Swapped Distributor problems

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Originally posted by lt1s10
i agree on the stick part and it should be done the factory way when you can, but it nice to know there is a way out if you have a problem . ive had other mechanices almost kill me when they worked a 1/2 day trying to time one that i had changed the #1 in the cap and they didnt know it. so if you worked behind me you better check and see where #1 really was, before you tried to time a motor that i had just worked on. :cool:

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Mike,

I used to do that all the time on my GTO. Drop the distributor in any old place (it had no vacuum advance), then just wire it up according to the firing order. Same thing on the race car. #1 Cylinder doesn't have a clue where your distributor housing is facing. :LOL:

There are a few way's to connect up the system such as:
the white/bluestriped wire on the module can be run to the ignition switch (the module will retard the spark for easier starting) or you can tape off the white/bluestriped wire, and just run the red wire to a power source.
Also some guys have been throwing away the magnet sleeve thinking it was just a piece of useless plastic.
Without this sleeve the unit will not work.
Install magnet sleeve and make sure it is lined up with the cam and securely seated"]
if this applies in your case.
There are also more than a few units sent back to petronics,,and they turned out to be faulty.
Good luck.

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Originally posted by Henry Rifle
Mike,

I used to do that all the time on my GTO. Drop the distributor in any old place (it had no vacuum advance), then just wire it up according to the firing order. Same thing on the race car. #1 Cylinder doesn't have a clue where your distributor housing is facing. :LOL:

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ive all ways did it that way, but on some of my blower motors, the dist. wouldnt go in, but one way and you couldent turn it very much after you got it in, so you had to put #1 in the cap so you could set the timing, but it want on the factory #1.

Wow 4 pages in a few days since I checked and some good little battles. Let me just say with the whole timing issue, I believe LT1 to be correct. As long as I'm on the #1 plug with my light and I'm at 6 degrees then I'm in time. I think I was 20-30 degrees off putting the new one in because I couldn't get the distributor to sit where I had guesstimated the mark from old to new to be and I had to skip a tooth or two over to get the distributor to seat.

At any rate, in the time between having the problems the new cables and plugs I ordered came in (haven't messed with the setup since). I rewired precisely as I had the cables before, (old ones out, new ones in, one at a time). Double checked wiring and it was all good for the timing order. I then installed the new plugs and fired her up. Let me just say this thing is running like a scalded cat now. Weeeee!

I have yet to test the old plugs that came out, but I'm guessing one of the old ones was cracked, fouled or not firing properly. That or the distributor had an issue with the old wires. I know the book that came with the Pentronix said not to use solid core wires, but I seriously doubt that is what was on there. I'll cut one open tomorrow and see though. I was just so happy the thing was running well, I couldn't stop driving it to look at the old stuff. :)

I gapped the new plugs to factory spec so it's definately not a gapping issue. I'll keep you informed on what I find with the old equipment, but thankfully all the work I did was proper during the install. That's always a good thing :D

I appreciate all the help gents. I certainly came away from this knowing more about conventional and electronic ignition systems... :)

Thanks again and I'll let you know what I find.

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Originally posted by buddychiefguy
Wow 4 pages in a few days since I checked and some good little battles. Let me just say with the whole timing issue, I believe LT1 to be correct. As long as I'm on the #1 plug with my light and I'm at 6 degrees then I'm in time. I think I was 20-30 degrees off putting the new one in because I couldn't get the distributor to sit where I had guesstimated the mark from old to new to be and I had to skip a tooth or two over to get the distributor to seat.

At any rate, in the time between having the problems the new cables and plugs I ordered came in (haven't messed with the setup since). I rewired precisely as I had the cables before, (old ones out, new ones in, one at a time). Double checked wiring and it was all good for the timing order. I then installed the new plugs and fired her up. Let me just say this thing is running like a scalded cat now. Weeeee!

I have yet to test the old plugs that came out, but I'm guessing one of the old ones was cracked, fouled or not firing properly. That or the distributor had an issue with the old wires. I know the book that came with the Pentronix said not to use solid core wires, but I seriously doubt that is what was on there. I'll cut one open tomorrow and see though. I was just so happy the thing was running well, I couldn't stop driving it to look at the old stuff. :)

I gapped the new plugs to factory spec so it's definately not a gapping issue. I'll keep you informed on what I find with the old equipment, but thankfully all the work I did was proper during the install. That's always a good thing :D

I appreciate all the help gents. I certainly came away from this knowing more about conventional and electronic ignition systems... :)

Thanks again and I'll let you know what I find.

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sound like you had some bad plugs or wires, but you got it fixed, everbody learned a little and we didnt get to fighting. its hard for us to tell you your plugs are bad, we have no way of knowing that. :cool:

Thing is it was running 10 minutes before I put the new distributor in, sooooo who woulda thunk? I'll check it all over though, boss. :D

had a bad expeience with a pertronix device that replaces the points. our problem was after warm up, the car would die at idle. called the company and they said our product works or doesn't work, they can't be an intermitent problem with them. After that I thought it to be a fuel problem. I eventually took off the dual 4 bbl and fuel pump and put on a different intake and carb. Problem still existed. After a long time I decided to put points back in it to see what would happen. Problem 100% gone. I spoke again to the company and asked about it. they said I probably wired it wrong, or didn't have the right ohms at the coil. I replied I asked you folks for the correct wiring. All I got was the same-they work or don't work. Wasn't too pleased dealing with them. Something you might keep in mind if you can't get it running like you want. good luck

WOW that sounds like word 4 word what I have said about pertronix on several forums. Mine was intermintant, I changed and tested everything, was the only time I needed a tow home with that vehicle, got home and played with it some more and put the points back in drove great and sold it with points. Still have the faulty unit. Gave it one more try with my wifes 68 mustang started and worked great till she called me about 2 miles from home about a week later and I went there and replaced the points and drove it home 2 times is enough I am done with them. Ed ke6bnl I sure do hear some good stories from many reader about them though.

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Originally posted by tts
had a bad expeience with a pertronix device that replaces the points. our problem was after warm up, the car would die at idle. called the company and they said our product works or doesn't work, they can't be an intermitent problem with them. After that I thought it to be a fuel problem. I eventually took off the dual 4 bbl and fuel pump and put on a different intake and carb. Problem still existed. After a long time I decided to put points back in it to see what would happen. Problem 100% gone. I spoke again to the company and asked about it. they said I probably wired it wrong, or didn't have the right ohms at the coil. I replied I asked you folks for the correct wiring. All I got was the same-they work or don't work. Wasn't too pleased dealing with them. Something you might keep in mind if you can't get it running like you want. good luck

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does anyone have a photo on what the distributor looks like once installed in the engine when the rotor is pointing the right way

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :mad: