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Pertronix Ignitor or Ignitor II??

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by mrbthebarber, Nov 9, 2008.

  1. mrbthebarber
    Joined: Mar 19, 2004
    Posts: 205

    mrbthebarber
    Member

    Thinking of getting this system with flame thrower coil for my 58 Lincoln running the 430. Anyone used either with this motor or similar care to share experiences with it please?
    Steve
     
  2. GMC BUBBA
    Joined: Jun 15, 2006
    Posts: 3,420

    GMC BUBBA
    Member Emeritus

    Get the series II , it has circuit protection in the module.
     
    gimpyshotrods and belair like this.
  3. I run an Ignitor II and a Flamethrower and my 371 Rocket loves it.

    I blew two of the regular Ignitors prior though. One of them smoked because I turned the motor off and left the ignition on while troubleshooting a problem. The regular Ignitors are notorious for blowing if you leave your ignition on and the motor off. I know it was a stupid thing to do, but shit happens you know.

    The second regular Ignitor went on me on the road. I later found out it was because I was running an MSD Blaster 2 coil with it. The Ignitor could not handle the low ohm (0.8 ohm) coil.

    I then read that the Ignitor II will work with both low and higher ohm (1.5 ohm) coils and it is more tolerant to leaving your key on (not that I will do that again).

    So I bought the Ignitor II and a Flamethrower so I could install their complete system and the Rocket starts and runs great.

    One tip - pay real good attention to the air gap between the magnetic ring and the pick up sensor. Adjust and shim so as your dizzy rotates the air gap is maintained within tolerance all the way around and that the magnet ring and pick up sensor NEVER touch.

    Good Luck.
     
  4. mrbthebarber
    Joined: Mar 19, 2004
    Posts: 205

    mrbthebarber
    Member

    THANKS a bunch guys, good to get confirmation regards this set up & I'll definitely go for the Ignitor II & Flame Thrower......... I just have to creep round my good friend A32FLATHEAD & see if he'll mind purchasing & shipping to me in the UK!!!
     
  5. Hank37
    Joined: Mar 28, 2007
    Posts: 2,121

    Hank37
    Member

    I replaced my Mallory dizzy with a 53 Caddy dizzy on my 400" Caddy with a Petronix Ignitor and reset curve. I'm running 12:1 pistons and always had ping on hard pulls, had to run 4 degrees retard on inital timing. Forgot to say that the Mallory was running through a Jacobs setup similar to MSD. Now I run 5 degrees advance with a total of 22 degrees with no pinging and it runs stonger than ever with the Petronix.
     
  6. hotroddon
    Joined: Sep 22, 2007
    Posts: 28,240

    hotroddon
    Member

    The other difference in the Ignitor II is that it has adaptive dwell. What that means is that the dwell is not stuck at some preset arbitrary number of degrees. It changes the dwell based on the load sensed. What that means is that the coil will run cooler and that the spark will be more consistent regardless of rpm or engine load. They also have an Ignitor III coming out - same as II but add a multi spark and rev limiter built in, basically a 6AL box built in to the ignitor!
     
  7. fab32
    Joined: May 14, 2002
    Posts: 13,985

    fab32
    Member Emeritus

    Igniter II and coil in the '32 going on 8 years. NEVER a problem. Engine runs chrisp and starts on first crank.

    Frank
     
  8. plynch
    Joined: Dec 24, 2005
    Posts: 153

    plynch
    Member

    Ignitor II, I've used it on many engines with great results. Better thottle response, performance, MPG.
     
  9. X38
    Joined: Feb 27, 2005
    Posts: 17,498

    X38
    Member

    For about a million or so other responses, use the search function for anything Pertronix or Ignitor, should prove helpful.
     
  10. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,664

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    BUMP. I'm about to go Pertronix in my Flathead, mostly because I have to remove my radiator to get to the points. Lots of back and forth between the two models (Ignitor I and II) on other threads. The polarity and overload protection of the II is a big plus but some say the I is more reliable otherwise. Current experience/thoughts?
     
  11. Many have said that with the Ignitor I you can't leave the ignition switch on for very long. I accidentally left the key in the "on" position all night on my Caddy 429, and figured the ignition must be fried. After charging the battery, the motor fired right up and there has been no problem now for a couple years. Hope that helps.
     
  12. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,664

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    Thanks for the reply BD. That's interesting that yours didn't fry.
     
  13. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,036

    belair
    Member

    I have used both, never a problem. Went to the II because I have been known to leave the key on. Also like the other features. I use their coil too.
     
  14. old sparks
    Joined: Mar 12, 2012
    Posts: 414

    old sparks
    Member

    used a petronics on my flathead and worked well except every once in awhile the motor would shut off at a stoplite. finally read instructions and installed a #10 primary feed wire. problem solved. they seem to be voltage sensitive. that`s what I get for being an electrician for 45 years and thinking I knew it all
     
  15. hotroddon
    Joined: Sep 22, 2007
    Posts: 28,240

    hotroddon
    Member

    You got Lucky! Here's what happens when you leave the key on; if the magnet is lined up with the hall effect sensor, the energy passes through to the coil. No harm, no foul. BUT, if the magnet is not within proximity of the hall effect sensor then the energy (power) is flowing into the Ignitor and has no where to go, so it sits and cooks until it goes up in smoke. So you have a little less than 50/50 chance chance that it won't have a magnet close enough when it stops turning so as to not cause a problem. So Again, you got lucky :)
     
  16. Buddy Palumbo
    Joined: Mar 30, 2008
    Posts: 3,871

    Buddy Palumbo
    Member

    I have installed tons of "regular" Pertronix units in customer cars at our British restoration shop with hardly ever an issue (maybe 2) - 1 from the key being left on , one had the magnets fly out of the center trigger. IIRC I'm running a "regular" Pertronix and flamethrower coil on my Shoebox, and it's working great. Starts right up like a modern car, every time (it won't, now that I said that , lol) . Either one will work great , IMHO . Just keep a set of points in the glovebox , just in case ;)
     
    flux capacitor likes this.
  17. flux capacitor
    Joined: Sep 18, 2014
    Posts: 773

    flux capacitor
    Member

    Upgraded to a Petronix 12v neg ground ignitor along with a flamethrower 3 ohm coil in the 53 235 this week. I've installed close to a dozen plain ignitors & always get the correct low ohm coil for my own & encourage it for other customers. At work we sell roughly 20 units per year all plain ignitors & I've only had one come back in the last 10 years. I suspected on the returned unit "a 72 "302" Ford" , the gap wasn't set correctly between the unit & the magnetic trigger , I give it to another customer & it worked perfectly. Good solid product. Flux. image.jpeg image.jpeg
     
  18. I have the Petronics distributor ignitor II with the flamethrower coil and the petronics dual strike box with rev limiter in my gasser . I am very satisfied with the whole system . I did have a problem at one time and they made good on it even though the warranty was expired .
     
  19.  
  20. That's what I figured - I got lucky (a rare thing). I plan to put a Pertronix in my flathead, because these days I'm just too dang lazy to deal with points.

    And I won't leave the ignition on overnight ever again. I swear.
     
  21. deucendude
    Joined: Oct 31, 2008
    Posts: 702

    deucendude
    Member
    from norcal

    I have had one in a hot rod with 400 chevy for over 20 years !
     
  22. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 34,006

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    replacing Flamethrower coil with Flamethrower II coil of any benefit when running 1st generation Pertronix conversion?
     
  23. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 24,481

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Reliability and longevity.

    It's not likely you will feel anything.
     
    Jalopy Joker and chicken like this.

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