allyolds68

I've seem to have to adjust my points once a year. I've got a dwell meter so it's not like the old days of trying to shove a feeler gauge in there but I'm finally thinking of giving in to a breaker-less Petronix type under the stock cap set up. I'd like to have a rev limiter too so I was wondering is there are any reliable systems out there that incorporate the two. From what I can find Pertronix does not have a rev limiter.


Thanks,

oldcutlass

The Pertronix III has a rev limiter.

allyolds68

I just found that too. I think it's part #71181. It doesn't come up on a search for Olds products on Summit Racing but they seem to have it. Jegs does too. Unfortunately the reviews are mixed. When you click on warranty Info the Ignitor III isn't listed.


Definitely a possibility though

RetroRanger

crane XRI has the rev limiter unfortunetly they get the same reviews as pertronix....seems like most of the points replacement ones get the same works 66% of the time
one nice thing about the pertronix 3 is the adapting dwell changes w RPM

ive only seen a couple reviews for this one but no negative yet

http://www.lectriclimited.com/mainpage.htm

doesnt have the rev limiter tho

redoldsman

I don't have the Pertronix III but I have had a Pertronix in my boat for about 18 years and I have had the one in my 54 for about 2 years with no problems. I think they are great products.

VC455

Pertronix work great until they don't.

Consider http://www.breakerless.com/features.htm They are nearly faultless.

RetroRanger

i dont know nuttin about nuttin but those appear to be exactly the same product at the same price.

MDchanic

I believe the Crane and the Pertronix II do this as well.

- Eric

oldcutlass

However, if he wants a rev limiter, then he has to go with a III.

MDchanic

The Crane XR-i has a rev limiter as well.

- Eric

allyolds68

The Crane XR-i is a much better deal. You get the conversion kit and the upgraded coil for $114.99


http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...hTerm=750-1725


Just the PerTronics III is $134.99


http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pnx-71181


Both appear to serve the same purpose and the XR-i has better reviews

MDchanic

There was a Crane unit installed in my current engine when I got it.

It confused the tach when I was dialing in the timing, so I swapped in a set of points.

No difference in performance, and I keep the Crane unit in the glove compartment (along with a spare set of points), just in case.

- Eric

allyolds68

My tach reads way high anyway. It's on my to-do list.


I'm pretty sure I'm not spinning my stockish 70 455 to 6500 rpm's.


Hopefully it doesn't confuse the analog tach on my dwell meter


The last time I had to set the points I just filed them. I have a new Blue Point set ready to install now I just figured it might be a good time to convert to newer technology

MDchanic

Yeah, two out of three shop tachs that I tried had their needles move down instead of up once the engine reached about 3,000 RPM.

I just didn't feel confident with it.

Now that I've got the timing set, of course, I could change it back, but the points are working fine, so why bother?

- Eric

droptopron

Even cheaper @ Speedway


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Crane-Cams-7...pXMOqV&vxp=mtr

droldsmorland

Mike,
Some years ago I stumbled across either a Mallory or MSD distributor that was digitally adjustable on the vacuum and mechanical settings. Ill be dammed if I can find it quickly. Worth the search. Tweak two pots on the side of the dist to set both events all electronic! Cats Azz!
Bet if you called the tech lines they could tell you if they have an Olds application? I thought Mallory had it. Let us know what you find.

http://www.carid.com/images/mallory/info/catalogue.pdf

https://www.msdperformance.com/produ...let/parts/8394

allyolds68

So I ordered this kit from Jegs over three weeks ago. They sent out the boilerplate email with an estimated ship date of "No ETA". So I called them and asked "How do you charge my credit card $114 and give me a ship date of "No ETA"?". They immediately send me an email back saying the shipping date is 6/6/16. Ok, I'm still not happy but I can live with it.

The other day I looked up the part number again to check if Jegs still listed it. Here's the link:

http://www.jegs.com/i/FAST/244/750-1725/10002/-1

Crane Cams is no longer the manufacturer, it's a FAST product now, which is a sister company to Comp Cams. I'm guessing this is where this cluster is coming from. Interesting that the ebay listing is for Crane Cams. I wonder if you're SOL if you have a warranty issue with it.

