Trouble installing pertronix

[michael084]

I went to installl my pertronix (finally letting go of my old points) and there is this little nut that is right beside the points cam that is in the way. I have used pertronix on my FE390 before and it didn't have this part, am I going to have to go get a whole new distributor just to install the pertronix?

 

[BlackHorse]

If you are talking about that little spring loaded thingy then you have no problem the black deal in the Pertronix will not hit it.

 

[michael084]

No, it does hit it that is the problem. After I put on the magnetic pickup it rubbed. I guess I will just stick with points for now can't afford MSD. The points work fine for me, just wanted to get a little more power. I have been using them for about 11 years now anyway, I am pretty used to them.

 

[michael084]

Any of you guys have any idea what the little springy thing is? I am sure it has some purpose, so I can't just take it out.

 

[YellowBronc]

Any of you guys have any idea what the little springy thing is? I am sure it has some purpose, so I can't just take it out.

The distributors I have laying around do not have the spring attachment but instead a smaller/shorter pin sticking up with a C-clip on it. What it appears to me is the swivel point for the upper plate. The upper plate is moved by the vacuum advance module. I don't have a fix for you unless you could hit some salvage yards and part out a distributor with the smaller piece. I could take some pics of mine to show you what some of mine look like?

Also, if you would be interested I could take one apart and see if you could swap it into yours????? I don't know, just throwing some ideas out there.

 

[michael084]

Okay, finally got the pertronix ignitor installed a couple of days ago. Had to replace the distributor, the new one didn't want to fit. So I put the old one back in to heat the engine up good while I used an emory cloth to take of a little of the circumference, then it slipped right in. I CANNOT SAY THIS LOUD ENOUGH, what a difference in the engine. I have been running Fords with points since I got my first truck, I had put an ignitor on my old 74 f100 , but on the bronco it made a huge difference in power. It made a huge difference in exhaust note too, my truck has never been loud until now, I never would have believed that it would do that. Used to if I revved the engine up high in neutral I would get an intermittent skipping, sounded like one cylinder missing every 5 or six seconds, that is gone too. If you are running points give em up, I held on a long time, I have had my Bronco for going on 8 years now I was always cool with the points, didn't figure it made much difference. ;D