I recently had my 66 350 dual point rebuilt by Nelson industries in Charlotte because the pin that holds the drive gear in place broke; when the distributor was reinstalled and timing set to 38 degrees total advance the car ran better than ever, but would cut out at 5000 RPM. No big deal, I thought as the rebuild included installing a new Pertronix 3 which is supposed to have a rev limit set at 5500 RPM from the factory. I just figured mine was set to 5000 instead; this is easily changed, so I did. I backed out of the garage, shut the car down, and adjusted the rev limiter to 6000. Now, when I start the car, it immediately dies; start right up, then quit, over and over. I can't get it to run no matter what I do. I took it to a shop that thought the ignition switch was bad and replaced it. This, of course was no help, and maybe a little worse as the last time I tried to start, the car backfired through the #1 carb. (the car has webers).
Thanks
Sounds like you have a connection issue or the module moved. I would go back through it like it was just being installed and see what happens. Its not pulsing the module correctly.
A couple of things may have occurred, the module moved . The distance is roughly the thickness of a credit card, try that first and if your coil was the old coil for points you need the new improved coil to run with the electronic ignition. It will fail sooner than later been down that road a couple of times. :-\
Are you using the Petronix coil with the P-3 system? And spiral (not solid core) plug wires?
Using the correct points will restore your ignition to having a reliable redline of 6,500+ rpm.
I've used every type of Pertronix product, and found the quality control to be hit and miss.
When you've spent some time on a dark 2 lane road removing a crapped out Pertonix from a distributor by the light of a match, you will learn to appreciate the simplicity of the stock ignition.
Z
I miss black and white console TV's too
Quote from: 6s1802 on August 19, 2018, 12:27:01 PM
I miss black and white console TV's too
you do realize this is forum is based on a fine appreciation of 50 year old style & technology ?
;) ;) ;)
Z
I have know what a typical day 2 mod would be so would a Pertronix be like a day 18,628 mod? ;)
Quote from: zray on August 19, 2018, 11:38:55 AM
Using the correct points will restore your ignition to having a reliable redline of 6,500+ rpm.
I've used every type of Pertronix product, and found the quality control to be hit and miss.
When you've spent some time on a dark 2 lane road removing a crapped out Pertonix from a distributor by the light of a match, you will learn to appreciate the simplicity of the stock ignition.
Z
+1!! Sometime the cost of perceived "improvement" extends beyond monetary. The original dual point system (equipped with the "proper" points/condenser) worked great! OK, you have to change points once in a while. It isn't that difficult to do for most folks. Ford could have put the distributer in the back of the engine.
Frank
Quote from: Bob Gaines on August 19, 2018, 02:39:03 PM
I have know what a typical day 2 mod would be so would a Pertronix be like a day 18,628 mod? ;)
Of course this is meant jokingly. If a owner wants to experiment with modifications that he thinks will make his car experience better then it is his car to do with as he chooses.
I installed the Pertronix 2 version on both my cars with no issues 9+ years. Knock on wood.
Have been running a pertronix and MSD over 35 years, no issues. I really hate setting points.
Quote from: trotrof1 on August 19, 2018, 05:32:20 PM
I installed the Pertronix 2 version on both my cars with no issues 9+ years. Knock on wood.
Quote from: 6s1802 on August 19, 2018, 09:56:27 PM
Have been running a pertronix and MSD over 35 years, no issues. I really hate setting points.
Been running points ignition for 52+ years, no issues. I really hate progress.
Z
Quote from: zray on August 19, 2018, 10:09:57 PM
Quote from: trotrof1 on August 19, 2018, 05:32:20 PM
I installed the Pertronix 2 version on both my cars with no issues 9+ years. Knock on wood.
Quote from: 6s1802 on August 19, 2018, 09:56:27 PM
Have been running a pertronix and MSD over 35 years, no issues. I really hate setting points.
Been running points ignition for 52+ years, no issues. I really hate progress.
Z
LOL!!!
Food for thought: Pertronix II and III will NOT run properly on vehicles without a constant 12V ignition source and actually causes the early failure. My Shelby, being a factory tach car even created another issue. There are two ways to go about running the 12V constant (bypass of the pink resistor wire)
I simply spliced into lead into before the tach and running it out directly to the red lead from the Pertronix module. It's relatively easy to hide on FE powered cars.
I don't miss playing with dual points, no matter what Zray says, points are problematic, especially with the poor quality Chinese made products. They just don't hold up.
