at the top right of every forum here. This topic has been discussed extensively, and Wrench monkey even started selling the MSD conversion with the stock ICM. Look under "2.2L coil swap" or something to that effect.


Perhaps one of the Techs or Die-hard Q4 guys can verify the year I gave for the DIS change.


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"Youth in Asia"...I don't see anything wrong with that.

Thanks that will get me on the way. Just to let you know it is a 95 cavalier with the quad 4. So I would have to find the right ICM to work with my car and one that is upgradable or something like that. Anybody with more info would be great thanks.....

["Distributor-less Ignition System"...but close enough. And he isn't asking about the MSD DIS-II. He's asking about different coils.
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I could still be wrong but im pretty sure that direct ignition system is also a correct description of the ignition system. A direct ignition system is described as " any ignition system where current is sent from the coil or coils directly to the spark plug with out traveling though a distributor,and ignition timing is derived from electrical sensors on the crankshaft or camshaft. But who knows my text book could be wrong and that was allot of wasted schooling. Im not saying your wrong but neither am I. Good emphasis with the red too.

Dis Acronym's Notice both are listed.


Now not sure about this one ither but im pretty sure you get a longer better hotter spark by doing what your describing but the problem doesn't lie in the spark so much as it does in the sensor on the cam and crank. The magnetic sensors pick up on notches on a disc on the crank usually part of the crank casting so it can be evenly balanced with the crank. The problem usually is because of the error or lack in ability for a computer to correct the small amount of error created by so few notches in the crank usually 4-10 witch creates small and usually unnoticeable errors in the ignition timing of the course of the rpm of the engine. What im saying is a good spark is obviously good but changing to external coils and using wires with the stock ICM would be downgrading and a complete waste of time in my opinion.

I wasn't being condescending if that's what you thought. I truly meant "close enough"...but anyways...

Both ICM's are completely identical (opposed to physical shape), and you are talking about a couple feet of bare,heavier-gauge, un-impeded wire versus a spring in a plastic cup... It won't retard timing over the other stock setup by more than .00000000000000001 degrees. The main point of the swap is to get the coils/ICM away from the engine (plus there are no good MSD coil options for the quad4's).

z24sleepers wrote:Thanks that will get me on the way. Just to let you know it is a 95 cavalier with the quad 4. So I would have to find the right ICM to work with my car and one that is upgradable or something like that. Anybody with more info would be great thanks.....

The coils themselves are the same regardless of year, but if you wanted to use the other ICM too, you can get the assembly out of any 95'-01' 2.2L 3rd gen J-body


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"Youth in Asia"...I don't see anything wrong with that.

So Find a 2.2 at the junkyard and get the ICM and Coil assembly out this car. Do I need anything else out of them other then these two peices. Also if anybody knows were is the ICM located in the car so I don't have to go to work and look it up if you don't mind. So does this 2.2 coil assembly plug right into the plug that goes to the ignition coil under the cover. Thanks for any info......

If your using the 2.2 icm u also need the two plugs that go in the the icm. Though the icms of the 2.2 and 2.4 are the same the plugs are different. It is really easy to wire in the new plug because the wires are the same color. All you have to do is cut the 2.4 plug off and crimp on the 2.2 plugs.

this is not a plug and play mod..wiring needs to be done..make sure youve done the research and know what to do before you start cutting wires..there are write ups on the org