The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 dist. swap

i have a 235 that i want to change to electronic ignition. is there a compatible match? maybe out of a 250? just curious

A Pertronix unit goes right into the existing distributor. They sell 6v and 12v units that replace the points/condenser. Be sure to use an appropriate coil (Pertronix sells them, also)

Langdon's Stovebolt Engine Company sells an electronic ignition distributor (12v).

One of our subscribers came up with a very nice way to solve this problem. I haven't tried it. Also Tom Langdon (as Tim mentioned has a nice solution. What Tom and Jason offer is a more stock looking solution. If you are picky about making it look like its stock, check these two out:

http://www.greasygringo.com/2012/06/59-chevy-hei-conversion/
http://stoveboltengineco.com/

Otherwise, Pertronix has a good track record. Hope this helps!

Just to stir things up a bit, if you decided to use pertronix, make sure you keep all the little tools and pieces to put the points back in, in the glove box. The only time in 30 years my truck failed to get me back home was when I UPGRADED the ignition. I have the brand new unit pertronix sent me in a box, but I am afraid to use it. As far as their track record, after the above mentioned incident, I specifically asked on this forum if anyone has had problems with pertronix. 4 out of 10 of the replies were of the negative variety. Quite nearly half, which in my book isn't a really good record. And it didn't run any better, maybe even worse. I tried the same setup in my mustang, and after about 10 minutes it quit as well. So I don't have anything good to say about pertronix.

I have no experience with a Mustang and a Pertronix unit.

I have been using 3 Pertronix units on 235/261 6v and 12v engines for as long as 16 years with no problems.

When I travel long distances, I carry new/spare points and condenser in trucks that have either a Pertronix unit or have points/condenser. Actually, I bought a $15 spare distributor that has adjusted/tested new points, condenser, rotor, and cap (and I carry a tested coil and ignition wires).

This "insurance" policy has not been necessary for my conventional or Pertronix engines (but, I like having insurance - I recommend this, no matter what ignition system you use).

Pertronix in my 1956 235, 4 years no problems and it runs better with it.

as a matter of fact I have had no problems with points, in any vehicle I have ever owned. I do know that performing what little bit of upkeep necessary with points for the rest of my life will never be as much of a pain in my ### as that one day in the wind and rain waiting for the bus, not to mention the standing in the rain putting the points back in. The absolute worst part is this was the first time I had actually gotten my wife to go for a ride in the truck, after 8 years... Well, maybe the worst part is I had the tools/pieces in a little bag in the glove box for the 6-8 months the pertronix worked, but had taken it out the day before looking for something else, and forgot to put it back in. Either way, many people report happiness and joy, with it, just not me.

This thread got me thinking, I know a dangerous proposition
but by count I have 7 internal combustion engine powered devices that utilize points & condensor for ign and I can only count 1 time when a set of points failed on me when operating. It was in my 66 K181 Kohler powered Wheel Horse L&G tractor. A quick burnishing w/a rough screw driver tip got it back to the shop where a new set of points fixed it up. I've had to burnish a set of points that had sat for many many yrs to get them to conduct but otherwise the occasional regaping is all they require. I do change them out every now and then tho

I do have one vehicle that I swapped over to electronic ign, a 72 VW Ghia w/the 4 cyl air cooled boxer engine but it's only been a yr and so far no problem. I do carry the 009 dist w/points already gapped just in case The elec dist is not Pertronics but an offshoot called HotSpark. I wanted a dist w/vaccum advance that the aftermarket 009 that was on it didn't have. When I got the Ghia it had another brand elec ign in it, a Compufire and it was dead....
Anyways, sorry to ramble, if I were to go w/an elec ign on the 3100, I'd carry a set of points, condensor and feeler gauge in my emergency kit
Dave

I am a member of the Cadillac & Buick forums as well as this one.
The percentage of Pertronix related failures reported at those sites
is roughly 40-50% as you've noted..... I have no personal experience with them... just passing on observations.

There are also some articles on converting a later HEI to work on the 6 cylinder engines.
Only thing I can add, electronic ignitions are nice, but when they quit there is no tinkering to get it going again, with points there is always the possibility of a roadside fix to get you back home.....
Me, I think I'll use a homebuilt ignition system that still leaves the points ect intact, but steps up the voltage output of the coil. If it quits, just change a few wires andf its back to stock.

John