Transistorized igintion 427/390

[Bob S.]

I'm thinking of installing a transistorized ignition in my car. I see one that drops down inside the stock distributor. Does anyone have any experience with these? (Made by Pertronix)

Or, should I go with an entire set up?

Thanks,

Bob
(9944)

[Keith B.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

the Pertronix unit is no where close to a original T.I. set up. all that is doing is replacing points. if you are not having trouble with points why change it over? I doubt you drive the car a lot of miles to see the benefits of Pertronix. plus everyone I talk to that runs Pertronix keeps a set of points in the glove box just in case .

[John H.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

I'm thinking of installing a transistorized ignition in my car. I see one that drops down inside the stock distributor. Does anyone have any experience with these? (Made by Pertronix)

Or, should I go with an entire set up?

Thanks,

Bob
(9944)

Bob -

None of the drop-in conversions (Pertronix, Breakerless SE, etc.) are "electronic ignition systems"; they simply replace the electro-mechanical switch (the points) with an electronic switch module that does exactly the same thing, and they don't increase the "spark energy" at all. They also aren't sold in retail auto parts stores, so unless you carry a spare module (or a set of points and condenser), if they fail, you're dead on the side of the road. They DO spare you the gruesome chore of setting dwell once a year and changing the points once every five years.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

Bob,

Get your car running correctly before you start swapping out parts. One step at a time, dude.

Patrick

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

I'm thinking of installing a transistorized ignition in my car. I see one that drops down inside the stock distributor. Does anyone have any experience with these? (Made by Pertronix)

Or, should I go with an entire set up?

Thanks,

Bob
(9944)

I had one in a 70 & didn't have any problems but I agree with others If it ant broke don't fix it

[Bob S.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

the Pertronix unit is no where close to a original T.I. set up. all that is doing is replacing points. if you are not having trouble with points why change it over? I doubt you drive the car a lot of miles to see the benefits of Pertronix. plus everyone I talk to that runs Pertronix keeps a set of points in the glove box just in case .

Thanks for the info, Keith. I was thinking of changing over because my mechanic tells me he's got it about four degrees off. Best he can do since he can't find a NOS distributor.

Bob
(9944)

[Bob S.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

Bob -

None of the drop-in conversions (Pertronix, Breakerless SE, etc.) are "electronic ignition systems"; they simply replace the electro-mechanical switch (the points) with an electronic switch module that does exactly the same thing, and they don't increase the "spark energy" at all. They also aren't sold in retail auto parts stores, so unless you carry a spare module (or a set of points and condenser), if they fail, you're dead on the side of the road. They DO spare you the gruesome chore of setting dwell once a year and changing the points once every five years.

LOL!!! Got it...thanks!

Bob
9944

[Bob S.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

Bob,

Get your car running correctly before you start swapping out parts. One step at a time, dude.

Patrick

Thanks, Patrick

Bob

(9944)

[Patrick H.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

my mechanic tells me he's got it about four degrees off. Best he can do since he can't find a NOS distributor.

Bob
(9944)

And what, may I ask, does that mean in English?

It can't rotate any further?
And how would a new distributor somehow help this?

Patrick

[Michael W.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

+1. Sounds like you might need a new mechanic, not a new ignition widget.

[Bob S.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

And what, may I ask, does that mean in English?

It can't rotate any further?
And how would a new distributor somehow help this?

Patrick

No need to be "Cute" sir...I'm not the mechanic most of you are....This is what I'm told. I'm in the process of getting another mechanic and I'll, hopefully, have him tell me the best way to go. My experience with this guy, (a very well known mechanic in Corvette & NCRS circles) has been pretty unpleasant. I used him a long time ago, and things went fine. I was "Vette-Less" for about 8 years, and now I'm back...He's not the same guy!!!

Thanks,

Bob

(9944)

[Dennis O.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

Just a thought. I had the same problem with not being able to get the distributor installed correctly with my 1967 small block. It turnes out that the distributor gear was installed 180 degrees off. Since there is an odd numbered set of teeth on the gear, if its 180 out, it was impossible to get the distributor installed correctly. There should be a "dimple" on the gear that indicates how it should go on. IIRC it should line up with the rotor.

[Michael W.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

Bob-

Simply put, swapping in a Pertronix widget will not address the other timing issue whatever it might be. These things are not the miracle cure-all that many believe them to be.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

No need to be "Cute" sir...I'm not the mechanic most of you are....This is what I'm told. I'm in the process of getting another mechanic and I'll, hopefully, have him tell me the best way to go. My experience with this guy, (a very well known mechanic in Corvette & NCRS circles) has been pretty unpleasant. I used him a long time ago, and things went fine. I was "Vette-Less" for about 8 years, and now I'm back...He's not the same guy!!!

Thanks,

Bob

(9944)

Bob,

Not being cute, but I've tried to help in every single thread you've posted.
If you post a comment that doesn't make sense I think it's reasonable to ask for clarification.

At this point I'd ignore/throw away/forget everything you were told by your former mechanic.
Wait for your new one to work with you and go from there. I don't think it's worth your time to "what if" based on bad information.

Patrick

[Duke W.]

Re: Transistorized igintion 427/390

Thanks for the info, Keith. I was thinking of changing over because my mechanic tells me he's got it about four degrees off. Best he can do since he can't find a NOS distributor.

Bob
(9944)

What is "four degrees off"? Dwell? Initial timing?

NOS distributor? Single point big block and small block tach drive distributors are basically the same other than how the spark advance map was set up for a specific engine, which is easy to change. A couple of hundred thousand of these things were made from '57 to '74 and cores are readily available from the various Corvette parts suppliers and Corvette guy parts piles.

Any old single point tach drive distributor can be overhauled and the spark advance map set up very close to OE or optimzed for your engine configuration and driving conditions (see the "sticky" above and download my San Diego presentation), and you can get a band with any part number and date code you want.

I second Mike Ward's post #10 statement.

As stated, the "dimple" must be properly oriented - inline with the rotor, and there is a specific wire indexing and installation procedure in the service manual, which must be followed to the letter. Otherwise the distributor housing orientation may not allow proper initial timing before the vacuum advance control interferes with something solid, and improper orientation can place excessive curvature in the tach drive cable, which can lead to excess cable stress and failure.

Improper distrbutor assembly and/or installation is a very common issue, and I suspect that this is the source of your problems, but you need to find a mechanic who understands these issues, and you should give him a photocopy of the distributor installation from your Chassis Service Manual and instruct him to do it by the book.

Duke