looking to add electronic ign/points conversion
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 39
From: Fremont CA
Pertronix IgnitorII or III if you need rev limiter capabilities. With quality points sets running around $20 it will pay for itself in no time. I always completely tear down distributor and rebuild to insure all is well with components. If your points plate grounding wire is broken an Ignitor won't perform well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
Crane cams sells a real simple one, but they are all bout the same, they do cut down on the maint. of points. follow the directions , very easy to understand.
another option would be to buy a complete HEI , bout $40 and save your stocker for resale
another option would be to buy a complete HEI , bout $40 and save your stocker for resale
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
Pertronix were essentially the first on the market with this kind of setup and IMO theirs is still the best. I've had mine installed for over 10 years and some 30,000 miles with zero problems. It just plain WORKS, and I don't have to mess around with points anymore.
As a point of contrast, my race car has the full-zoot MSD deal with electronic everything but authenticity isn't a concern there. My C3 looks very much stock underhood and that's how I want it to look. So the Pertronix is the way to go in my car...
As a point of contrast, my race car has the full-zoot MSD deal with electronic everything but authenticity isn't a concern there. My C3 looks very much stock underhood and that's how I want it to look. So the Pertronix is the way to go in my car...
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Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
The wire used by Pertronix is different than GM and sneaky judges (like me) lift the points access port on the cap to peek.
Points need to be adjusted maybe once a year and replacement once every 5(?) years unless your car is a daily driver. There is no performance gain with these conversion kits.
Points need to be adjusted maybe once a year and replacement once every 5(?) years unless your car is a daily driver. There is no performance gain with these conversion kits.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,431
Likes: 1,561
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
I'm curious, you have a 99% correct car that I'm sure gets very little drive time so why bother to go to pertronix?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,431
Likes: 1,561
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Try it, you'll like it!
Fair enough, I tried pertronix for a few years and it worked OK.
Went back to points and never felt any difference.
Went back to points and never felt any difference.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 38
From: Los Gatos CA
I have used Pertronix for years. Have one set in the 65 442 and one in the Vette. I think they are version 2.
Sometimes good (well meaning?) people have to answer the question they want rather than what was posted.
Sometimes good (well meaning?) people have to answer the question they want rather than what was posted.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 30,894
Likes: 1,189
From: chicago
ive been a GM trained tech and i owned my bodyshop/resto/streetrod shop [i restored cars for the past 15+ years],normally id just add a gm factory hei dist,but i want to keep the factory look-but points are so out-dated ,im also not going to paint this car with laquar paint,as 2 part epoxys are better,and if/when i sell this car i want it to last-so people can enjoy it for many years to come
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
I have a 71 that had one of those cheap HEI tach drive units that you can buy on eBay for around a $100. Its now in my junk bin (it had a miss that I could not cure) back to original points. I found a original/rebuilt distributor from a vendor that was going out of business for under $200. 
I had a bad experience from a Pertronix conversion eight years ago on a 63..not doing that again either. So I am a little old school I guess but, if its not broke don't fix it. Just my thoughts.
I had a bad experience from a Pertronix conversion eight years ago on a 63..not doing that again either. So I am a little old school I guess but, if its not broke don't fix it. Just my thoughts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
In my experience, the Pertronix unit did not work properly with the stock coil. I put their "Flamethrower" coil in after trying it with the stock unit, and the strange/ rough running issue went away. I'm no electrical engineer, and I don't really understand what the source of the issue was. Once their coil was in place, though, it worked great. The deal with the Pertronix is this- it is the cheapest, most reliable, stock-appearing electronic conversion unit out there. If you have to have 100-point concours perfection, you better stick with the stock stuff. If you want one less thing to tinker/screw around with, I happen to think it's $$$ well spent.