The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay timing engine with Pertronix

I've had a bear of a time timing ignition with Pertronix in 3100 '50. And something happened that never has in all of the years I've had the truck. When I reached down to adjust the distributor with timing light on ball/pointer, I kept getting shocked when I touched the distributor...and a pretty stout shock at that. I had to put on rubber gloves in order to set the timing. But even when I got the ball/pointer set, then tightened down the distributor, it still ran terribly.

I ran a wire from the distributor to engine to provide addt'l/better ground, for what it's worth. I'd heard grounding was an issue with Pertronix.

Any tips on timing with Pertronix in?? Thanks.

I would suggest that you take a big league pitcher's windup, and throw that Pertronix unit as far as you can fling it. Then go back to the points/condenser until you can find a real electronic ignition system. If you're interested in going to a modern-type ignition system, get a HEI unit from a mid-80's 250 and modify the housing slightly to fit the stovebolt block. This involves machining the shoulder off the HEI housing, setting the housing slightly deeper into the stovebolt block to assure proper oil pump operqtion, and fabricating a bracket to hold it at the right height. Not difficult at all, and the HEI works right, the first time, every time.
Jerry

Hy starsfan, with all the trouble you've been having trying to get any kind of ignition system to work on your truck, I think you might just have gotten a bad Pertronix setup. I have had no bad experiences with Pertronix, mine or any I've installed for others. Did you ever get your old point ignition to work? If you never got zapped by your distributor, perhaps you have a cracked distributor cap that you never had before.

I agree with Lincoln the petronix is just a snake oil fix for points. I f you don't want points go with HEI.

If I'm now getting shocked when I try to rotate the distributor when timing with light, I wonder if ALL of these problems could have to do with the distributor cap. I had one go bad on me once; wonder if it happened again. It just seems that, because the cap is so static, that having it go bad isn't very likely.

You are correct about a bad cap being uncommon. Nonetheless, having/carrying a spare cap (and rotor, plugs, points, condenser, and ignition wires) is cheap insurance (and allows no-brainer swap-out testing for bad parts).

Many years ago, when I used to work on air-cooled VWs, I looked like a diagnostic genius when I suggested that the reason a friend was stalled on the road (in the middle of the night) was a bad distributor cap. I did not tell him that it was absolutely obvious because, as he was cranking the engine, I was lucky to be looking at the engine compartment at night with no lights around. The "short line" along the almost invisible crack in the cap was very bright in the dark.

Good luck. Let us know what happens with a new cap.

Yeah you wouldn't beleive the issues i had trying to get a 67 camaro timed. It was electronic so no points and such, however after replacing the wires, the rotor, and the cap. I replaced the spark plugs (again) and found that the package of spark plugs i had were bad. 2 spark plugs in the very same package nonetheless and they were the ones i was switching out for testing. Took me over a week of fustration to figure that one out. I was not happy. LOL

Also i forgot the #1 cylinder on a camaro is different than a ford. So when trying to time the mustang could never get it to light up the marks on the balancer. Wasn;t until i took out a book from the early 70s that i figured out what i was doing wrong. LOL

I've been running Pertronix on a Ferd 240 six for years now and never had a problem. And I've logged a lot of long distance miles.

I have to respectfully disagree with Jerry and ttodd about pertronix. I have had mine for nigh on 5 years with no issues. What makes me wonder is why are you getting shocked when touching the Dizzy when trying to turn it for adjustment? That tells me there might be something wrong there. Bad cap, bad dizzy, bad distributor? This is what I'm tinking of.

Each application has its own challenges. I do have a pertronix installed on my 47 Ford. I wanted to leave the car with its original positive ground 6 volt system. The dual point set up on this car is difficult to work with because its mounted on the front of the engine. It took me lots of time to work through all the issues but last year things worked great. Now, on my Chevrolets I wouldn't consider a pertronix because of all the other tried and proven products available from the factory (HEI)and the fact that the original point system is easily accessed and with proper service works very well. Just my 2 cents. Don

I've ordered now cap and plug wires. If I still get shocked, I'll go ahead and dish out the $$ for a new distributor. If that doesn't work, I'm selling the truck.

Actually, if that doesn't work, I might buy one of the HEI units. Any feedback on those would be appreciated. And they come with coil attached, right? Thanks

..sorry about off topic...Good to see you are a Stars fan by the way..hockey rules. I play 4 times a week and both my boys play.

Some hei's have the coil mounted on the dist cap others have a seperate coil. They are basically the same. I have pertronix in my truck and have had no problems with it,starts every time.

If you really want an HEI you might talk with Tom Langdon he sells a mini Hei unit that is a drop in, no modifications needed, remove your dist put his in. It has factory parts so if anything ever goes bad you can get parts just about anywhere.

The only drawback with the pertronix is that if it does break, most parts stores can't help you.

I carry a spare distributer when I go on long trips (in a box/bin of selected, working spare-parts). The spare distributor is set up with points, etc. My trucks have Pertronix units 13 year old in one and 7 years old in the other. I have never had to use the spare but I figure it is cheap insurance.

A rebuilt distributor is not hard to obtain (eBay and NAPA, etc). Used distributors (get the right year/style) can also be bought in the Swap Meet.

Well, it turned out to be a bad spark plug wire (possibly more). Once I put the new ones on, the truck fired right up and sounded great, more power, etc. It was literally the last thing I replaced (other than another distributor). I probably owe the Pertronix folks an apology; I bashed the unit without all of the facts. Anyway, thanks all for your help/suggestions.

And, yes, mapleleaf, hockey does rule!

HAHAha, Pertronix 1, you 0. No thats cool. We have all played that game at one point or another. I blamed parts for stuff they had not a thing to do with. Glad you found the issue. Enjoy it.