People say you have to swap it out from the JDM internal coil to the H23 external coil. I'm just curious as to why, I have searched for this and no reason has been given that I've been able to find.

 

Why do it? Because you already have a H23 Dist and external Coil. OR because you want less heat on your ignition components. I'm sure that is negligible, but it could be a factor for you.

You can run either, so you do not have to have the external coil setup if you don't want it. Wiring for this has been covered.

EDIT

Saw your other post. You have a 96 Si? Are you staying OBDII? I think OBDII expects a crank position sensor down by the oil pump, and has a slightly different distributor (electrically). I do not have first hand experience with the OBDII setup, so maybe someone who does can tell you for certain how that factors in.

 

My expectations was to stay OBDII. I have a local import engine shop that I bought the engine from. I told them that I had a 96Si (OBDII) and they sent me an OBD1 ECU. Now I'm having to buy an engine conversion harness. So to answer your question I guess I'm going OBD1.

I know the "wiring" has been covered. The "WHY" has not been. I can only guess that replacement of ignition components will be significantly easier to replace/repair.

If I do decide to go with the H23 Distributor and ext. coil can I use the bracket from the H23 to hold it in place as well?

Is an OBD1 seeing the crank position sensor? Or do I not need it?

 

You wont be able to mount the external coil in the same place as it is on the H23a1 because your VTEC solenoid is mounted there. I mounted mine to the thermostat housing using the bracket for it and it's laying on its side and it seems ok.

 

I would stick to the external coil. It's been my experience that the JDM internal's ICM's get too hott over time, depending on where you live. I've had 2 JDM dizzys go out and not one US external go out.

 

I talked to the mechanic last night just before they closed for the day. He in fact did swap out the h22 coil for the h23 one.

From what I've gathered the OBD1 dist. has all the position and angle sensors needed inside it and the one next to the oil pump is for misfire sensing/emissions. The OBD2 dist. has the angle sensor and the sensor behind the oil pump has the position sensor.

Please let me know if I have this right or not. It's hard to decipher paragraphs of run on sentences.