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Did my pertronix fail?

ntsqd

heratic car camper
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Jan 30, 2005
Messages
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Upper SoKA
I recommended the DUI module specifically because I've also had a failure with a name brand new HEI modules and I've never seen or heard of one of them failing.
 

nvrstuk

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Just a Bronco driver for over 50 yrs!
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It's what we want! To get to where we're going and back!! :)
 
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cldonley

cldonley

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Long...

It's amazing how different stuff can work for different folk without any flaws.

I know when Petronics first came out, they had a couple of small issues, but since then, they've been flawless, except for maybe this one... :(

I tried a Mallory HEI distributor ( before holly bought them out) bought brand name pickup modules and they would die after maybe a month, I would never go back. Just my experience.I'm sure there's great ones out there.

I used to have two blue Duraspark OE modules bolted to my fender for a quick easy wire plug in replacement for when they failed.
These were all Motorcraft, and when you got a good one, they would last five to ten years, and then you might go through two or three in one year...

Find something that's works for you and run with it.

I went back to OE with Ford's wasted spark ignition w/o a dizzy for yrs & loved it. Course it needed a Moates Qtrhorse chip, that would piggyback on a mustang computer... during covid, when those got super rare and I built a different engine, I went to the Holley Terminator X.

I put that decision off for about 9 years because I ran a Holley Projection when they first came out, and they were not supported, very long.

That's the other concern for those that keep their Broncos any length of time. Can I get parts to replace what I put in 10 or 20 yrs ago?

Hope you figure this out and when you do let us know. :)
Spent a lot of time today at the airport working on an old Piper Cherokee. I love simplicity, and airplanes are simple. Two magnetos, easy to test, inspect and fix. Points, condenser, internal generator. Makes me want to go back to points. I think I mentioned at the top of this thread that I bought this dizzy used off of a member here, but it looked brand new. Ran great for the eight miles on my odometer on dirt roads by my house (no tags, don't blab!) then next day no worky. Didn't get any time to mess with it today. Yesterday pulled the plugs and rotated the engine to TDC, installed the distributor and started hooking things up. Had to buy a set of wires-gave the set I had to a friend. Hope to give it a try by this weekend. I'll let y'all know for sure. Appreciate all the input. There's no better place on the web than this forum! And as far as pics go, I haven't posted any, but I'll get some up soon. Gus is very much a work in progress, but he's right there for getting on the road safely, if not in style!
 
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cldonley

cldonley

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I recommended the DUI module specifically because I've also had a failure with a name brand new HEI modules and I've never seen or heard of one of them failing.
I was just looking at the DUI website. I see that they have a duraspark offering, but I don't see one at first glance for my 96 351W running a carb. I guess I'd need to call them about it. What I'm installing is an ebay knockoff of the DUI HEI style.
 

acropilot

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Not sure if this would make any difference but the proper coil for the Ignitor II module is the flamethrower II coil that is rated at 0.600 ohms.
 

nvrstuk

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Just a Bronco driver for over 50 yrs!
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They offer so many pkgs... here on the Petronix site they show this pkg for the 351W...
 

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ntsqd

heratic car camper
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
5,953
Loc.
Upper SoKA
Problem is that his '96 351W is more than likely to be an OEM roller cam shaft. Isn't it? I know that not ALL of those late 351's were, but I understand that most are.
 
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cldonley

cldonley

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Problem is that his '96 351W is more than likely to be an OEM roller cam shaft. Isn't it? I know that not ALL of those late 351's were, but I understand that most are.
It is a roller. Needs the brass or iron gear. Not too hard to swap gears though.
 
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cldonley

cldonley

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Not sure if this would make any difference but the proper coil for the Ignitor II module is the flamethrower II coil that is rated at 0.600 ohms.
You’re correct, but the installation instructions specify less that 1.5 ohms, which the coil I’m using is advertised to be. The total system resistance is supposed to be less than 4.5 ohms, which also checks. I just seem to be really adept at getting the “how did that happen?” anomalous problems to figure out.
 

nvrstuk

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Just a Bronco driver for over 50 yrs!
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Use the "Mellonized" dist gear. Do not use brass.

Roll pins can be different sizes thanks to Ford & 99% of the holes drilled thru the dist gear aren't centered... kid ya not. I've done so many & just swear at Ford engineers every time I have to do another one. Why do we have to do them anyway? Same reason, Ford engineers are just outta HS I swear! :(
 

ntsqd

heratic car camper
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Jan 30, 2005
Messages
5,953
Loc.
Upper SoKA
I think that those roll pin holes are deliberately drilled off-center. They're too consistent at doing that for it to be an accident. Why, I have no bloody idea!
 
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cldonley

cldonley

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Maybe to keep you from installing the gear upside down? I’ve changed a few. I bought a kit with about 25 different sizes (for airplane use, but same same).
 
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cldonley

cldonley

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Use the "Mellonized" dist gear. Do not use brass.

Roll pins can be different sizes thanks to Ford & 99% of the holes drilled thru the dist gear aren't centered... kid ya not. I've done so many & just swear at Ford engineers every time I have to do another one. Why do we have to do them anyway? Same reason, Ford engineers are just outta HS I swear! :(
Never used the brass, didn’t like what I read about them.
 

nvrstuk

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Just a Bronco driver for over 50 yrs!
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Messages
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There are two different diameters also. It's on my build thread. Drives me nuts

Regular Ford POS design... again.
 

nvrstuk

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Just a Bronco driver for over 50 yrs!
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Messages
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I guess i've done that a couple times here about ford engineers and their high school design team... :)

I help enough Chevy guys with hot rods to know that everything you need it seems like, interchanges from one decade to the next and Ford can't even make the same wiring column harness for 3 years in a row...
 
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ntsqd

heratic car camper
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
5,953
Loc.
Upper SoKA
My first Drafting class professor had a sign in his office window "Shoot the Engineers and put the damned thing into Production." He was an Architect by training.....

Ford's ECO process is just more forgiving than GM's, so they get to rev the design more frequently or get to design something similar, but not exactly the same. GM Engineers, OTOH, know that once released that design is purt near frozen and unchangeable, so they'd better build it to be less specialized and more widely adaptable because its going to be used everywhere.
My first Engineering employer was like GM, "This is better" wouldn't even get the ECO process started. There needed to be a serious and compelling reason, preferably many of them, to change anything. Most of the ECO's there were driven by production, not Engineering.
 
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