To Pertronix, Or Not Pertronix...that Is The Question

I've had mine a couple years now. The points setup stranded me. I have a iad 4008 and I think the condensor went out. Bit the bullet and got the pertronix, coil and wires.

It makes a big difference with my fhead- faster starts, better idle and feels like overall more power. I go up hills at higher speeds.

 

I used it in my Runabout fishing boat some years back . It had a a Chevy 154 I/O. Worked great for years & took the pounding of Lake Ontario, unlike the OEM points set up ? MHO is that .....Why the Hell Not ? You'll be glad you did.

 

6v Pertronix unit is supposed to arrive on Friday. Will install this weekend. Thanks for the feedback everyone!

 

Can some one tell me what number electronic ignition is
for a 1964 four cyl. cj5?

 

Some things to know.

1. YOU HAVE TO USE RESISTOR PLUG WIRES or you will fry the unit in a few hours.
2. If you have a Vacuum advance distributor (Autolite IAT-4405 etc.) They do not currently make a drop in kit. I am currently working on a way to get around this.

 

You need to determine what distributor model you have. It's dependant on that. I made a rash assumption and ended up with the wrong unit.

Regarding resistor plug wires, is this for all the Pertronix models and all ignition coils?

 

Put one in my old tractor, was the best. Didn’t know about the resistor wires. I left the solid core in but didn’t have a problem. If you find a solution around the vacuum advance module I want to know. I want one in my flathead.

 

Just FYI, the Summer 2018 issue of Dispatcher magazine has a good illustrated article detailing the installation of a Pertronix module on an F134.

 

Chugalug - Thanks for the resistor wire reminder! I've got some 7mm "suppressor" plug wires on the shelf in the garage so I should be OK.

 

Petronix in my V6 Delco distributor since around 2002/2003 ?
No problems.
I do carry all the removed parts, points etc in case I ever had a trail/road problem with it.

 

I'm guessing by the term resistor pkug wires, you're probably referring to shielded wires - i.e. shielded against EMI (Electro Magnetic Interference) and RFI (Radio Frequency Interference). The article noted above in Dispatcher Magazine mentions that this is necessary:

"Plug Wires: The electronic ignition requires a shielded wire to suppress excess noise that can damage the ignition module. If your wires are shielded, then you are good to go. If not, you can get the recommended wires they sell..."

Here's a description of the spark plug wires Pertronix sells, which are low-resistance, but are shielded (from PerTronix Flame-Thrower Ignition Wires):

 

If Pertronix wires aren't a option Taylor makes some very nice wires in there spiro-pro line 8mm in many colors. I like the 135 degree spark plug boot for the dauntless V-6 because they fit into the stock wire loom and don't hang out all over the place. These require a spark plug wire tool to be cut to length.They come with regular and HEI boots for dist cap.Buy the 8 cyl. universal kit and have a couple spares

 

I wasn't going to comment..
Once again, I must be either lucky, ignorant or both.
My V6 plug wires are factory stock....and very old.
Pertronix works fine; haven't burnt it up.

 

Hmm.....maybe the admonition to use shielded spark plug wires applies to the Pertronix Ignitor II (and possibly III), but not to the Ignitor I module?:





In the Dispatcher article I referred to above, the author was describing the installation of a Pertronix Ignitor II module in his '65 CJ-5 F134.


I found this info re. solid core spark plug wires, but can't vouch for its accuracy (from How to Choose Spark Plug Wires):

Solid Core: Solid core spark plug wires typically utilize stainless steel or copper, which conducts electrical current very well. For that reason, solid core wires have lower resistance than other wires to get maximum energy to the plugs. Unfortunately, solid core offers very little EMI/RFI suppression, so they’re not suited for electronic ignition systems or vehicles with sensitive communications equipment.
​

Note: I am not an electronics expert, nor do I even play one on TV, so I may very well be completely off the mark here....

 

Maybe plug wires that provide EMI/RFI suppression are what are being described - perhaps inaccurately - as "shielded" wires in the Dispatcher article?

 

I agree with this....I think the take away would be "don't use solid core wires with a Pertronix"

 

I just re-read the Dispatcher article, and noticed that toward the end of the portion describing the installation process, the author writes, "Now replace spark plug wires with shielded suppressor core type to prevent feedback to the Ignitor II."

So it would appear that EMI/RFI suppression is indeed what he was referring to by the term "shielded".