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Did my pertronix fail?

ntsqd

heratic car camper
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
5,953
Loc.
Upper SoKA
While I've read of that, and I'm sure that it can be done, my whole interest in electronic ignition is to get away from worn breaker point cams. At this point in life, with the newest points distributors now being 40+ years old it is safe to assume that they're all worn and most are worn out. The very early "Electronic Ignition Conversions" did exactly that, used the points simply to be the reference point for that cylinder's spark event. BT, DT.

Spending time on a distributor machine (remember those?) will show you how a seemingly good breaker point cam with little to no visual wear can have large cylinder to cylinder timing variations. (Mopars were the worst for this.) Without some now rare and fairly sophisticated tooling this isn't fixable by anyone. Just the shape of those cams is highly sophisticated, even if you built a breaker point cam grinding machine you aren't going to regrind one without a LOT of trial and error.
 

gnpenning

Contributor
Bronco Slave
Joined
Dec 26, 2011
Messages
2,597
Loc.
I have more questions than answers.
I don't recall anything being said about the mileage or condition of the currently conversion. Guessing and automatically discounting it might not be appropriate at this time. It may very well be junk. The op has options on how best to proceed for their needs.

The old distributor machines were handy for sure.
 

nvrstuk

Contributor
Just a Bronco driver for over 50 yrs!
Joined
Jul 31, 2001
Messages
10,596
Loc.
PNW
I'll ask my buddy if he still has his from his shop. I passed on it last year.
 
OP
OP
cldonley

cldonley

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jul 4, 2011
Messages
1,398
Loc.
Robinson, TX
I don't recall anything being said about the mileage or condition of the currently conversion. Guessing and automatically discounting it might not be appropriate at this time. It may very well be junk. The op has options on how best to proceed for their needs.

The old distributor machines were handy for sure.
I bought it from another member, lightly used and looking like new. Ran great for 8 miles, then took a dump.
 

ntsqd

heratic car camper
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
5,953
Loc.
Upper SoKA
Just occurred to me, somewhere I may still have an MSD for a 351W. It will have the wrong gear on it. PM if you want to see if it's still around home.
 
OP
OP
cldonley

cldonley

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Jul 4, 2011
Messages
1,398
Loc.
Robinson, TX
Just occurred to me, somewhere I may still have an MSD for a 351W. It will have the wrong gear on it. PM if you want to see if it's still around home.
I'd be happy to take it off your hands if you can find it!
 
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