i have just installed a pertronix ignitor 1 into my 324 oldsmobile that is in my 32 roadster and am having a problem with it so i need some help diagnosing the problem. i have hooked the kit up exactly as the diagram states and i tried to dead time the car by placing the #1 piston at tdc and placing the #1 wire where the roter it is lined up with the spark plug connected to the wires. i can turn the ignition on and turn the distributor to try and located the spark but i get nothing. then i pulled the cap off placed it as close as i could going off the eye and trying it again but still nothing. then when i turn the ignition switch off it sparks. then when the ignition switch gets turned on and off constantly the thing sparks but only when it goes from the on side to the off side. i took a volt meter and tried to see if the coil was hot when the key was off and it reads 0 but when the key is on and the volt meter states 12.95volts. so my question is what needs to be done in order to get the power to the plugs with the ignition on instead of just turning it on and off?
Your ignition switch is doing the job the points used to. Building up and collapsing a magnetic field in the coil which induces high voltage in the plug wires. As long as you have voltage to the coil and 12 volts to the Pertronix with the switch on it should run. the pertronix won't build up and collapse a magnetic field in the coil until the reluctor passes by the pick up coil.
Your dead timing method is correct for points but not for electronic. Place your engine at the initial timing advance, 12 degrees for instance. Then line up the nearest magnet on the rotor with the pickup. Should be within 4 degrees of where you want it when you start it.
i was told by a friend that it might have something to do with the voltage regulator or the ballast resister not working properly but he wasnt 100% sure about what he was talking about. when i turned the distributor i figured it would be good enough to simulate the motor running by passing the reluctor wheel by the pick up. does that make any sense?
ok bitchin thanks guys ill have to try and turn her over tomorrow to see if i can bring some life to this fresh motor.
What Mike Miller said is correct. Forget about voltage regulators, and you shouldn't need a ballast resistor as long as it is a 12volt non ballast ignition coil. Good luck.
the coil is a 12 volt blue streak ribbed coil. i ended up getting both of them for $30 because the guy had no idea what they were for or if they worked lucky for me i tested them both and they both work really well
True. I converted an old vette dual pt. to ignitor 1--used ballast at first then went to a resistance coil-theirs-that doesn't need ballast. Cured all problems. Then went to MSD-------better. cooger
I just converted my old points ignition to electronic (MSD), I bought the complete Ready to Run Pro B#%%#t one, nice unit, you do not need a ballast resistor with an electronic distributor. Toss the ballast, its function is to reduce the voltage to the points to keep from burning them up, eliminate the by-pass wire from the starter, its function is to by-pass the resistor to give 12 volts to the points while cranking the engine, and invest in a good coil, I have a blaster II in mine, and a good set of wires, It runs perfect. I've always been an old points style ignition guy, not any more!!! The idle is nice and smooth and the response when I hit the throttle is waaaaay better. Do those few things and it'll run like never before.
I bet I've said this in at least 10 other posts about Pertronix. When you have a Question or Doubts about an issue with Pertronix call there Tec Line number that came with your unit. Those guys really are there to help you, no Bull Shit. They sell a good product, they want there customers to be happy, and they will give you correct information all the time along with walk you through your specific issue. You can't get better service and it's a 1-800 number. There is a lot of good and correct info here on the H.A.M.B. but the Tec guys actually stand behind there product. The Wizzard
Pist-N-Broke makes an excellent point. I called MSD twice for info when I did mine, those tech. lines in general are very good.
Have you checked the resistance on those old coils? If you have an original Ignitor, we like to see 1.5 Ω - if it is an Ignitor II we like to see .32-.6 Ω And your "friend" doesn't really have a clue about this LOL
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