Stovebolt.com Forums The Shop Area The Engine Shop Petronix II Problems

I have had my truck for 35 years, and it only failed to get home one time, that was when I UPGRADED my ignition to pertronix, I have since found a whole box of NOS points, I can work on points for the rest of my life and still not equal the misery of that day. I put one in my Mustang as well, that quit too, I posed a question on this and one other site, as to what experience others have had. On this site I got 11 replies, 5 of the negative variety, and 6 of the positive variety, nearly 50% is not a very good percentage. I don't recall the exact numbers but the replies on the other site was similar.

Whether you have a pertronix or not, it is always a good idea to carry another set of points, a condensor and rotor in the glove box, 3 small little boxes= good insurance.

And:
The screws to hold the condenser and the points in place.
The Bakelite insulator for the distributor wire.
The special tool for the special screw on the Bakelite insulator.
A wire to go from coil to distributor.
The correct coil for points.
(as posted earlier).
Without all of these items, you would still be dead in the water.

This article has been so helpful! Recently had issues with my 1959, 235 and never thought to even check the new Pertronix ignition since it was "new". But will check now. thanks so much to everyone who commented. For beginners like me, every experience is helpful!!

Many Blessings,

Jerry

I was fortunate enough to have a fellow stovebolter modify a 250 OEM HEI distributor for my 261; works pretty nice!

this is not even really related, but for a time there was some fella on ebay had a magneto for these engines, some old performance part from the actual 50's , I wanted it so bad, but he wanted a lot of money.....

I am sad to say that I had a bad experience with the owner of the company a few years ago. I was installing one in a tractor and was having difficulties after installation with timing and fit. I thought I had a posted a respectful summary of the issues and what I did to resolve them, and after some time and effort making adjustments it finally worked fine. I received an email from the owner and was asked to call the owner/ inventor and he lambasted me over the phone being concerned that my issues were now on the internet for everyone to see. I was shocked to say the least (pun intended). However, I did install the ignitor and coil in a 51 GMC a couple years later and it worked fine. And to this day, the same Pertronix is still on the old tractor about 18 years later, after several ignition-on brain cramps (some left on overnight). I haven't received a call from him since then, but I often wonder, and stay awake late at night, why I even bothered to buy another one after that. Karen will roll over and ask if I am still thinking about the Pertronix igniter guy. Seems like the results are a mixed bag. Nonetheless, carrying a spare distributor and a toolbox of small parts isn't a bad idea.

You're a lot more tolerant of rude behavior than me. He would have been treated to a You Tube video of me massaging his product with a 3 lb. hammer on my anvil, with a long monologue about why it was happening!
Jerry

So "minor adjustments" will make them work, eh, Jerry?