I installed a Pertronix in the Jetfire for some reason. i have no trouble with points but got talked into it. After 800 miles the car started cutting out at idle when the engine is hot and almost impossible to take off. after it is going about 45 MPH or more it is just fine with no issues at all. also if the engine is cold it runs perfect. i first thought it was a vacuum leak but now i am wondering if it is the Pertronix braking down when it heats up. i will just change back to points and see if it fixes it but wondered if anyone else had any trouble with a Pertronix system.

 

That's my recommendation, but please let us know whether the Pertronix was the culprit - the coil is another contender here.

- Eric

 

X2^^^^^^ But also wondering if you supplied battery voltage to it, or did you use the resistor wire?

 

it has a full battery volts going to it. i replaced the coil at the same time as the pertronix.

 

Might be easier to swap out the coil first and see if that fixes it - no adjustments, just two terminals and one clamp screw.

- Eric

 

I had a couple pertronix issues in one application.

first module no start returned to pertronix replaced no problem, after a bit the engine would run poorly and misfire at all speeds, turned out a magnet fell out of the rotor part so it only fired on 3 cylinders (4 cyl ford in a Bombi groomer) we found the magent on the dizzy housing and glued it back in and had no further problems.

The only other time I used pertronix was my 52 8n installed and worked fine for the 5 years I had it

 

I have run Pertronix in 5 different cars for many years and many, many miles. I have had only one problem and it was my fault. I had the magnet ring too close to the pickup and it started to rub, which caused it to cut out.

Did you follow ALL the directions? I have one in my Olds, but it was in it when I bought it and works fine, but I will assume the install is pretty much the same as on Pontiac and Chevy engines.

First, the mag ring needs to be measured and shimmed if neccessary so the correct gap exists between the mag ring and module. Second, the distributor gear is tapered, so when rpms increase, the shaft raises up slightly. The distributor (on Pontiac and Chevy, and I assume Olds) has to be removed and the lower gear removed and shimmed if it has to much play, to limit how far the shart will rise when rpms increase. If you skip that step, and if the gear has too much play, it will raise the magnetic ring too far above the module and cause it to misfire and/or cut out. Correct hardened washers are provided and instructions on how to do it are included and it is very straight forward and simple.

Some people have just installed the components without taking the time to check the clearances. If they are lucky and they are within specs, then it will work fine. But if not, the Pertonix will not work properly.

 

i will work on it this weekend but i had it adjusted to specs. even ran great for 800 miles. i hope this is all it is. if the pertronix is bad i will likely go back to points and just keep them.

 

Just got back to this project. (the Wife said i had to) I got the coil changed and took it for a short drive. It was not the problem. I tested again for battery volts going to the Pertronix module and it was good. i changed out the Pertronix module for a set of points. Now it runs perfect again. just got back from a 30 mile drive... boy i like driving this car. I should have never let Mark from D&D talk me into installing the Pertronix. Now i wonder if Pertronix will replace the module? it only has around 800 miles on it before it went bad.
Thanks again for the help guys!

 

Just out of curiosity, was it the Ignitor or Ignitor II? I have heard about the first one having problems.

 

it was an Ignitor II and i got the coil that was recommended to go with it.

 

Send it back to Pertronix. They have a 30 month warranty on the modules. When they work well I think they're exceptional.

I got a Pertronix I Lobe sensing unit back in '99, and it's rock solid. Over 60k miles on it. Literally tossed it in and drove off. I was even running it off the resistor wire!
Based on that, I got a Pertronix III billet distributor and had all kinds of odd problems with it, even with a replacement module. I've heard other cases where old purchases were great, and stuff bought in the past few years is hit and miss.