Technical Installed Pertronix in 53 Vicky, no spark, help please

Installed Pertronix in our 53 Ford, 239 flathead with stock distributor.

Cars been converted to 12v, negative ground.

Not getting any spark. I ran the red wire to the + coil post, black wire to negative coil post. Do I need to run the red wire to another source ? Not sure if this car has a ballast resistor, if I'm not getting 12v at the coil ?

Thanks for the help.
Brian

 

I think you should also have a wire running from your ignition switch to the coil. Also, are u using a pertronix coil?

 

The '49-'55 Fords did not use an external ballast-the 6 volt coils had the extra resistance built in.
I would simply use a Pertronix coil matched to your ignitor.
You should have received the instructions/wiring diagram along with the ignitor, yes?

 

Yes, i used the instructions when installing it. I don't have a Pertronix coil in the car. The car's been converted to 12v. Shouldn't the coil that's in it work ? I have Pertronix in our 65 Mustang and haven't had to use a Pertronix coil with it.

 

I called the folks at Pertronix a couple times when I installed mine, and they were super helpful. I'm sure they can tell you if your current coil is compatible or if that's why your getting no spark.

 

Asked bubba

Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

tells you what coil needs to be used in instructions, needs to be correct ohms. do you have 12 volts at coil, key on?

 

First off do you have 12v to the coil with the key on??

 

i'll check if there's 12v at the coil tomorrow and let you guys know.

thanks again

 

I learned the hard way. Use the correct Pertronix coil. No ballast resistor. No solid copper plug wires. If you're wrong on any one of these requirements, there will be trouble!

 

I have Pertronix in our 65 Mustang and haven't had to use a Pertronix coil with it

 

If you don't have 12v at the coil with the key turned on you probably have a resistance wire. In the instructions it says if you have no spark to connect a wire directly from the battery to the red wire and see if it will start. This is only for testing purposes. If it starts then you have a low voltage problem that needs to be corrected first.

 

How do you measure resistance of a coil? Across the +and - terminals?

Ago

 

With wires removed from your coil, meter on ohms measure from -to+ terminals.

 

Resistance wire will show 12v on a multimeter unless there is a load on it.

 

Man, I hate to throw a wet blanket on this thread but why did you go with Pertronix in the first place?

I got stranded in Friday afternoon traffic when a Pertronix module failed. No way to bypass it, no way to replace it with standard points on the side of the road and no parts stores carry replacements. Yup, right and truly f***ed.

It's my understanding that my experience is not unique by any means. So...if there's no real-world improvement in performance or reliability, why do it? Points will always get you home, and a spare set doesn't take up much room in your glove compartment.

 

I agree 100%

 

If using the original distributor, cant he still carry around the old points as a backup? I've heard issues with both and it seems most people carry an extra set of points or extra pertronix so they won't be thumbing it after a problem.

 

I'll tell you why I did it. With two 650 Holleys on top of a 6-71 my mileage was laughable. 8 to 9 mpg highway. After installing a Pertronix Igniter III, the roadster now does almost 12mpg, and starts instantly. Plugs are staying much cleaner. I had to drop the idle back down 200 RPMs after the installation. That tells me the engine is burning more of the fuel it's getting.

 

Funny, I have installed close to 200 Pertronix units. Two failures. Both my fault. So how common is failure?

 

I run one in my roadster, 20K plus miles. I run one in my Falcon, Untold amount of miles. This is a true case of " If all else fails Follow the directions" And the directions say to use a Pertronics coil. I also use their plug wires.

 

I put pertronix on my V8 49 Chevrolet. after I got it back together it would not start, so I got out my digital multimeter that makes me look like an electrical genius to the common people and found I had 12+ volts going in to the original push button starter, but only 9 or 10 coming out. guess that was enough volts to start the car (it was hard starting before that) with points but the pertronix needs more.
so I put in a modern ignition switch and eliminated the push button and I was back in business.

...as for breaking down on the side of the road, I kept a set of points in the trunk but never needed them.

 

I have been told to buy the Pertronix II or III , The cheap pertronix is not the way to go. and follow the directions about coil and 12vdc going to the unit. Some cars have a resistor wire instead of ballast resistor. But I never had a Pertronix so no real experience.


Ago