The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Electronic ignition

Anyone do a electronic ignition conversion ?

What year? Engine?

changed my 235 chevy to pertronix

I think there is an article on converting an GM HEI to work on the 216/235 engines in the Tech section.... It does require some machining.

John

i bought one from Langdons. Works fine.

Pertronix on mine. No modifications required. Works fine.

Pertronix on my 53 216 engine, works great no modifications,

I have Pertronix on my 261, been there for 5 years. Never a problem, I don't think I have even taken the dist. cap off since I installed it.

i am happy to read the replies in this thread..i installed a pertronix in my 261..first time i ever used one..but think i will still carry a set of points in the tool box.. nothing ever fails if you have a spare..ha ha ha ha

Have a homebuilt one for mine, was an article on building an ignition that was in PM back in the mid 60's. Still uses the points to trigger it, but takes the current load off them. Switch a few wires and back to stock.

John

yeah, everyone has heard my story, but I put pertronix in my mustang, lasted about 15 minutes. Put a set in the truck, lasted about 6 months, the only time in 30 years that truck has ever left me stranded, was after I UPGRADED the ignition. I asked the question on this very forum specifically if anyone else had a less than satisfactory experience with pertronix. I got 10 replies, 4 of which were of the so negative, "I took it out" variety, that along with my poor experience, makes it 5 out of 11 against pertronix, some fella said the poll on inliners was about the same. Some fella at work said he installed a unit in his boat, the first one died on him, but the second works fine. So even though it isn't a huge poll in terms of numbers, it is enough to make me stick with the points. I could fester with points for the rest of my life and still not be as much work and misery as that one day standing out in the wind and rain, spending an hour and a half getting home on the bus to get the parts, which I had been keeping in the glove box till just a day or two before when I had taken them out for some reason and forgot to put them back....

So just how do you really feel about Pertronix...HA- HA

I have installed several over the years and not had one fail. But since humans make them I guess there will be some that go bad early on. Or I've been extremely lucky.

16 years and counting on the first Pertronix set I bought.

My points have been in a ziploc bag in the glovebox for 5+years and continue to wait there for a Pertronix failure. Money very well spent for me.

The two most common "carburetor problems" we see today are:

(1) ethanol in the fuel
(2) electronic ignition conversions

When customers call with idle issues, the first question we ask is if they have an electronics conversion. Generally they do, generally, points and condenser solve the issue.

In all fairness, I have yet to have anyone tell me of an issue at W.O.T.

Also, in all fairness, a large majority of the issues occur on older vehicles with generators as opposed to later ones with alternators. An electronics engineer told me that the electronics require a very stable voltage; and the alternator produces a more stable voltage at low RPM.

Not saying don't use the conversion; but am suggesting to keep the points and condenser in the glove-box; AND if you have a generator, convert it to an alternator.

Jon.

WOT - is that Wide Open Throttle (for us dolts who do not know)

I know nothing about automobile electronics and nothing about HEI, but Pertronix specs show a wide voltage range for their units (8v-16v for their 12v units).

A few things that I have noticed about my Pertronix units (beside not having to change/adjust them) is quick staring and smoother low idles.

A well-grounded engine is also a good thing.

WOT is indeed wide open throttle (sorry).

Not arguing with the specifications; simply reporting on trouble calls that we receive daily.

I will certain concur about the well-grounded engine. We have solved many "starting issues" by simply connecting a jumper cable from the ground side of the battery to a head bolt! Lots of enthusiasts paint everything for looks, and forget that paint is a poor conductor of electricity.

It might also be pointed out that the world lived for many centuries without the need for cell phones. They were invented to call the tow-trucks when electronic ignitions failed!

Jon.

Whitelightning, you don't happen to know what issue that article was in do you? I'd like to check out how that's done.

I think I got 16 days and left high and dry 160 miles from home. It was a first generation Pertronix though, but put the points and condenser back on and never had an issue since. Once you have been bitten by the aftermarket product, it is hard to go back for a second try. I would only trust GM HEI, but that is just me and my hangup.

Hi Chad,

The article was originally featured in the March 1964 issue of Popular Science.
I will say it required some parts that might be hard to find anymore. At the time it called for 3 TO-36 style transistors. Something could probably be substituted for them now. Also they recommended a special Mallory coil, but alos tol you how you could take a GM Delco coil and remove the primary winds, double them up and rewrap the coil. It stepped up the voltage that way. I know she'll jump a pretty good gap and bites if you get between it...LOL
I've also found and have schematics for other electronic igintion systems. Found one online to build a 6 volt CDI system, positive or negative ground.
John

I have a 53 235 that I use as a daily driver. The first modification that I made was conversion to 12 volt and an alternator. I enjoy the speed that the 6 volt starter turns when it receives 12 volts, and the fact that I don't have to deal with a voltage regulator used for a generator. Then I decided to go with a Pertronix ignition so that I wouldn't have to wonder if my points were crusty or gapped properly. I am very satisfied with all of these modifications in terms of improved performance and reliability. And yes, I carry points and condenser in the glove box. But I do remember keeping an extra module for my HEI distributor back in the day.