Here are the top problems with a Pertronix ignition I found out on the web. Surveyed about 100 pages of articles returned by Google. These are ordered by which problem occurs most often:

One or two cylinders not firing because a design flaw in the reluctor magnets. When the circular reluctor magnet is rotated, the next cylinder or next two cylinders quit firing.

A stock coil cannot handle a short charging time because of a short dwell cycle of a Pertronix. A weak spark is produced. Stock coils usually burn out in time.

Coil overheating because of the short dwell cycle of a Pertronix. Cure is to install a high performance coil with an internal resistor, then hook up a full 12 volt lead.

Cross-firing between cylinders which have spark plug wires touching each other for a long run. The spark charge leaps from one plug wire to an adjacent plug wire.

Too narrow of a plug gap. Most frequent setting is .045 for a gap to cure this problem.

In all cases, reinstalling the stock ignition system cured problems.

Billyray


1948 GMC 3 Ton Flatbed
1952 Chevy 1/2 Ton Panel
1956 Chevy 3/4 Ton NAPCO