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Learn More about Ignition & Electrical

One of the three elements every engine needs is spark, the other two being fuel and air.  Like a three legged stool, an engine without spark is useless, and just as if one of those legs is shorter than the others, your engine with be off kilter and suboptimal without the proper ignition components.  Here, in order of your spark's journey, are a few ignition system elements you'll want to consider upgrading from the stock, every day level components.

Batteries

When you turn the key, you battery provides the needed spark to get your cycle rolling.  ...Unless it's dead from old age or climate ineptitude.  Performance batteries from manufacturers like Optima are gel based rather than the less reliable liquid batteries on the shelf at your auto parts store.  Performance batteries are recommended for the high intensity situations on the track, strip, or off-road arenas. 

Starters

The spark from your battery fires an electric motor that turns over your engine.  This is the starter.  Many stock starters will do well enough with a stock engine, but don't have the torque needed for larger, heavier configurations.  Performance starters from companies like Powermaster are not only lightweight and high-torque, they also look cool, often polished to a high sheen that complements the style of your engine compartment.

Alternators

When the engine gets going, the alternator begins to generate electricity to charge your battery.  If your alternator goes out in a normal daily driver with a low output engine, you may have some time to drive to get it fixed.  But when you're driving your track beast for time, you can imagine that a bad alternator can mean a bad day.  That's why upgrading to a performance alternator from a manufacturer like MSD is definitely a worthwhile investment.

Distributors

Next the sparks must be directed to their respective stations.  This is the work of the distributor.  Like a hyper traffic cop, your alternator sends the sparks toward the correct spark plug wires.  All distributors used to be mechanical, points-based systems using a spinning rotor and cap, but many modern engines use electronic ignition distributors, which are more accurate and precise than points-based systems.  An electronic distributor from a company like PerTronix is a good choice for upgrading an aging distributor.  Points conversion kits are also available for less intensive jobs.

Spark Plug Wire Kits

For the final leg of its journey, a spark must travel down a spark plug wire to get to its plug.  Spark plug wires are an extremely easy way to upgrade your automotive electrical system.  Spark plug wire performance is crucial to timing and efficiency.  With performance spark plug wires from a company like Taylor, you'll get highly conductive metals for the actual spark transfer, as well highly durable, silicon insulation that can hold up to the insane heat under your hood.

Sensors

Your car uses a legion of sensors to help adjust timing and fuel mix, among many other factors.  But the stock sensors are used to make sure a normal car is running at normal levels.  Your vehicle is not normal, and you don't want your sensors to relegate it to normal performance levels, or to kick on your Check Engine light every time you feather the gas.  Manufacturers like Accel engineer performance sensors for performance environments. 

This will give you a good starting point for ignition upgrades.  Remember, keeping your ignition systems upgraded means improving what your engine has to work with by a third.  Performance ignition parts are the way to do it.  Stay sparky, friends.