The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1955 3600 - 350 - Distributor Wiring

So we finally got around to messing with the 350 engine we dropped in the 55’ 3600 3 years ago...
The truck has been sittin in the corner of our shop waiting for us to get back to it.

The Pertronix Flame Thrower 2 distributor we put in had never been wired up.

So today we wanted to fire it up with some temporary wiring.

The distributor has 1 red wire & 1 Black wire.
So we ran a jumper from ignition pole on starter to positive on coil and ran red wire from distributor to positive on coil.

Ran black wire from distributor to negative on coil
For some reason we had spark at plugs and it was wantin to start, but before we could get it to fire..... we lost our spark???

any help?
This is NOT an HEI distributor.

Brian

Get a real ignition system- - - - -Pertronix is notorious for sudden, catastrophic failures of the system. Either use an OEM General Motors HEI, or go back to conventional points and condenser.
Jerry

Greeeaaat....😔

I have a uncanny knack for getting ripped off by companies...

I think i have another stock HEI distributor in shop....
But it may not fit without hitting firewall....
Dammit.

Thanks for the heads up

One time awhile ago I had a similar issue with the Pertronix and posted a note about it on a tractor forum. The owner called me and was upset that there was a negative comment now online for others to see. It wasn’t a ‘how can I help you’ call.

maybe some of this will help?

support section on Pertronix site

Were there any other numbers on the distributor? There are a lot of sheets listed there... that start with D - the sheets have a list at the top for which part numbers.

But also, as hotrod lincoln wrote above, Pertronix products have a habit of sudden death.

I've never used 'em myself but I've corresponded with people who have, with good and bad results. I'm not doggin' 'em, but it's the truth.
I dunno if it is the design or a quality control issue in production, lack of testing after the fact or what. They either work great and people love 'em or people have drama and talk about 'em like a stray dog.

I have had at least one Pertronix system installed for more than 10 years.

I had minor problems with 6v & 12v Pertronix systems on 235s/261s until I took two "precautions":

6v & 12v system: run a ground wire from a distributor-cap-clip-screw to the coil-to-head-clamp screw/bolt.
The distributor ground might be poor/unreliable - that ground is critical.

Also, if you have a 12v system and a 12v distributor that needs a ballast resistor, follow carefully the Pertronix wiring instructions (found in Tech Tips on their website).


Nonetheless, I see no performance advantage to a Pertronix or a HEI ignition installed on a standard/normal-use Advance-Design & New Design GM engines.

And, no matter what the ignition system is, I now carry a tested/tuned spare distributor as insurance (many years ago, I experienced failed condensers and points).

I have used pertronix twice, once in my mustang, it failed after about 20 minutes, and one in the truck which failed after about 6 months. There will be no amount of messing with points (of which I do virtually none) that will ever, ever equal the amount of misery I spent riding the bus with my wife and young daughter home to get the points and all the associated hardware to install them (I had them in the glovebox for most of those 6 months, but took the little bag out just earlier for the little wrench I had in there, and forgot to put it back.) And standing around in the miserable, rainy, windy weather waiting for said bus, and putting the points back in. I asked the question directly on this forum and on another as well. In both cases I got about 40% negative, and 60% positive. Not really good odds considering I have never had the truck not make it home under it's own power in 30 years until I UPGRADED the ignition.