Petronix worked great on my 292 Y-Block. Eliminates the resistor and a real simple install too! Too bad my crankshaft wore out though. Still workin on the rebuild.
I like that you can get one to fit damn near anything. I stuck one in my 66 buick, and was even able to get one for my old beat up 1970 BMW 2002. That damn ignition seems as though it is going to outlast the whole rest of that bavarian-bolt-bucket.
I did a Mallory in my '56 and it is fine too. Did the Mallory coil to get rid of the resistor. Works great and no more back fire when I let off the gas and I hope better mileage. Haven't checked yet. Had a speedometer cable break and just got that fixed. Got it all from Summit.
I've been thinking of doing Pertronix on the 283 we are building for my woman's 65. Where you guys buying them from? Who has the best deals? Thanks...jc
I have had a Pertronix ignitor in my 57 Olds for over 8 years with out any problems. I hate screwing with points, but I carry a set just to be safe. Several years back, there were a number of failures in the Ignitors, and most of my friends carry spares just in case of a problem on a long ride. Hopefully the company has resolved those issues. I also vote no on the coil. Had one and had problems, so I went with a MSD coil and no more problems.
Lots of dealers sell them as well as the company itself. If you go to ebay, make sure you deal with a reputable dealer. The parts are about $100 for new units, and I always pefer dealing with some one I can return it to if there are problems. Got mine from Retrorockets out of Connecticut, They have a chart on their website indicate the model someone might need for their engine. http://www.vintageperformance.com/retrorockets/ You could look there, buy elsewhere if desired. Probably sold by one or more Alliance vendors.
The ignitor is great but after 400 miles my coil dropped dead in my driveway. After several calls to Jegs and Pertronix I found out that I could use a Accel super stock coil with a 1.2 ohm primary instead of their 1.5. 1.2 is at the bottom of their acceptance but they said it would be fine and so far so good. Also it didn't run as well at the .60 plug gap that they recommend. Jegs said the coil was fine but to regap the plugs at .45 and that made the differance
I've had one in my 455 Olds a few years now.Been to lazy to cut out the resistor in the harness (67 cutl***). No problems yet.
I had one in a 54 Chevy with a 235 and a 2bbl carb, fenton headers, duals. It was, by far, the best I-6 car I ever owned. I even had a older guy, who's owned dozens of 49-54 cars, tell me it was the best running I-6 he ever drove after he got out. I'm sold.
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 about 2 months 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 ignitor 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 months, but it's been 700 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. And for a few extra bucks get the Ignitor II.
I run the crane XRi and love it for 3 years now and has an adjustable rev limiter. Pertronix is good stuff though and we are a dealer at my work you would be suprised of the available applications to.
I got a pertronix flame thrower II distributor yesterday,the instructions say it is compatable with most coils rated at 0.6 ohms or greater.the coil I have is rated at between .5 and1.0 ohms.should I try it or spring for another coil before I burn up the dizzy? I have a small block chevy with a 6-71 blower,so I am kind of limited to distributor choices.
ill be putting one im my big merc this weekend, allready have the flame thrower coil. Looking forward to it.
Years back I was told that you can not use a generator with the pertronix. The voltage spikes would take them out. With all the reports that pertronixs works I am questioning this belief. Some of you must be using generators with them. So what is the scoop? No problem with generators or do all you have alternators? I have the pertronix on a sbc and it has worked great. Been on for about 10 years. Would like to put one on a '59 Chrysler that I have. Neal
I ran a Pertronix on a race car in an old Corvette fuelie distributor with and MSD 6AL and Blaster 2 coil. It was great for a couple of years then suddenly the car would run for about 5 seconds and quit. We tracked it back to the Pertronix, which was fried. I talked to others who had the same problem, apparently caused by having the ignition turned on but not running the engine. I confirmed with the Pertronix people this can cause problems. Last season we bought an MSD magnet and reluctor and fitted them up in the distributor. Engine runs great. MSD folks said there shouldn't be a problem if ignition is on and the engine not running but I'm not pushing my luck.
Both my daily rides have Pertronix ignition. I installed the first one 7 years ago. Always have a set of points in the glovebox, but never needed it. I have a stock generator, 12V, no ballast resistor, Ignitor I, Flamethrower coil, solid core wires and spark plug gap increased by .010 CAUTION: Don't use solid core wires with Ignitor II ! I have read that some have fried the ignitor from leaving the ignition on without running the engine. Never happened to me though.
Just spoke to a good friend that works PerTronix tech. He felt that coil you have will be fine. No ballast resistor and make sure you have a good solid 12v+ from the ignition switch. Also make sure that your ground at the dist is good. If you are using a chrome hold down sand the chrome off the bottom edges. Although chrome will conduct electricity, it also insulates very easily if oil gets between it and the block and or dist.
Running a 12V Generator with my Ignitor II. No Ballast Resistor, Flamethrower Coil, and +.010 increase on the plug gap. Motor is very happy.
I should have added to my above post, that a buddy put one in his nailhead and used a autozone coil, againt my advice. Motor wasn't happy. 2 months of constant troubles, and finally sprung for their coil, and it was fine. He shoulda listened!
If you use the pertronix on a 55 Buick nailhead with the 'flamethrower' coil AND the ballast resistor byp***ed the rotor will burn...literaly catch fire and burn! Pertronix tech support says to use the ballast resistor and a stock coil for this application. http://www.buickrestorer.com/batavia/rotor.jpg
I have a 1939 Ford coupe with a 1950 flattie. I've smoked 2 of the Pertronix Ignitors almost 2 years to the day of each other. It left me sitting on the side of the road this past weekend. I had to trailer the car home again. I'm running the Flame Thrower coil too. I do not have a ballast resistor on the car. I checked the coil today with a Fluke meter and it is reading 1.3 ohms. Does anyone think this could be part of the problem why I am cooking these units? Do I need a ballast resistor? I understand it is suppose to read over 1.5 ohms or is this variance just in the meter? I'm ready to go back to points! Does anyone have any suggestions for this problem? DMC
I mentioned in an earlier post that I blew two Pertronix "Ignitors. First one cause I left the ignition on while troubleshooting an engine issue. Second one because I was running an MSD Blaster II coil that measures 0.8 ohms with no Ballast Resistor. Lasted 40 miles. After talking with the Pertronix folks I installed an "Ignitor II". This version is suppose to be compatible with lower resistance coils (like the Blaster II). Being a little gun shy for another $25.00 I installed their Flamethrower 1.5 ohm coil. Now I am using their complete system and the motor runs great. And I am running an old Delco-Remy 12V Gennie.
Goldflake, I used Pertronix when they first came out on my '41 Ford and it work great. Just be careful when you install it, they are easy to short out and if shorts out it's a dead duck. Always carry an extra in your ride. CRUISER
Dont leave you ignition switch on for an extended period of time . It'll burn burn up th Petronix unit and th exciter ring.
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