HCD upgrading to petronix

[HCD]

trying to uprade my old points on a 1948 Chrysler L8 to a petronix setup has anyone on this site done that?

 

[nonstop]

I did….. then went back to points.  There were problems in using it with an overdrive and I don’t necessarily trust Pertronix.

[Doug&Deb]

It’s problematic with the semi automatic transmission. I believe a resistor is required. Check the technical archives on this site. I think this has been covered. I also went back to points after a bad experience with Pertronix so use caution.

[desoto1939]

Again my 1939 DeSoto is now 84 and 3 months old since it came off the assembly line on May 13 1939.  It has always had points and condenser in the dizzy. It has run just fine with the original Autolite electrical parts.  Last summer I drove the 39 Desoto from Philadelphia pa to and from Altoona PA to attend the National desoto car show and convention. I traveled at 50 mph and got between 15-18 mpg and did not have any overdrive with the std 3 speed trans and a 4.10 rear end.

 

I had no problem with any cars or trucks while traversing the PA Turnpike. even the cars and truckers gave me plenty of room and showed alot of respect for the car. Even one tractor tailer drive stayed behind the car all the way from Harrisburg to the Valley forge Exit of the Pa turnpike to act as a buffer for any car or semi that was traveling inthe slow lane on my way home, so could not ask anything better than that. And people say that the tracker cause accidents.

 

So even converting to a Petronixs system can have issues but I believe in the tried and true points and condensers and the good old Autolite components.  I carry spare parts for my car at all times which are alot cheaper that a spare petronix system.

 

If you get your car well maintained then you will get good service. So I guess the guys that want to switch over to petronix might not understand the older systems. I might be wrong but this is just my take on the issue.  Comments are welcomed.  I now have over 101000 miles on the car.

 

Rich Hartung

 

[DonaldSmith]

 Points vs Petronix. 

 

President Harry Truman once quipped that he wanted a one-armed economist, because the person could not say "on the other hand..."  

We have a spectrum of mechanical abilities among the guys.  Some guys can gap the points at night, on the side of the road, in a rainstorm, using the edge of their thumbnail. 

On the other hand, I can cobble together a power steering setup but can't get my points ignition to behave. 

 

I had the Pertronix system in my DeSoto, with the resistor in the Interruptor circuit, and it was working fine.  But the tales of sudden failures scared me, and I put the points back in.  Now I have a miss.  I'll check the plugs to see if there is an offending plug wire or termination, telltale track in the distrbutor cap, fireworks in the engine bay at night, check the point gap, etc., etc.  

 

Maybe I should have bought the spare igniter, damn the cost, and left things as they were.   If you want a Pertronix system, go for it.  Be aware that they can fail suddenly, as can anything.  Have your spare ignitor.   Meanwhile, more power to those who are masters of the points system.   

       

[maok]

I have installed 3 Pertronix modules in 3 different mopars, '28 Chrysler with a generic module, '36 Airstream and a '37 MC Dodge, all 6 cylinders with simple 3 speed transmission, all have run perfectly for the last 3-6 years. Most issues with Pertronix installs are most likely installation error IMO. Sure, it can fail, so can any part in an old car. 

 

With your later mopar you need to do some research regarding the transmission work around. I have no experience with this setup.

[kencombs]

 JMHO, but I chose to do the slant six conversion.   Using a GM HEI module to switch the current.  All stock parts that can be replace in minutes on a Sunday if needed.

[rallyace]

My experience with Pertronix is not good either. Points are not difficult to work with and were a reliable ignition method for over 100 years. I will admit that the quality of the parts available for a points ignition is less that stellar, but having an engine with a miss will still get you down the road. When an electronic ignition fails you are calling a tow truck.

[soth122003]

I didn't have a problem with points just wanted to switch to a pertonix. I switched and 3 months after the 3 year warranty expired so did the pertonix. went back to points and haven't had a problem.

 

Joe Lee

[HCD]

I've done Petronix upgrades to at least 3,  1960s cars and havent had any problems. Im hoping it wont be a problem in my 48 Chrysler. I've still got the old points in and car is running so will leave for now. Points are so cheaply made these days and have to be adjusted every change in seasons. Im a firm believer in solid state upgrades like Petronix, but will keep old points as a backup. Thanks for the replies.

[desoto1939]

1 hour ago, HCD said:

I've done Petronix upgrades to at least 3,  1960s cars and havent had any problems. Im hoping it wont be a problem in my 48 Chrysler. I've still got the old points in and car is running so will leave for now. Points are so cheaply made these days and have to be adjusted every change in seasons. Im a firm believer in solid state upgrades like Petronix, but will keep old points as a backup. Thanks for the replies.

