For all intensive testing purposes, we found a perfect candidate to run the new Okada Projects Plasma Direct ignition coil packs. A few phone calls in search of a Honda S2000 netted us with quite an interesting find. Gary Castillo of Design Craft Fabrication based in Lake Forest, Calif., offered a F20C powerplant engine transplanted into a Nissan S13 chassis that was dubbed the S13K. The vehicle and engine buildup was covered in a previous issue of Import Tuner magazine and was successfully completed a few months prior to the '08 drift season. The F20C powerplant was now turbocharged and generating 300-plus whp. The 2.0L mill is equipped with an AEM engine management system, 750cc injectors, Garrett GT2835 turbo, BC camshafts and a custom turbo kit built by Design Craft Fabrication. Strapped to the dyno, the turbocharged F20C, boosting at 14 psi, netted 325 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque while still using the factory coil packs.
Armed with a 10mm socket and an Allen wrench, the F20C plug cover was removed and set aside to expose the four 10mm bolts holding the factory coil packs in place. The bolts were easily removed and the plugs were unclipped before each pack was replaced with our new Okada Projects Plasma Direct system. Within eight minutes of swapping out the factory packs, we had the new Okada units in place. The S13 was spun on the dyno for its second run to see if the Plasma Direct was true to its claims. The dyno charts revealed an increase of 9-peak hp and an amazing 17 lb-ft of torque. At 4,350 rpm we saw an increase of 7 hp and 17 lb-ft of torque as our gains became more significant at a higher rpm, where the F20C transitions from low to high cam phase at 5,300 rpm. From 5,540 rpm to 6,900 rpm, we find the F20C reaping the benefits of the Plasma Direct system with a consistent gain of 7 hp and 5 lb-ft of torque. While horsepower gains were a definite plus in our books, we found the Okada Projects Plasma Direct to prove itself worthy, as the new coilover plug setup helped clean up our forced induced machine at a higher rpm where we were prone to stumbling previous to the installation.
The secondary spark current...
The secondary spark current on an Okada Project Direct ignition reaches an improved 140mA and shows a wave pattern present in the multi spark oscillation, which improves combustion and increases ignition spark.
Plasma Direct coil packs use...
Plasma Direct coil packs use a high-power amplifier built into the unit to increase secondary spark current by 100 percent (two times as much as OEM), producing four times more spark energy for the initial spark discharge than the average stock coils while also generating a highly effective multi-spark discharge of 10 sparks throughout the powerband.
With no modifications or tuning...
With no modifications or tuning performed on the S13K, the Okada Project Direct coils were installed and the Honda-powered Nissan was spun on the dyno. We were pleasantly surprised with an increase of 9-peak hp and an amazing 17 lb-ft of torque.