I finally decided to do away with points ignition. Thinking about trying thePetronix system. Any recommendation before I order one? Is there a particularkit or model I should get? This is on a 1971 Oldsmobile 455 all stock.

 

On a stock engine I would just go with the basic conversion kit. I have used several Pertonix kits and have been very satisfied.

 

I went with the Ignitor III, not because redoldsman isn't right, but because the price difference wasn't large enough to dissuade me from getting something I didn't actually need right now. On Amazon, the Ignitor can be had for about $70, the Ignitor III (adaptive dwell and multiple spark discharge) for about $120. As long as it doesn't go bad, I won't ever have a need to upgrade the ignition unless I want to replace the distributor.

Heck, it costs me $50 to take my family to a movie these days, and that's over in two hours - ok, closer to four, by the time you count driving, but the point is it's not going to do any damage to anything to have the Ignitor III, and it could save me some grief later.

 

Well since your "thinking" about trying the Pertronix, there's also the Crane XR-i:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cr...ake/oldsmobile

I replaced the original version of the Pertronix (i.e. the one with the magnetic ring) with this Crane unit in, maybe, 2005. Simple install and never an issue.

 

have tried the pertronix (1181LSCC iirc) and the crane xr-i and the M&H one wire electronic points conversion. Hands down, the M&H is the best of the three. I bought two more and plan on converting the W-31 and F-85. fwiw, the crane xr-i built in rev-limiters are known to be off by about 500rpm and I've heard that pertronix bought crane's technology when they went bankrupt and the ignitor III is the result. I've never used the ignitor III however

I have two crane xr-i's along with an older mallory points conversion with electronic coil that I can sell if anyone is interested

 

good info thanks...but why is the M&H the best price, performance, ease of install ?

 

I put an ignitor 1 plus a pertronix coil on my 72 350 about 8 years ago....have had no issues so far.....

 

If you need rev limiters, then the III. With a stock or mildly modified for the street, the original Ignitor has worked perfectly for me, in 4 different cars for close to 20 years. It will not give increased performance. Stock ignition works just fine for stock or mildly modified engines. What it gives you is performance and reliability like "brand new" points, with no deterioration, all the time. Just follow the directions, don't skip steps and it will be fine.

 

I had an ignitor in one of my cars for about 7 years. The car ran great unless I was really revving it up. Over 5500, it would start to break up and miss. Put the points back in and no issues. Also, when it finally started to go bad all the time, my idle speed was all over the place.

Now I just use a good set a points. For the amount I drive it, they will last a few years without issues.

 

Well Tex, you wanted opinions and you got them. I have had a pertronix in my boat for about 15 years and it works perfect. I am sure the Crane product is just as good. I do think either one is better than points. A lot of people like points and that is what they should use.

 

I just went with a stock distributor out of a likt 75ish motor

 

I put in the Pertronix Ignitor III last year. Runs good with no issues.

 

One of reasons i like the pertronix is that a seldom driven motor is more likely to start, at lest have spark after a long shut down. makes it easier to chase down a no start condition and the dwell is always correct which with a non windowed distributor cap is a pain to adjust. just my .02 i think they are great and an easy way to modernize an outdated system

 

Shakey, I have a 75 distributor in my 72 and it has been there trouble free for almost 20 years. If Pertronix had been available back then I probably would have used it. You don't have to pull the distributor to install it or change plug wire. The cap is not near as big has the GM HEI either. Obviously nothing wrong with the GM HEI though.

 

I used the Pertronix Flamethrower II on my 72 with a 350. The only part that was a pain in the *** was removing the "resistor" wire. If you don't remove it, the distributor won't get enough voltage and the pertronix won't work correctly. There are plenty of threads on this site addressing this issue. Good luck.

 

The resistor wire is a good point.

For whatever it's worth, the Crane XR-1 needs a ballast resistor, so that means no messing around replacing the resistor wire, unless you already have deleted yours, in which case you would need to add a resistor.

- Eric

 

You can use a relay fired by your resistor wire and if you ever want to go back to stock it's still there.