If the points ae so cheaply made by these reproduction specialists, then try to find the original Autolite points and condensers and other electrical components.  These cars were assembled with the autolite components and they can be found on Ebay and at swap meets.  So do not wait until you have an issue and then have to purchase the junk repro stuff.  Get several NOS autolite points condensers, rotors and caps to have in you parts cabinet.  Get the quality stuff now and be prepared for the future when we can only get Chinese crap.  ANy of the good old companies such as Echlin, Blue Streak, Filko are tested products that work.

 

Rich Hartung

[HCD]

Autolite components are now so cheaply made in China or India, that  I Dont trust the quality, or design anymore. If I can get a Solid State ignition to work well, with Petronix,  I'll never go back to points again.

[Los_Control]

Just now, HCD said:

Autolite components are now so cheaply made in China or India, that  I Dont trust the quality, or design anymore. If I can get a Solid State ignition to work well, with Petronix,  I'll never go back to points again.

I agree with you 100%. I have never used petronix myself and hear both good & bad about them. Usually the bad comes from people that do not follow the instructions and install all the parts that petronix tells you to do.

Even if you do follow instructions 100%, the sensor or trigger in the distributor is a electronic part and can fail. I would want to carry a spare in the glove box in case it was ever needed.

 

Our straight 6's we can use a newer slant 6 electronic distributor and modify our distributor using the guts from the electronic distributor. This requires a 12v system though.

I am 12v so I plan to go this route in the future.

 

I have no problems maintaining a points system .... the quality we get today is just horrible in my experience ....

[HCD]

A few years ago I helped a friend upgrade his 1960 Bugeye Sprite from points to Petronix. We had an awful time trying to adjust its points in such a cramped space. It was a positive ground as well. After installing the Petronix solid state ignition module it ran perfectly. Also kept the points and components just in case as a backup.

[Sniper]

6 minutes ago, HCD said:

A few years ago

 

Near as I can figure it out, the Pertronix from before the company was sold were good, after the sell not so much.  Corporate cheapening for more profits I suspect but that is common in all areas of auto parts these days.

[kencombs]

23 hours ago, Sniper said:

 

Near as I can figure it out, the Pertronix from before the company was sold were good, after the sell not so much.  Corporate cheapening for more profits I suspect but that is common in all areas of auto parts these days.

marked out the extra words for you.

Edited September 9, 2023 by kencombs

[Kilgore47]

I got a set of points from one of our major suppliers and they are junk.  Could probably build a better set with a hammer and screw driver.  They really are that bad.  So I went to one of the local auto parts stores and they got a set for me from Mexico.  These are as close to original as I have found.  Installed and working great.  

Also picked up a NOS breaker plate complete with points and condenser as another spare.  

[desoto1939]

In my post from above I talked about the NOS Autolite, echlin , Blue Streak, Standard Auto parts.  I am refering to the parts that were made back from the 30-60 era.  These were quality USA made products.  I am not talking about the newer autolite products.  Always look for the good old boxes with this components.  They do last and can be found at swap meets.  Yes you have to do some legwork and know what specific part number such as the condenser, or points, rotor and cap, but you should already have this information about your car.

 

So do not expect your local NAPA or Avance auto to have the good old original equipment available. They are only getting what their company purchasing agent can get from some other supplier.  So get you list of NOS components written down and they carry it with you to a swap meet you will be surprised at what you might just find. Be prepared now for the future because the future is only a day ahead of us all.

 

Rich Hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[Los_Control]

@Kilgore47 Those actually look pretty good. The worst part of new points to me seems the cheap plastic rub blocks will wear to fast.

The one you show looks better .... carbon fiber? No idea but would like to give them a try .... possibly a condenser from them also ...... Maybe Mexico is going to be the next place to buy our parts. They have been making cars there for many years, they should be getting better at it.

 

I see Amazon sells them for $11

https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Motor-Products-AL4556PT-Ignition/dp/B005XV21DA

[Kilgore47]

21 hours ago, desoto1939 said:

 

So do not expect your local NAPA or Avance auto to have the good old original equipment available.

I looked back at my post and realized that it sounded like I got the NOS breaker plate from the local auto parts store.  I did not - got that on line.

[Go Fleiter]

The breaker contacts I had bought before ~2007 failed each after ca. 1000 km.

I helped me buying original Bosch breakers for Citroen (nothing other available) and transplanted the very contacts to the Plymouth points.

It worked well, but I didn´t trust my work on the long term and didn´t want to repeat the transplant again.

I have a pertronix unit since than: no more problems with ignition.

They made me two 6V neg GND units, and sure, one is in the trunk!