Technical Opinion on pertronix?

As some know, the ‘51 Plymouth had been tinkered with enough to make it run by the previous owner and it quit running just after I got it. I diagnosed the ignition issue as the wire that carries power from the isolator to the points broken in half. I tried to make a new one with terminals and wire I had on hand but it shorted to ground due to incorrect terminals and I’m not sure where to get those style terminals. I located a second distributor hopefully I can make one good distributor. BUT. The pertronix bypasses the isolator all together. Are they reliable this day and age? Car is staying 6v. I’ve heard recent quality concerns but I have not used one in a decade, but that one was awesome.

 

When all the stars align they work great but they can leave you sitting in 5 o'clock traffic, in the turn lane, very frustrating. HRP

 

take a picture of the isolator, so we can see what you're dealing with, and might offer suggestions how to easily fix the issue?

I expect the points wire is fastened to the isolator with a nut? or ???

but it's been many years since I played with a Mopar flat six distributor.

Or maybe I could look in my old Plymouth shop manual.

I hear lots of good things, and a few bad things, about Pertronix. If that's the only solution you can come up with, go for it.

 

This is the part of the wire that is broken on my distributor.

and this is not my distributor but same model. You can see the wire carries from the isolator to the points. It has an eye type terminal through the isolator which has 2 nuts on the bottom as usual. One to hold the isolator screw in, and the other one tightens the wire in place. This wire is very fine and the terminals are very small. I’d never be able to reuse them.

I found an isolator screw for an old international Cub looks like it would work and they did use prestolite distributors. But that screw and isolator as a kit is $20 + shipping. I paid $65 for an IAT 4003 distributor which I hope actually shows up

 

Unfortunately, I can't figure out what's going on, from those pictures.

 

it’s cause I didn’t think of that lol. I feel kinda dumb, over thinking it. That’ll get it running for sure.

As far as the isolator,There is a square phenolic block with a square hole through it which the screw is a carriage typeVery close to what this is but I’m not 100% sure it’s the same https://www.ebay.com/itm/3869140621...YFihai7wuRQBqEq2mJJwIIlbeo5F|tkp:BFBMqvPjzLhl

 

heh...now you see the power of the HAMB when you give us pictures and describe the situation well.

 

I’ve had real good luck with the petronix. Also very bad luck with it. That blue tape inside the unit is not real cool. Some heat shrink are a new wire would be nice. You can reuse those odd terminals. Drill the wire out and solder some more in

 

Oddly enough, that blue tape comes with some of the condensers which use a long copper strip vs a wire. That’s not my distributor but my distributor is exactly the same.. both types of condensers are offered though and I found a new set of Airtex points and condensor in the trunk, and the condensor is of the more conventional wire type

 

I have had good luck with them.

 

Just an opinion like you asked for, I agree with what HRP said. I have found that they are very suscepticle to a spark in the electrical system like when you might jump start your car or cross a wire and create a spark. I personally won't use one and rely on factory stuff.

Pat

 

I found it improved my ignition system, but I still carry a set of points in the glove box...

 

If set up properly, pertronics ignition will last a life time
can’t run solid core wires or plugs
I learned this the hard way

 

It’ll have to wait till next weekend. I wasn’t able to get over to where the car is this weekend and it’s a little over an hour drive. I’m sure once I get there, I can fiddle with it for a few mins and get spark though.

 

Petronix has left more folks on the side of the road that had to be towed home than points. Just saying.

 

It was very common for those wires to break. Most wire you have in the shop will break in a short time because it is too stiff. They flex as the advance moves the plate.
Somewhere I have a jar or two of those wires. They came from garage clean outs over the years. I have not seen them recently.

 

That’s not a bad idea. I actually found an off the shelf wire for a ‘62-‘74 Corvette which could easily pass it through a grommet.ideally I’ll hold out for another flathead if this one’s bad so the distributor will remain relevant regardless

 

The problem I had with points was the condenser I was eating them up like candie had to have been quality Chinese parts. Was forced to go with pertronix I just keep a spare in the car had to ditch my solid core wires though.

 

the Pertronix quit on my 59 Ford. found a bad alternator. Pertronix in my avatar good for many years

 

I will not use electronics in my 32 or Harleys . Points and condenser work fine . About every 5-7 years add new parts . Every year a spring clean up and adjust good to go . My Buds 34 had Pertronics he was stuck on the side of the X-way . Towed home replaced with
ole timey point ignition , never stopped running again .

I’m not sure why running solid core wires will not work , if you choose Pertronics . I’m open to learn why .

 

What is an isolator - is that a different term for condenser or something else that you are referring too ?
Thanks !

 

Kinda doubt that ...

 

I think this it what they're referring to ...

 

I have a few cars that run perfectly on a Pertronix ignitor module and an equal amount that run just as well on points. On new builds I usually buy a good used or rebuilt points distributor ( for the looks as I think HEI units are just plain ugly), discard the new chinese points and put in a Pertronix kit. On old cars that are already running fine, I just keep the points .

 

That's the part on a Chevy 235...the Mopar version might be something else, I was trying to get him to show us where the part goes on his distributor. It's confusing.

Basically it's just an insulated terminal block, to get the points wire out of the distributor.

 

I have a Pertronics 12V unit on my 52 Willys Jeep for the past 15 years. The important part is use the Pertronics coil. Also had one on a 54 Buick with no issues. Don't know if they even make a 6 volt unit, and if they do don't have any experience with one.

 

I know that there not very forgiving. I had to remove my ignition switch for some reason and accidentally touch the centre power stud to the metal dash for a split second….poof! Yes, I know, more my fault for not disconnecting the battery but they can be fussy with voltage spikes, wrong coils, bad grounds,…..