petronix electronic ignition
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 428
Likes: 1
From: West Des Moines Iowa
petronix electronic ignition
Right now, my entire car is bone stock (look at pic), I have used points and condensor since day one, have original coil still on car!! Spark plug wires are dated 1968 packard type. The car idles/runs fine, but when the points fail next time, I would like to set up an electronic ignition system using same distributor. Heres my question: If I buy the BASIC petronix conversion system for electronic ignition (around 129 bucks or so), will I have to do any of the following after installed---set timing again?? replace spark plugs or wires to better/higher quality??? Change out coil to a petronix brand??? Please let me know as I dont want to ruin a good thing right now, but want better gas mileage...thanks a bunch!! 
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
The answer is NO to all your questions except for resetting your timing. Please understand that this is not a performance upgrade (despite what the marketing 
tells you) you will not get better gas mileage, higher horsepower, etc etc. These thing DO NOT increase the spark voltage.
The only thing you gain is not having to change points and condenser once every few years, or having to set the dwell once a year. Big deal.
The drawback is that they have a horrible reliability history- very common to quit on you with no warning. Best keep your points and condenser with you for when it craps out some dark night.
tells you) you will not get better gas mileage, higher horsepower, etc etc. These thing DO NOT increase the spark voltage.The only thing you gain is not having to change points and condenser once every few years, or having to set the dwell once a year. Big deal.
The drawback is that they have a horrible reliability history- very common to quit on you with no warning. Best keep your points and condenser with you for when it craps out some dark night.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by Mike Ward
The answer is NO to all your questions except for resetting your timing. Please understand that this is not a performance upgrade (despite what the marketing tells you) you will not get better gas mileage, higher horsepower, etc etc. These thing DO NOT increase the spark voltage.
The only thing you gain is not having to change points and condenser once every few years, or having to set the dwell once a year. Big deal.
The drawback is that they have a horrible reliability history- very common to quit on you with no warning. Best keep your points and condenser with you for when it craps out some dark night.
tells you) you will not get better gas mileage, higher horsepower, etc etc. These thing DO NOT increase the spark voltage.The only thing you gain is not having to change points and condenser once every few years, or having to set the dwell once a year. Big deal.
The drawback is that they have a horrible reliability history- very common to quit on you with no warning. Best keep your points and condenser with you for when it craps out some dark night.
i used their set up on my last camaro, and the had the car quit on me with no warning, tried a second one and that quit too. I ended up calling DUI for one og their tuned 1 wire conversion distributor Nice..
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 428
Likes: 1
From: West Des Moines Iowa
Batman, (additional info) it has newly dated packard wires after the body off done 2 years ago.
Thanks for the info Mike and Sweethence. Very useful for my end decision. I will stick with points since the car is running fine with points, no use breaking something that is not "broke", or worse yet, get stranded on the road near Batman's home....LOL
Johnny B
Thanks for the info Mike and Sweethence. Very useful for my end decision. I will stick with points since the car is running fine with points, no use breaking something that is not "broke", or worse yet, get stranded on the road near Batman's home....LOL
Johnny B
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by gonzo14
Batman, (additional info) it has newly dated packard wires after the body off done 2 years ago.
Thanks for the info Mike and Sweethence. Very useful for my end decision. I will stick with points since the car is running fine with points, no use breaking something that is not "broke", or worse yet, get stranded on the road near Batman's home....LOL
Johnny B
Thanks for the info Mike and Sweethence. Very useful for my end decision. I will stick with points since the car is running fine with points, no use breaking something that is not "broke", or worse yet, get stranded on the road near Batman's home....LOL
Johnny B
exactly, there is nothing wrong with points, just keep a spare condensor and a screw driver in the storgae box. Plus this is becoming a lost art. if you are gonna take the time to upgrade then upgrade to an HEI unit
I like DUI, they are pricey but you get what you pay for Quality product. or just convert usign a stock GM unit. the High voltage will really make a diff.
BTW there are a number of people here who will tell youthey love their conversion units. Petronix or otherwise, and have run them for years with no problem. The thing i learned was that some of those usits require an inline resistor (ballst) in teh circuit to prevent the units from blowing.
if your handy and arent throwing in a hot coil keep what ya got
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
I switched from old points to Pertronix a while back. My impression at the time was that it was a little harder to start the car but I could adjust the idle much lower if I wanted. After a few months the Pertronix unit quit. This can be really problematic, because when the Pertronix stops working, the car will of course crank and turn over but not start. You can waste a lot of time, energy and $$ troubleshooting before you finally figure out maybe you should try replaciing the Pertronix. Fortunately, replacing Pertronix was one of the first things I tried. But here is the punch line: When I went "back" to points, I used a new set (Echlin part #s recommended by Lars) and the new points/condensor worked better than the old points and better than the old Pertronix also.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 428
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From: West Des Moines Iowa
Thanks PRNDL and Sweethence for the additional comments, it just cements my way of doing things now. I will stay with the points, and take the advice to keep an extra condensor, and maybe additional points in the glove box behind the seat. cant hurt. I guess if automobile manufacturers used points for decades (I think over 4 decades), they must be reliable. Will stay the course and not alter, thanks to my good friends at CORVETTEFORUM.com....(hope I dont sound like an advertisement---LOL)
Johnny B
Johnny B
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 3
From: belle plaine ks
Been there done that
The pertronix unit I had gave nothing but fits and then finally quit. I would suggest two different avenues, Regular HEI, or if you want to keep your Mechanichal Tach or try this http://www.davessmallbodyheis.com/ It will use your dist with tach drive and have Hei inside. Unless your racing Hei is a good choice. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
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From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by gonzo14
Thanks PRNDL and Sweethence for the additional comments, it just cements my way of doing things now. I will stay with the points, and take the advice to keep an extra condensor, and maybe additional points in the glove box behind the seat. cant hurt. I guess if automobile manufacturers used points for decades (I think over 4 decades), they must be reliable. Will stay the course and not alter, thanks to my good friends at CORVETTEFORUM.com....(hope I dont sound like an advertisement---LOL)
Johnny B
Johnny B
yep and you car will work after an EMP blast too dont forget. Same goes for the old poits style voltage reulator bye the way. tunign those is definatelyt a lost art
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 428
Likes: 1
From: West Des Moines Iowa
I found out about the new types of HEI through Corvette Mid America in Illinois, they do have the tach drive distributer with the high quality HEI, one downfall-----The top shielding cover will not go on when using this unit. It states a warning on this before ordering from Mid America designs. I will be one of the caretakers of the "lost art", besides, might be able to make a few bucks on the side for some of my friends that do not know how to install points and Condensors, or set timing for that matter!! WHOOO HOOO!!
Italian Donkey
Johnny B
Italian Donkey
Johnny B
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Originally Posted by gonzo14
If I buy the BASIC petronix conversion system for electronic ignition
The points system will outperform the aftermarket conversions if you use a good set of points. Install a set of NAPA/Echlin CS786 points with an RR175 condenser.
The PerTronix system will re-clock your distributor slightly, making it impossible to set the timing correctly if you have your distributor shielding installed (unless you remove and rotate your distributor gear 180*). The PerTronix, with this clocking error, also brings your rotor firing tab way out of index with the cap contact when the timing is set correctly, resulting in frequent high-rpm misfire.
If you want an ignition system upgradde that actually works, run your stock points system with good points and a good coil, and add an MSD6-series to it. This will actually give you a performance upgrade that works.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 428
Likes: 1
From: West Des Moines Iowa
Thanks for the tip on the napa condensor and points LARS, I didnt know quality between points and condensors was that different, but will make note of your advice....I will not change to petronix after all of the negative feedback I have heard...You guys are the greatest, and I am getting to hate salesmen (for petronix anyway), kinda like lawyers... 
Italian Donkey
Johnny B
Italian Donkey
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Kissimmee fl
Finalist 2021 C3 of the Year - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '07
dist gear
don't mean to hijack this thread, but Lars, how do you tell if the dist. gear is on in the right orientation? 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,167
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From: Ft.Worth Texas
Originally Posted by c69vete
don't mean to hijack this thread, but Lars, how do you tell if the dist. gear is on in the right orientation?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 929
Likes: 5
From: Marietta GA
I use the Mallory Unilite conversion. It replaces the points and condenser with a shutter wheel which interrupts an optical beam and triggers the coil at the right time. I got tired of setting up the points all the time. The points start deteriorating the minute you install them, and the rubbing block wears which affects the point gap. Plus there is no issue of points bounce. I have a Penske meter and the timing light to set the dwell and timing but the Mallory Unilite is better. The car starts easier and idles better. When I changed to the Unilite I didn't change the distributor cap or rotor, so it is an apples to apples comparison. I have been using this set up for over five years with absolutely no issues and used points for the seventeen years before that. Maybe Pertronix quality isn't as good as Mallory. It is true that a from a pure performance perspective a properly set up NEW points ignition will perform as good as Mallory Unilite or Pertronix, but probably not better and for how long? I do not miss messing with changing the points and condenser and resetting the dwell. Bottom line, my car runs better and with less maintenance than a points ignition.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,215
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From: Orange County Ca
They sell alot of these units and alot of them work OK. I had one fail, upgraded to the super duper unit (ignitor II ?) on warranty, and it failed also. I think it was the higher then normal under hood temp in my car. Anyway, went back to points.
