Ignition upgrade in restoration

[nuch_ss396]

Hi,

Have any members here ever used one of the ignition upgrade
kits on their restorations?

I'm considering the Breakerless SE kit because it uses only
one wire ( vs. two for Pertronix ) and as such would be
stealthy. It's not original, but it has to be more
dependable - wouldn't you think? Just wondering what you
all think about the use of this in an L/78 restoration.

Steve
http://webzoom.freewebs.com/nuch_ss396/breakerless%2DSE.jpg

[WILMASBOYL78]

I have the Crane Fireball in the 68 427 car....you can set the redline and it works great. Can't comment on other systems, though I'm sure they all perform well.

wilma http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[SMGCO]

I've used the Pertronix. In my opinion it's junk.

[Chevy454]

You could easily build a small body HEI with just a couple of parts from your local parts store, for 1/3 of that price...I'm not a fan of the Pertronix pieces either...they've left me high & dry beside the road before.

[tirebird]

Oh, you guys are scaring me. I've run Pertronix in my 63 Vette for years and have it in my 71 TransAm for the past two years. Absolutely no problems whatsoever. Now, I'm wondering what happened to make you say don't buy a Pertronix?

[ANDY M]

I have the Crane unit in my car with the rev limiter set at 6500. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Also have the Crane ignition coil as well.
No problems, works great.

[Chevy454]

John: we had an original style Pertronix unit crap out on the cruise home from the track at SCR3, and then another one not long after that...had a newer style unit in my LS6 for a while, thing was hard starting, ran terrible, then ended up crapping out as well, went to points & fixed it. That was probably 4 years or so ago, so they might have their act together since then...but I'm gunshy...

[SmallHurst]

Mine has worked great, but like Rob said, it is a little hard to start when cold. When it is warmed up, just hit the key! I had the original style in my car for 6-7 years and I did rack up some miles on it. The reason it was replaced... long story short, playing around, did not have the battery cable on tight, cable came off and the coil unloaded through the small wires!!! Can we say "baked plastic"! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I have the Ignitor II with matching coil under the hood of mine. So far, I have traveled to SCR6 and back (racing as well) to Stanton, MI (800+ miles) raced 2 days and back, and Detroit, MI (750 miles) and raced 2 days with no issues. So far, the new version has bee good to me. Have Casey chime in on how they are "The tool of the Devil!" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[MosportGreen66]

I have an HEI unit in the '70 Camaro ... works fine ... no issues

[CamarosRus]

My only experience with PERTRONIX (Ignitor & Coil) is with my 69 "COPO" recreation. Drove three cities last summer on power tour and to Fred Gibb from Springfield,IL. Started cold and hot first crank, along with Eric's restored 4346 !!!!!
My .02

[DaJudge]

Steve, I have used that exact set up in three Judges and a 69 TA it works perfectly and you can use the correct cap and distributor lead.
Mike

[Ngtflyr]

I had a Pertronix's unit in a 70 Chevelle LS-5 that quit and left me along the side of the road at 10pm a couple years ago, turned into a long night. Hadn't had the car that long and don't know how long the unit had been in the car, gave me warnings for about 10 miles before it gave up the ghost about 2 miles from the house. I put one in my 69 Camaro when I restored it a few years ago and have had no problems, the car is a small block, easy starting and runs like a champ all day long.

[Keith Tedford]

Like Rob, I went back to a good old points distributor when the HEI died in our L78 Chevelle. With a good advance curve and a good set of Accel points (not the race units)the car starts and runs fine. Our only problem is the carb needing and electric fuel pump to fill it after extended sits. Takes a lot of engine cranking or a squirt bottle of gas to fill the fuel bowls otherwise. Back in about 1970 I put a Delco CD ignition kit on our COPO Chevelle. It used the points as just a trigger so that they never burned out. It worked fine but eventually gave up the ghost too. Went back to points there as well. They are simple and work, with not much to go wrong.

[DaJudge]

I agree that Pertronix is no good, but the unit he is asking about is M&H's unit. It providesa active dwell control. Auto shut-off to prevent coil damage or dead battery if the ignition is accidentally left on. A Hall Effect rotary-vane sensor design compensates for worn bearings and distributor end play. Magnetic sensor is unaffected by oil, dirt or other contaminants, unlike optical systems.( Pertronix )

[tirebird]

I'm running the stock distributor with Pertronix 1 on my LS6 with a Pertronix coil.