83hurstguy

Late to the party, but the breakerless SE system from M&H electric is nice from what I've heard. My engine should be running soon with it to find out. Not the cheapest option though. Can go back and forth to points without pulling distributor, and it runs with ballast resistor in place.

oddball

They don't put this unit in an Olds housing.

My442

At a minimum, Pertronix II.

Whole hog, Pertronix III.

allyolds68

Pertronix III got bad reviews, that's why I went with the Crane Cams.


The plot thickens. Today I received this (and only this):





Instead of this:





Jegs is looking into it

allyolds68

Jegs got back to me and they don't offer the kit anymore. I'm getting a refund.


I'm not sure what I'm going to do now

83hurstguy

http://www.breakerless.com/

Available from Summit, use with a points coil and ballast resistor... I bought the Crane higher resistance coil. I never found a bad review on it anywhere... I was told it looked really good on the Sun machine when my distributor was tested, just don't have a running engine yet.

oldcutlass

So what are you going to go with?

allyolds68

Unfortunately it doesn't have a rev limiter. That's the main reason I was looking at going in this direction





No idea.

oldcutlass

I think your only choice left is a Pertronix III

droldsmorland

Mike,
Why not go with a complete MSD dist with 6AL. Hide the box under the dash. I have a DUI 52KV HEI in mine for the last 20 years. Large cap GM style HEI...No fitment issues either.
Ive installed a few of these MSD kits for friends and customers. Very reliable. Just make sure the grounds are all good as it will smoke the modules in the dist.

With the cash you saved on the steering gear upgrade put it towards this...lol. Man I need to do the steering box upgrade asap! These new shoes really brought out the box slop. Steer wheel is not straight anymore either. Not sure why new wheels would affect this? Time for another alignment and steering box up grade.

MSD Part# 8563 and a 6AL.

https://www.msdperformance.com/searc...0oldsmobile%20

Steve

allyolds68

I just sold an analog 6AL and blaster coil that I bought used years ago and never even installed.


I don't remember the cost for everything new but I think it was pushing $500 for the distributor, digital box & coil. I just can't see dropping that much money to eliminate points and get a rev limiter

droldsmorland

Ehh keep it old school. Put in the vette spec blue points and shift before rod to pan contact.

Danny Boy

Do you have to take the distributor out of the engine block to install a Pertronix?

oldcutlass

No, you can install it with the distributor in. I found it easier to remove though.

allyolds68

Just to close this out. Jegs issued me a full refund and paid shipping back. They apologized for the mess but didn't really have anything to offer but the Pertronix III. That may be an option for the future but right now I'm just enjoying driving with trouble free points

oldcutlass

If your not into heavy racing or a lot of traffic light drags, I think the rev limiter is unnecessary. If you want a good electronic distributor go with an HEI, very reliable and simple to install and set up.

allyolds68

For an auto maybe but one missed shift while whining out on a MT and the motor can go ka-boom

MDchanic

The problem isn't missed upshifts - if you're halfway observant and you're not flat-out drag racing, you won't over-rev on those.

The problem is missed downshifts, and no rev limiter in the world can protect you from blowing your engine if you go from 4th to 1st.

- Eric

allyolds68

So I have nothing to worry about when I'm shifting hard from second to third and I miss third with the clutch back out, the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and the tranny in neutral? Because that's pretty much what happens when I miss a shift.


My syncros are pretty good but I've never managed to downshift from fourth to first at speed

MDchanic

Maybe it's a sign of old age, but I don't think I'd upshift with the throttle flat on the floor unless I were drag racing, and if you're missing 2nd to 3rd, there's something wrong with your shifter.
My shifter was badly worn in the Chevelle I had as a kid, and would do things like that if I wasn't careful, but, really, that shouldn't happen.

- Eric

allyolds68

It shouldn't, but it does. Particularly with sciatica in my right leg that doesn't always allow me to lift my foot off the gas during a shift

MDchanic

Well, that's a horse of a different color. If your right foot doesn't always obey your commands when you want it to, then a rev limiter is a very good idea.

- Eric

allyolds68

We talked about it here too:


https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...py-ending.html