well like the ***le says. was wondering if any one has used one of these. i know serval companies make them. who's the best and is it really worth it.
i've installed several Petronix kits in other guys cars and the seamed to work fine. they are probably the most popular in my own cars i still just use a good set of points. at BTT50's this year i saw a `55 chevy with a petronix in it fail
I use the Crane XR-i unit because it has an adjustable rev limiter, it works great. But the pertronix unit is great also.
Likewise,I have installed both the Petronix and the Crane XR1.Both have worked well but lean toward the Crane,like stated above,with the rev control.Just seems cooler.
WE had a Pertronix fail. When they go..they go. No warning. I don't like any of the systems that use a light or "eye" like Pertronix or unilite's. Had a unilite go bad. Mallory said they go bad from time to time. At $70 a pop to fix it, I **** canned it. We've tried the Crane in 2 cars now with good luck. Don't have a lot of miles on them so we don't know for sure. They are magnetic pick up and i have more faith in them. Clark
I've run a few Pertronix kit's myself with good luck, and installed them on other guy's car's as well with the same good luck.. BUT, i have heard of them failing as Clark mentioned.. A few freind's have been using the Crane kit's with good results as well.. I havn't heard of any issues there so i might try one of those myself next time around. The Crane XRI kit also has an adjustable rev control too which is nice to have.. Tony
Clark, Where did you get the Pertronix with a light/eye? I've never seen one. We've installed several Pertronix and my personal experience is 7 years in the '32 , not a problem. Frank
I have installed about 30 Pertronics kits in cars, pickups and boats with only 1 failure to date. It failed without warning but that is still a good average. I would only recomend it for a fairly mild engine. If you are looking for power then MSD is what we use and recommend.
millions of people eat at mcdonalds everyday, that doesn't make them the best. i prefer stock points triggering an electronic box like a MSD. it costs a little more but is a much better ignition.
Frank...Larry got it and put it in his truck. Lasted a couple of months then let him sit. I always thought they were the eye or light style of pick up. Clark
Pertronix units are magnetic hall effect type pick-ups....same as Duraspark, HEI and other OEM ignitions. The Unilite is an optical LED/detector type set up. Supposedly the optical systems are more accurate....who knows. Regardless of type (optical, hall or otherwise) when they go, they go and thats it. I've kept a spare set of points in the trunk of all my cars I've converted and I've been lucky enough to never have to use them. I've used a TON of Pertronix, several Mallory Unilite conversions and the Crane XRi systems all with great luck and minimal issues.....only one failure in nearly 20 years. One thing to watch on the XRi is the dial for the rev limiter can rotate due to vibration. Make sure you set it where you want then put a dab of silicone goo over it to hold it there. -Bigchief.
I've run many MSD box's in the past in my own car's, and have many friends who use them as well and although they are great performance ignition system's, they fail like the rest..and we've run into more failures with box's than pertronix kit's.. One left me stranded and i couldn't do anything but call a hook.. I've done the same as Big Chief and carry point's with me in my tool box after the Pertronix conversion. At least i can swap it out and get where i need to go. Not saying MSD's are bad at all...i just personally don't have the trust in them i used too. For race, hell yes, but not for me in something i'm driving daily...just me though
as Ray stated before, the points when used for triggering an external multiple spark ignition system will be a great way to combine the two. Trouble is if the shaft is worn then the initial dwell for the ignition systems multiple spark starting point changes. With a hall effect unit you have a similar situation. Optical ignition systems have a preset dwell determined by the "breaks" in the plastic trigger wheel p***ing through the eye. Air gap doesn't matter here as the eye is looking for the reflection through the "breaks". That's why they are more precise and reliable for timing. That said, they also are just as susceptible to heat and over load from too much voltage as the magnetic hall effect systems. Same for points as we all know, too many volts and the points burn. What's my point,.........I don't really have one except, nothing lasts forever and most of these systems were designed to operate in a perfect world under perfect conditions.
but IF the msd fails, you already have the points in place to keep going, no need to mess with the dizzy. also nearly every parts store in the country has some kind of msd style electronic ignition on the shelf as a replacement. i run MSDs in a couple of daily drivers. i'm also a member of the pertronix failure club.
Crane XR???? many versions older than what they sell now,but never a hiccup in the three years I've had it in a 49 Hudson w/308.
Last year I blew two Pertronix units. The first was cause I left the key on while troubleshooting a motor issue.......................my fault. The second one just went on me on the road with 40 miles on it. Went back to points and swore I would never try pertronix again. So a few weeks ago I talked to the guys at Pertronix and found out the reason I blew out the second pertronix was because I was using the pertronix Ignitor unit with an MSD Blaster 2 coil. The pertronix cannot handle a coil with a primary resistance of less than 1.5 ohms. So I bought a pertronix ignitor II which supposedly could handle the Blaster 2 coil. But being gun shy then I bought a pertronix coil so I could try their complete system and pulled the Blaster out. I set up the pertronix just right in my dizzy, installed the new coil and my Rocket runs great. It's only been a few weeks, but it's been a couple hundred miles and no problems and I don't foresee any. In my case using the correct coil with the pertronix was my ticket to success. Good luck.
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