Hello Everyone,
I am considering doing a conversion from points to electronic ignition in my 1972 Vette. I would like to keep the stock tach drive so, I am looking at both the Crane XR-I system and the Pertronix Ignitor. I would love to hear from anyone who has used either of these and get your thought and recommendations. Also, I am currently using a MSD Blaster2 coil. Will this work with these two systems or will I have to add a resistor? I am a litttle confused about the use of an external resistor so, if someone could explain how to determine if I need on and how to connect it if I do, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

Mike

 

I put in a Pertronix unit and wasnt happy with its design (wobbly plastic with inconsistancies on clearances) Also found plugs went black and wet quickly. Put in a tach drive Vertex magneto and problems disappeared. Will have to readdress issue to get a vacume advance ignition one day in the future.

 

I put a Pertronix points conversion kit in my boat several years ago. It worked, but was very poorly made. Based
on what I saw of their quality control I didn't trust the thing for running offshore, and I have not used Pertronix
components since. In the end I replaced that points-type distrib with a complete MSD billet unit, with the mag pickup
wired to a GM HEI module - this has been running happily ever since. (BTW, the MSD piece was very well-made.)


The instruction sheet that comes with a 'Blaster 2' coil (can-type) cautions you to use the resistor with EVERYTHING
EXCEPT points ignition, OR when running a CD ignition box. The resistor - installed in-line between the coil primary
and your 12 source - has the effect of reducing the primary voltage going to the coil, which makes it little better than
the points system you are replacing. For this reason I think the MSD can is a bad choice for anything other than their
CD boxes - you would be better served with one of their 'square' type coils. Those are rated for full 12 v input.


If your present distrib is in good condition, my inclination would be to leave the points in place and wire in something
like an MSD 5900 box. Thts takes all the electrical load off the points, and has vastly improved current switching and
control capability. I've used something similar with a Jacobs C4 coil - the one I built has been running for two or
three years now in regular driving. By way of comparison, points are designed to handle about 2 amps of ignition
current; transistor ignitions swing anywhrere from 5 - 7 amps with no trouble at all. The extra current mandates a
coil upgrade to something that will tolerate the higher load. There is some further HEI info on my web page if you
would like additional background.

HTH

 

I put a Pertronix points conversion kit in my boat several years ago. It worked, but was very poorly made. Based
on what I saw of their quality control I didn't trust the thing for running offshore, and I have not used Pertronix
components since. In the end I replaced that points-type distrib with a complete MSD billet unit, with the mag pickup
wired to a GM HEI module - this has been running happily ever since. (BTW, the MSD piece was very well-made.)


The instruction sheet that comes with a 'Blaster 2' coil (can-type) cautions you to use the resistor with EVERYTHING
EXCEPT points ignition, OR when running a CD ignition box. The resistor - installed in-line between the coil primary
and your 12 v source - has the effect of reducing the primary voltage going to the coil, which makes it little better than
the points system you are replacing. For this reason I think the MSD can is a bad choice for anything other than their
CD boxes - you would be better served with one of their 'square' type coils. Those are rated for full 12 v input.


If your present distrib is in good condition, my inclination would be to leave the points in place and wire in something
like an MSD 5900 box. This takes all the electrical load off the points, and has vastly improved current switching and
control capability. I've used something similar with a Jacobs C4 coil - the one I built has been running for two or
three years now in regular driving. By way of comparison, points are designed to handle about 2 amps of ignition
current; transistor ignitions swing anywhrere from 5 - 7 amps with no trouble at all. The extra current mandates a
coil upgrade to something that will tolerate the higher load. There is some further HEI info on my web page if you
would like additional background.

HTH