won't run when switching to COP

[Sam280Z]

Currently running MS3 w/ MS3X on 2.8l Datsun 280Z 6cyl w/ turbo ITBs and DIYAutotune triggerwheel (http://www.diyautotune.com/tech_article ... _discs.htm) set up according to instructions.
I'm using a Crane HI-6 CDI, but want to switch to COP because the electrical noise from the CDI prevents me from using detcans.
I sourced 6 Toyota COPs (PN 90080-19016) per this thread: http://www.msextra.com/forums/viewtopic ... 6&start=20.

This afternoon I wired them in to try them out and ran into some strange behavior. I wired cyl 1 to MS3 spk out A, cyl 2 to MS3 spk out E, etc... just like my injectors are wired:
a 1
b 5
c 3
d 6
e 2
f 4

The car would not start or run.
I remembered a thread where someone was having trouble with the firing order http://www.msextra.com/forums/viewtopic ... le#p311122.
I tried different tooth angles to no avail and used my timing light to see which MS3X output was firing with the timing marks. To get it to run, I ended re-wiring the MS3X spkout like this:
A 5
B 3
C 6
D 2
E 4
F 1

The engine runs like this, but only when set to "wasted COP" (and A LOT of sync loss).This tells me that I should probably wire them like this (had to stop because it was late):
A 2
B 4
C 1
D 5
E 3
F 6

I've attached my msq for my normal tune (single coil). All I change to use COP is the "Number of Coils" to COP, "Spark Hardware in Use" to MS3X, and the "Dwell type" to Standard Dwell.
Note the injector angles I'm using. These were determined by holding the engine at 2k RPM and adjusting the appropriate bins to find max vacuum and then adjusting the rest of the table per http://www.msextra.com/forums/viewtopic ... 31&t=37677

Please tell me that I'm a moron and there is something simple that I'm missing.

Thanks,
Sam

[jsmcortina]

Have you tried following the instructions in the MS3 manual for setting tooth#1 angle?

James

[Sam280Z]

Problem is it is an optical pickup. I cannot see where the actual sensor location is. Both crank and cam sensors are in the distributor.
I'm at a loss as to how to set per MS3 manual...

Sam

[billr]

An optical sensor should have a "static" output that you can see with a voltmeter as the engine is moved slowly by hand; you don't need to actually see the sensor. If the manual is overwhelming you, use a timing light while cranking. If it doesn't show what you have set for "cranking advance", then change the #1 offset to make programmed and actual advance match. I suggest doing this with fuel disabled, to avoid back-fires until you have it correct. Obviously (I hope), connect your coils to the correct spark outputs and leave them there, playing "mix-and-match" with those is just confusing things even more. No sync errors, right? Nothing will work right if there are sync errors...

[Sam280Z]

Thanks guys. I assumed that the tooth offset provided by DIY was close because the engine started and ran with that setting. I had ended up with a tooth angle of ~350 deg (just 5 deg off of the instructions' 345 deg) which worked for the CDI distributor based ignition. This turns out to be 120 degrees off. My new tooth angle is 229.3. This worked with "number of coils" set to "wasted COP" but not "COP". I tried 589.3 deg which I got by adding 360 deg - but that failed to work either.

Regardless, although the engine ran well enough for me to set the tooth angle with a timing light, I was getting major sync loss with the COP setup which I was not getting with the CDI / Distributor (although I have had major sync loss issues in the past). I figured in all my trying to get it going, I had fouled the plugs. Then the kicker - when I went to replace the plugs, I realized I have been running non-resistor plugs for over two years thinking that they were resistor plugs. The "R" in the NGK part number referred to "race". These were in the engine when I got it and I foolishly assumed that the original builder and MS I installer knew what they were doing in this regard. Bad on me because I had plenty of evidence to the contrary.

Anyway - It is still wired with the CDI / dist ignition for now with no sync loss. I have run out of time to any more this weekend. I'll update when I get a chance to further test the COPs.

Thanks again,
Sam

edited to correct typo