1964 c2 ignition issue

[Tom B.]

Re: 1964 c2 ignition issue

As soon as I read your post I was thinking rotor contacting the contacts in the cap as Frank shows in post #12. I have had this happen before also on 2 different cars. Running fine, a couple backfires and then nothing. Removing the cap showed the rotor contact at about a 45* angle just like the picture. Excessive end play in the distributor shaft was the problem. New shaft bushings and proper shimming and it was good to go again.

The 1956 did this at high rpm and I was sure I'd just lunched the engine. Boy was I relieved.

Tom

[Michael W.]

Re: 1964 c2 ignition issue

The answer to your question is yes. I have had TWO of these breakerless conversions fail. The symptoms are consistent with your experience. The net result is no spark coming out of distributor. I have returned to points without issue.

But there would also be no spark directly from the coil either, which is not the case with the OP.

that's kind of what I'm getting. Ill try changing the cap and rotor if that doesn't work I guess the next step is pulling the fan water pump and timing change cover right?

Nooooooooooooooooo............

You're a long way from that kind of drastic action. A 'jumped' timing chain will not affect the availability of the ignition to produce a spark.

[Dan B.]

Re: 1964 c2 ignition issue

I'd swap back in the conventional points and related parts to your distributor which will then allow you to work backwards with a conventional trouble light to confirm where the problem is. I'd bet after reading all this that your Breakerless gizmo gave out. As others have said, for the amount of miles most of us drive our cars, maintenance on the conventional point system is really quite minimal and after 40+ years I have yet to experience a single failure. How much more reliable can you get?

[George J.]

Re: 1964 c2 ignition issue

I had a coil go bad on a road trip one time. Replacing it still didn't make the car run correctly all the time. It needed a condenser, as well. Change out the easy ignition parts first.

George

[William F.]

Re: 1964 c2 ignition issue

Which brand of breakerless ignitions went out on you? Pertronix or "Breakerless" like sold by M&H, I believe?

[Frank D.]

Re: 1964 c2 ignition issue

Who said his points conversion "went out" ?
It was just posed as on possible cause of his problem, along with ignition coil, distributor cap, etc..

[William F.]

Re: 1964 c2 ignition issue

Frank,
PHILIP clearly said HE had 2 of the breakerless conversions go out.

[Michael W.]

Re: 1964 c2 ignition issue

spark from the coil into the distributor yes, not coming out of the distributor.

Somebody will have to explain how the above is possible if the pertronics widget or coil is bad.

[Frank D.]

Re: 1964 c2 ignition issue

Proper question....the first thing people seem to want to do is damn an electronic points conversion as the obvious culprit.
Run them for decades never a failure; the failures I've seen in others' cars have been bad installs or abuse...