No problems in two years and about 20k miles. But, I notice Pertronix is always saying good for 30k miles, or words to that effect, so I'm going to replace mine with a newer unit this year to be safe.

[Chevy454]

[ QUOTE ]
Like Rob, I went back to a good old points distributor when the HEI died in our L78 Chevelle. With a good advance curve and a good set of Accel points (not the race units)the car starts and runs fine.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hey Keith...if I'm not mistaken, it was our very own Casey Marks that did a dyno showdown with a Pertronix unit and a regular points setup, and the Pertronix unit came in 2nd in the HP department...:

[Belair62]

Mike (DaJudge) how easy is this kit to install...Andy M...more about that rev limiter unit too...

[DaJudge]

Hi Bob very easy to install can be done with distributor in the car but highly recommend installing with the distributor out. It will take about 45 minutes to install and that includes resetting the timing etc. I got interested in this unit because of the single wire design and a dyno test that High Performance Pontiac ran between a regular points set up and M&H's unit using the same distributor housing. The M&H unit came out on top with a 2-5 hp gain. I felt that even if it a wash in the HP area that not having to worry about wearing out the distributor cam lobes on an expensive and rare distributor was important to me. Points also have declining efficiency at higher rpms which has a serious effect on your spark voltage and results in poor high-speed performance, incomplete combustion and other drivability problems.

[ANDY M]

Here is a link for the info on the Crane unit:
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/se...7&langId=-1 (http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&cate goryId=21783&parentCategoryId=11577&langId=-1)
The rev limiter is in 500rpm increments, adjusted with a screwdriver. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
The main reason I chose this unit was I didn't like the idea of missing a shift and sending my revs into a low earth orbit. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[nuch_ss396]

Andy,

I'm with you! I like this rev limiter concept.... http://webzoom.freewebs.com/nuch_ss396/PopcornEater.gif

Steve

[Seattle Sam]

Andy,
Do you need to replace the resistor wire with the Crane kit? The Mallory kit works with the factory resistor wire.

[ANDY M]

I was advised to replace the points and the coil at the same time, and all of the wires were included.
I didn't do the exchange, since I had it done when the engine was rebuilt.
Here is the link to the Crane catalogue:
http://www.cranecams.com/?show=browsePar...Number=750-1710 (http://www.cranecams.com/?show=browseParts&lvl=5&prt=1973&action=partSpec&p artNumber=750-1710)

[Seattle Sam]

Andy, thanks for the link - I found the installation instructions here. (http://www.cranecams.com/pdf/90001700b.pdf)
Looks like this is designed to work WITH the ballast wire.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[COPO427]

I had the original old pertronix box made by Perluxe and it lasted for about 10 years. My early failure symptoms were like a carb was not set correctly. The car ran fine cold but if you took it for a blast through the gears when the unit got hot it would miss then idle bad. It finally died one night. I thought it would be the Pertronix but a friend of mine thought the carb due to flooding. I tried another needle and seat with no success, the car would not fire up.

So I rebuilt the carb, removed my gas tank and drained it, it was clean and the rad shop wondered why I brought it in cause it was so clean for a 70 tank. I did find that I needed a new fuel sending pickup sock. GM still had the sock for a Chevelle and not the Camaro. The only diff was a few thou I needed to ream to fit the fuel line. After installing the carb and tank, the car wouldn't idle correctly after a few minutes of idle (while the Pertronics was warming up). I knew then that I had to remove it and put back the points and condensor. I did the swap, set the dwell then went for a rip. Went through all 4 gears with churps. Since I have a supply of points to use up I decided to run the car with points again with no further problems.

[Chevy454]

Lots of choices so far, but figured I'd offer up a couple more, just in case someone wanted to weigh all their options...

If you're more performance oriented, you could use your points to trigger an MSD box...no fire throught the points, so they don't burn up, but they read off the distributor lobes to tell the MSD box when to fire. Or, you could pull the points/condenser out, bolt in an MSD or Chrylser HEI pickup (look absolutely identical), add an HEI reluctor wheel, and then run it through an MSD box and your brand of coil.

[JOZW30]

What about the Mallory Unilite set-up?

[1967Z28]

Has anyone tried the breakerless ignition from TI Specialty? It is also a single wire setup. I have thought about trying it but would like to know of others experiences with it.

-Jon

Link here: T.I. Specialty breakerless (http://www.tispecialty.com/points.htm)

[DaJudge]

I believe that is the same one that started this thread http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
I believe that is the same one that started this thread http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah! Remember that one? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

Steve