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

[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

[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.
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...

[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.