I am running a Pertronix II, and have not had a single issue with it. Set it and drive.
I only have 130 miles on the car, but the Pertronix is 14 years old and has been in the rebuilt re-curved distributor all along.
-Keith
Quote from: 1967 eight barrel on August 20, 2018, 05:29:27 AM
".......no matter what Zray says, points are problematic, especially with the poor quality Chinese made products. They just don't hold up......"
what zray says (but no matter):
the echlin brand that NAPA sells has a very good quality of points. Am getting 20,000+ miles per set from them, with no burning, and little wear and Ohm meter showing zero resistance. I wonder how long it takes the average Shelby owmer to put 20,000 miles on their car ?
Adjustment check at 7,500 mile intervals are often done without needing a screwdriver to change anything.
The part of the original ignition that IS becoming a little tricky is the CONDENSER, with the Echlin brand again being the best of the newly manufactured condensers. I wouldn't be throwing away any used Ford condensers however until they are proved to be bad. As with other parts (like rear end gears for example) a good used Ford part is often better than what is being manufactured today.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Z.
If you're running a stock engine, I suppose points will suffice. They start easier and are more efficient electronic ignition. I am running the Pertronix II. It sets the dwell automatically too. The III is designed for multiple spark and has an adjustable rev limiter built in. If you leave the ignition on it also doesn't fry the points and condenser. The high failure rate was people not reading the instructions and giving the unit a full 12V ignition source.
Yes, I kept my dual points in case a new owner wants to deal with points.
-Keith
Yes, some P failures are certainly due to faulty installation. I'll just put down the failures I've observed to bad luck, poor Q-C, or a combination of black-magic, voodoo, and witchcraft, as they all were getting a full 12v.
Points vs. electronic ignition is one of those topics like synthetic vs Dino oil. I guess whatever is working for a person is what they prefer.
Z
Quote from: zray on August 20, 2018, 09:12:25 AM
Quote from: 1967 eight barrel on August 20, 2018, 05:29:27 AM
".......no matter what Zray says, points are problematic, especially with the poor quality Chinese made products. They just don't hold up......"
what zray says (but no matter):
the echlin brand that NAPA sells has a very good quality of points. Am getting 20,000+ miles per set from them, with no burning, and little wear and Ohm meter showing zero resistance. I wonder how long it takes the average Shelby owmer to put 20,000 miles on their car ?
[/color]takes me about 2 years at the present rate of driving [/color
Quote from: Steve McDonald Formally known as Mcdonas on August 20, 2018, 01:07:11 PM
Quote from: zray on August 20, 2018, 09:12:25 AM
Quote from: 1967 eight barrel on August 20, 2018, 05:29:27 AM
".......no matter what Zray says, points are problematic, especially with the poor quality Chinese made products. They just don't hold up......"
what zray says (but no matter):
the echlin brand that NAPA sells has a very good quality of points. Am getting 20,000+ miles per set from them, with no burning, and little wear and Ohm meter showing zero resistance. I wonder how long it takes the average Shelby owmer to put 20,000 miles on their car ?
[/color]takes me about 2 years at the present rate of driving [/color
How many miles do you have on that beautiful machine Steve?
Sorry I'm late to reply; I went to Monterey for car week and haven't checked my email for a few days. I am running old hipo type plug wires, not new spiral metal stuff. I am running the pertronix coil that is made for this module; I'll check to see if the module has moved tomorrow evening.
Thanks again.
Quote from: Greg on August 20, 2018, 01:20:50 PM
Quote from: Steve McDonald Formally known as Mcdonas on August 20, 2018, 01:07:11 PM
Quote from: zray on August 20, 2018, 09:12:25 AM
Quote from: 1967 eight barrel on August 20, 2018, 05:29:27 AM
".......no matter what Zray says, points are problematic, especially with the poor quality Chinese made products. They just don't hold up......"
what zray says (but no matter):
the echlin brand that NAPA sells has a very good quality of points. Am getting 20,000+ miles per set from them, with no burning, and little wear and Ohm meter showing zero resistance. I wonder how long it takes the average Shelby owmer to put 20,000 miles on their car ?
[/color]takes me about 2 years at the present rate of driving [/color
How many miles do you have on that beautiful machine Steve?
Just turned 235,000 Saturday on a 200 mile drive to a show and back, even won an award for top pick out of the 800+ cars that were there