Pertronix Unit
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Re: Pertronix Unit (Big Block 60)
I had mine for a year with no problems, but then it failed. They can fail suddenly with no warning and your car will not start. Good idea to carry a spare set of points with you on the road. I switched back to points, and with a good quality set of points my vette starts almost instantly (vs a 2 - 3 second crank with the Pertronix). For me there was no real advantage with the Pertronix. MJ
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: OLATHE, KS
Re: Pertronix Unit (62fuelie)
62 fuelie, I used the 1181 with a flame thrower coil. I did remove the dist. as it said to and left the resister in. The thing I noticed the most is it fires right up and also accelerates very smoothly. No complaints at all.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,158
Likes: 395
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada NS
Re: Pertronix Unit (grumpy in Az)
I've been debating about this as well but I've been hearing too many horror stories about failure without warning. I know you could carry a spare set of points and condenser but if the Pertronix does away with the ballast resistor, would it not be impossible to swap in the points & condenser ?
For the time being, I'm sticking with what I know works. I just replaced my stock GM coil for an Accell Superstock (yellow round).
For the time being, I'm sticking with what I know works. I just replaced my stock GM coil for an Accell Superstock (yellow round).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 280
From: Egg Harbor Township NJ
2015 C2 of Year
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10, '14-'15
Re: Pertronix Unit (grumpy in Az)
There is another choice. "Mallory Unilite" Pop the cap rip out the old points
put in the unilite base, connect wire from unilite base to 12V source. Connect new wire from unilite base to coil, install special sloted rotor put cap on start engine.
Cons.............Mallory Unilite uses a special sloted Rotor. So far after 30K miles I have had no problem's at all. If you do have to replace your rotor it has to be this special one for your car to run as the slots fire the led witch trigger the sensor to fire the coil.
This system is installed in my 460 Cop Motor Thunderchicken and has been very reliable under high heat and cold. The car starts instantly and runs like a top through the entire RPM range. It is also made for the MId Years as well.
Check it out........ :cheers:
put in the unilite base, connect wire from unilite base to 12V source. Connect new wire from unilite base to coil, install special sloted rotor put cap on start engine.
Cons.............Mallory Unilite uses a special sloted Rotor. So far after 30K miles I have had no problem's at all. If you do have to replace your rotor it has to be this special one for your car to run as the slots fire the led witch trigger the sensor to fire the coil.
This system is installed in my 460 Cop Motor Thunderchicken and has been very reliable under high heat and cold. The car starts instantly and runs like a top through the entire RPM range. It is also made for the MId Years as well.
Check it out........ :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: Pertronix Unit (Viet Nam Vett)
The Pertronix does NOT do away with the ballast resistor - you still need the reduced voltage to feed the (+) terminal on an OEM coil (which is designed to run on 8 volts continuous, and will eventually fry if you run it on full 12 volts). What they're saying (which is not said very well in the instructions) is that the Pertronix module works at peak efficiency at 12 volts (but will also work, although not as well, on 8 volts from the coil), but nothing has changed your OEM coil's need for 8 volts.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 0
From: 20 forward gears to shift through in MD
Re: Pertronix Unit (JohnZ)
Hmmmm, JohnZ you made me think about my setup, I believe I am running 12V straight to my coil, and I ~think~ I still have a stock type coil. I may have to swap it with a spare MSD Blaster coil I have laying around so as not to worry about it... Impedance wise, what am I looking for in the ideal coil for a straight 12V, greater than 1.5 ohms or less than 1.5 ohms?
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: OLATHE, KS
Re: Pertronix Unit (Denney)
According to pertronix if you run 1.5 ohms or more you can run 12v to the coil. I installed a flame thrower coil (1.5 ohms) but still went through the resister because their instructions did not state otherwise. I contacted them and was told I could give the coil 12v. They also said I would probably see no difference at low rpm but would most likely get better performance in the high rpm range by doing so.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,158
Likes: 395
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada NS
Re: Pertronix Unit (Viet Nam Vett)
Is installation of this unit as easy as the Pertronix ? Can I use the Mallory unit with my Accell Superstock coil (it is the round coil not the square one) ?
Thanks
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 280
From: Egg Harbor Township NJ
2015 C2 of Year
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10, '14-'15
Re: Pertronix Unit (kenmo)
Kenmo, The Unilite will trigger any coil I belive. Mine is runing a stock 1973 coil on the 460 Ford Police motor. Go to Mallory's Web Page and look around for the unilite system. If you don't get the info you need let me know and I'll look around for the paperwork from the install I did. It's here some where........... :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,563
Likes: 2
Re: Pertronix Unit (grumpy in Az)
Try
www.davessmallbodyheis.com
or
Davis Unified Ignitions
they have small- body tach drive HEI's--
MSD is good, but they have that big ugly red box to hide, and it needs to be in a cool spot.
I have a Mallory Unilite on the '67. It works very well, but I think a vacuum advance unit would be better for street driving.
My 2c.
:yesnod: :chevy :chevy :yesnod:
www.davessmallbodyheis.com
or
Davis Unified Ignitions
they have small- body tach drive HEI's--
MSD is good, but they have that big ugly red box to hide, and it needs to be in a cool spot.
I have a Mallory Unilite on the '67. It works very well, but I think a vacuum advance unit would be better for street driving.
My 2c.
:yesnod: :chevy :chevy :yesnod:
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Re: Pertronix Unit (MassVette)
I've used Mallory Unilites (vacuum advance version) on many of my project cars, with their matching Pro-Master coil - never had a problem with any of them, and they're zero-maintenance; here's one on the Grand Sport:
