Mikado463

Thinking about upgrading / converting to Pertronix Ignitor setup. Any thoughts .................pro or con ?

big block ken

I carry a spare ballast resistor and condenser in case I break down, since I still use points in the original distributor. I've read too much on here about Pertronix (and similar) systems suddenly failing (rare, but still a possibility).

Donny Brass

I have been running the Crane XRi for a decade, and yes, I have had one abruptly fail.

There is no performance advantage over a well tuned set of points.

rtruman

Heck yes easy install runs better go for it

Nowhere Man

A spark is a spark. You can buy a lot of sets of points for the price of the widget that only lets you be lazy by not setting and adjusting them every 6,000 miles of so.

Frankie the Fink

I ran Pertronix for literally three decades in all manner of cars - never a problem...

When my car was judged I switched to Lectric Limited's Breakerless SE as it uses the stock coil, ballast resistor and spark plug wires and is undetectable. Its hard to screw up the install (poor installation is often time the reason Pertronix units get such a bad rap.)

The only disadvantage over a Pertronix is that, unlike the Pertronix III, it does not have a rev limiter...

USMC 0802

I guess I'm "lazy" then.

I run a Pertronix in my '66 and love it. No issues and I drive my car almost daily. I have no desire to keep a set of points/files in my glove box (just in case...) when for $129 for the Ingnitor II, I never have to worry about ignition again. Some people may have had issues with them but not me or any of my car buddies.

YMMV but I choose to not mess with points anymore, even if Nowhere Man thinks I'm "lazy."

Should I have to wear a hair shirt to pay some sort of penance for driving my Midyear 10k miles a year?

rtruman

Bending over fenders hard to reach areas to get the points right.

I don't miss that . I painted the blaster coil ,upgraded black wires .

Mikado463

?????

Bluestripe67

I'm SO SURPRISED Nowhere Man disapproved of the conversion. Dennis

ChattanoogaJSB

Pertronix ii has also worked well for me at least the last few 1000 miles. There is now no chance of installing one "wrong" if you are using one that doesn't have the additional need for a button. From what I have read of the failures on installation that's he big issue- right?

i will say compared to a fresh set of points and my dwell and timing set perfectly, the pertronix does seems to start easier and idle smoother. It's hard to say if the results are real or mental, but it's just enough to swear "it's there."

Nowhere Man

Refer to my post about being lazy.

If you don't want to set the dwell every 6k miles or so then buy that widget. That is the only advantage. In all the years on here I have yet to see proven data saying other wise.

Easy Rhino

OP, I am on the sidelines of this issue, but have seen a lot of venom spent over the years expended on this exact issue.

First, who cares what anybody else uses, and most certainly, why get emotional/upset/pejorative/defensive/hurt when somebody uses something you don't?

One bottom line: costs more (but not that much), gets you out of points maintenance, but introduces a small risk of failure (yes, it could be your fault).

Pick your poison: spend a little more and quit points maintenance, but accept the risk of potential failure. Or, keep your points and their problems. Which problem model suits your personality more?

If you need to "win" do it my way or you're a moron/lazy/idiot/dinosaur, then pick your emotional match, but I would opine that you're working on an, um, weird emotional payoff.

Good luck.

SI67

You should ask questions about which there is less violent disagreement, like, "Hey, who's right? The Sunnis or Shiites?"

Easy Rhino

Add to that - so much disagreement on such a nearly meaningless topic.

65silververt

I have experimented with many upgrades.I have had several pertronix units fail and many of their coils crap out. This is the only upgrade I use now over stock points.

http://www.breakerless.com/

65tripleblack

I think the OP is a troll!!!!!! Ha Ha.

Seriously...........go for it. One of the best upgrades you can make.

I agree that Breakerless SE is a more robust design, but requires use of ballast and weak original resistance coil.

RatDog

Perhaps a more useful posting for the OP would be:

I'm done with points. For those of you who use, or have used, an electronic ignition system, what has been your experience?

For what it's worth, I installed a Mallory Unilite conversion in my car when I got it 4-1/2 years ago and haven't had any problems with it. There's a small "surge protector" device available for it that installs in-line that protects the system and I use that as well.

Steve

Frankie the Fink

I've run them all - my 67 Chevelle used the Mallory Unilite (with the surge protector)...

With maybe 1 or 2 exceptions the Pertronix failures I've seen are abuse (the earliest models didn't have a lot of circuit protection), incorrect installation, and, failures of ignition coils incorrectly blamed on the Pertronix. The use of solid core ignition wires is prohibited with the Pertronix as well.

Hence, my preference for recommending the Breakerless SE to novices. Other than what's under the distributor cap - nothing else changes. You can leave ALL other ignition components stock. Pretty much idiot proof.

66jack

I installed the MSD 8572/6A/blaster coil on/in my 327/350...8 years ago...not one problem...it also fits under the shielding....