emccomas

Anyone ever put a Pertronix Ignition system in an FI distributor?

My 64 300 hp engine's original distributor has a Pertronix unit in it, and it works great.

I am thinking about putting one in my 063 FI distributor when I tune it for a 300 hp engine.

Geralds57

I have one in mine and no problems.

Avispa

Your question is a "hot button" one that generates about 50 responses, most of which are personal opinion and aren't particularly helpful. If you don't mind checking dwell and keeping the contacts clean points work just fine. If taking the shielding off and working on the points is a PITA for you, then a pertronix module is a good bet. Everything else is personal preference of whoever wrote the comment.

DZAUTO

I've been using PerTronix conversions in all of my distributors (including FI) for over 20yrs.
Although, I have one exception. I have not yet put a PerTronix unit in the 65 FI distributor in my T-bucket. The old points are working great, so I haven't got around to installing one yet.

emccomas

OK, Pertronix it is.

I figure I can move the existing Pertronix from the 300hp distributor to the FI distributor.

And I really like the T-bucket. Can you post some close up pictures of the engine and the FI unit?

Frankie the Fink

Like Tom I used Pertronix in all my cars for decades; more recently I moved to the Breakerless SE conversion....
You almost can't screw it up (bad installation are why Pertronix gets such a bad rap in many cases)...

It is truly undetectable (unlike Pertronix) and you keep everything else stock: ballast resistor, wiring, plugs, plug gap, plug wires -- and ignition coil.

That is what I would recommend in your case...

DZAUTO

Ever since I was a kid in the 50s, I've ALWAYS wanted a REAL hotord. The T-bucket belonged to a friend of mine (and I NEVER knew he had it), and one day when we were talking, we struck up a deal (actually, it was a steal for me). I bought it for TWO specific reasons. One, it had an FI unit and two, it was a 4sp (Muncie). In my book, hotrods, muscle cars, Corvettes, etc are just WRONG with an auto tranny! Also, it had an early style Chevy rear which I've been building for 50yrs (which I built for him years ago and never knew what car it was for).
The FI unit is a totally rebuilt, bone stock 65 7380 unit and runs like a scalded dog. The engine is a .030 over, solid lifter 327 with Edlebrock alum heads.















The (oil filled) gauge at the front of the block is an oil pressure gauge that I install in all of my engines.












Notice, 3 pedals. When I bought it, it had a GM Muncie T-handle shifter (from a Chevelle, Corvette, something??). I replaced the shifter with a Hurst and made the handle from a stainless rod.

emccomas

Tom, that T-bucket is awesome. Thanks for the extra pics.

Rdelvalle

59 Vette Fuelie 290hp Breakerless SE. Runs great.

mikelj

Happens all the time.......

Vette5311

Now that T Bucket is OLD SCHOOL COOL!

jtranger

Can the SE be installed without removing the distributor?

Frankie the Fink

Of course. In fact, I'd recommend you do not... Here are the instructions:

www.breakerless.com/seinstruct081304.pdf

2009stanger

I installed an SE about a year ago in my 65. Very easy and you can’t tell that it’s in there.

emccomas

SE sounds like a winner. That is the plan.

Thanks for the input guys.

Dreaming60’s

Another timely thread and great information Frankie! I just noticed the Breakerless SE in one of the aftermarket vendor catalogs over the weekend and it looked almost foolproof, which qualifies me to install. This latest car has dual points so this would be a great conversion for me and much easier to keep in tune going forward.

Thank you jv04 and Frankie!

BH

emccomas

I concur. Really great feedback in this thread, thanks everyone.

emccomas

And I forgot to ask, is there any place in particular to order the Breakerless SE system? Summitt? Jegs? Direct from Breakerless? Somebody else.

The A/C install on the 64 is going well, but my installer discovered that my car does not have the glove box lower reinforcement plate, so he is putting that in as well.

I will start building the 063 distributor as a 300 hp distributor with a Breakerless SE system and install / test it in my engine.

Once all of that is done, I will send the entire 64 FI unit, including the modified 063 distributor, to Ken Hansen for a complete rebuild. Ken will clean everything up and make it all look nice but he will not be restoring the unit to show quality appearance.

I plan on using the 57 style air cleaner that came with the unit. I am wondering what the part number / dimensions, etc. are on the air filter element in that air cleaner setup. I am also wondering if there is a taller air filter element that has the same diameter.

Frankie the Fink

I don't recall where I bought my Brekerless SE points conversion IIRC, there wasn't a big price diff between vendors at that time...
I've always liked JEGS for generic stuff though - crazy quick shipping and stellar return policy...

Rdelvalle

I bought my SE system from Paragon