Pertronix electronic ignition
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- 356 Fan
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Pertronix electronic ignition
Has anyone installed an electronic ignition? I installed one on a 64 356C and can't get the car started. I called the helpline and tried all their suggestions to no avail. Can anyone help? I would like to try some suggestions before I put the regular points back in. Thanks
Bob Soldani
Registry 10259
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64 356C Sunroof Coupe
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Typ 356 Northeast Member
64 356C Sunroof Coupe
- Mike Wilson
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
6 or 12V, Bob? The 6V doesn't index well well. Check the wiring connections and timing.
Mike
Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Bruce Smith
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
It's not an indexing problem, it's whether there's enough current with a 6V system for the Hall-effect sensor to generate a voltage from the passing magnetic field. The low voltage together with resistance in your old wiring reduces the current. Your generator needs to put out a a good 7+ volts, and it needs to reach the distributor. If you're having problems with 12V, it may also be your charging system or excess resistance in your wiring. I wrote an article for the magazine about electronic ignition conversion a few years back. You may find a few tips there. Here's the link. I've rigged up a way to test a distributor w/ Pertronix (or Hotspark) on a Sun tester. Let me know if you'd like me to test yours out for you.
http://www.sparkingplugs.com/resources/ ... +Smith.pdf
http://www.sparkingplugs.com/3.html
http://www.sparkingplugs.com/resources/ ... +Smith.pdf
http://www.sparkingplugs.com/3.html
Last edited by Bruce Smith on Thu Jan 12, 2023 9:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Bruce Smith
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
Also, Bob, if you have the Pertronix Ignitor II, you'll want to use a low resistance 40KV coil. Ignitor I should work with your old coil, if it's up to spec. Here's how to test a coil:
http://www.sparkingplugs.com/7.html
http://www.sparkingplugs.com/7.html
Bruce Smith
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
Thanks Bruce for your insight. I will check all the items that you suggested and get back to you.
Bob Soldani
Registry 10259
Typ 356 Northeast Member
64 356C Sunroof Coupe
Registry 10259
Typ 356 Northeast Member
64 356C Sunroof Coupe
- Martin Benade
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
Bruce, that Hall effect sensor takes appreciably more current than an ignition coil alone?
Cleveland Ohio
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04 Sienna
62 Cabriolet
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
I tried every one out there. Took me a while, but the factory setup is all I will use now. ..........Jim.
Jim Liberty
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
Following up on this discussions and earlier ones about the 6 volt Pertronix. I had (have) the sense they were not recommended for our 6 volt cars because of problems with insufficient current. Now I'm confused. I have always used Pertronix in my 912s (12 volt) Porsches with great reliability. I would like to install one in my 62 Super 90 (still 6 volt), but had decided against it based on earlier discussions. Should I reconsider? If so, Igniter l or ll?
- David Jones
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
Most 6 volt Pertronix will work until the battery is low or maybe on a very cold start. If battery voltage falls below 5.2 volts while cranking you get no spark because the threshold voltage for the Pertronix to operate is 5.2 volts. If it does not fire in the first few seconds of cranking it only gets less likely to start as the battery voltage drops.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
Cymru am byth
David Jones #9715
Cymru am byth
David Jones #9715
- Bruce Smith
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
Me too Jim. I like points. Guys will claim that they aren't as good as electronic, like Pertronix. But this only might be true if you also added a hotter spark, i.e. swapped the coil. But points would also deliver a hotter spark. The facts are that good points with the proper dwell will be just as good as anything that replaces them.Jim Liberty wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 10:22 pm I tried every one out there. Took me a while, but the factory setup is all I will use now. ..........Jim.
Bruce Smith
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
It is humorous to me how many people think a 10 minute points replacement every few years is such a problem.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
OK, so I stick with points. No problem for me. Thanks.
- Al Zim
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
ZIMZ is still involved with vehicles that have 6 volt systems. Dealing with a 6 volt generator (bad armature) is an impossible situation: No quality armatures and few (IF) qualified individuals (who own a generator shop) with experience exist. Installing a new 6 volt coil is good insurance. Since early January when we received the 123 distributors we decided that this is all we use on the 356 and 912 engines carbureted or fuel injected. Why would you not want a New distributor that with the aid of our cell phone can make your car run better?
Spark Plug wires should be checked for excessive resistance. Make sure the cables have copper wire. Al Zim
Spark Plug wires should be checked for excessive resistance. Make sure the cables have copper wire. Al Zim
Last edited by Al Zim on Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:48 am, edited 4 times in total.
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- Wes Bender
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
Geez I wish the trip were over... We know that they're old and that you prefer to convert them to12 volts, but it's getting a bit old, Al.
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.....
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Re: Pertronix electronic ignition
Wes Bender wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 12:11 pm Geez I wish the trip were over... We know that they're old and that you prefer to convert them to12 volts, but it's getting a bit old, Al.