Technical Why I converted to Pertronix on my flathead

Yeah, it works on lawnmowers too. It could damage an ignition coil internally, similar to troubleshooting a no start condition or testing coil wire output for 1/2" spark to ground it's adviseable to only do this long enough to make the test.

 

Okay. Here's the update. It...F*cking...Runs...Great. No lie. Timing felt a bit off at first. Began adjusting it. Needed to be retarded a bit, then a bit more, then a bit more, then...oops...too much. F*ck!!! Back it off a bit. Nope...backed it off too much. Retard it a Red C-hair more and...PERFECT! Idles like a dream. That persistent random miss at idle is GONE! Soooooo smooth. Like a baby's ass after a bath. Pulls like a bitch in heat. Great throttle response, etc.

Now I'm wondering about the plug gap. What have you all done about that when converting to Pertronix on a flatty? BEFORE...with the points, the damn thing wouldn't run unless the plugs were gapped at .025. They're still at that. Some say add .005, some say leave it alone. What the what???
Tia,
Andy

 

Okay. I just went on Pertronix website to research the plug gap question. It wasn't easy to find the answer. It was buried in the FAQ section. They say plug gap is subjective and individual to each particular engine BUT they recommend an increased gap of .007 maximum over stock application. They say this allows the engine to take advantage of the increased energy that the Pertronix module provide. So...I'm going to increase the gap by .005 and see what happens. Shmaybe it'll run even better!
Andy

 

chiro,
I added .005 to my plug gap when I switched to Pertronix and my flattie seems quite happy with that. Been running that set up for years now.

 

Had a Pertronix distributor in a previous hot rod that quit on me. It wasn’t the normal failure mode I’m familiar with. It started running rough like a fuel problem. I went through the entire file system and couldn’t find anything wrong. Finally I backed it out of the shop and it quit entirely. Then figured out there was no spark. I had thought the typical failure mode was sudden death. I learned something.

 

I ran into the same problem with my OT Mopar 383 if I remember right. Things did not fit the dizzy as easy as the instructions suggested they might...

 

Last update on this thread as it now runs perfectly...even better than before. I increased the plug gap .005 to .030. Took it for a two hour cruise on New Years Eve. What a joy.
Andy

 

Hotter spark does amazing things for engine running. Especially a nice low compression Flatty.

Get the Bosch coil though. I agree! Best oil filled coils made.