Electronic ignition

[Tom410]

The Pertronix worked fine in my 410, until I left the ignition on for a while without the engine running. Then I fitted one of these:
http://www.summitracing.com/int/part.../make/chrysler

It looks original and works perfect for 2 years now. And I have the original distributor with points in the boot, just in case...

[livermoreb]

Originally Posted by Tom410

The Pertronix worked fine in my 410, until I left the ignition on for a while without the engine running. Then I fitted one of these:
http://www.summitracing.com/int/part.../make/chrysler

It looks original and works perfect for 2 years now. And I have the original distributor with points in the boot, just in case...

That is interesting Tom. How did you get it to run properly with the Pertronix? Did you have to make any major changes to the timing? I tried to get mine running at 7 btdc as it says in my handbook but that was no good. It ticked over fine at around 19 btdc but as soon as I tried to accelerate it started misfiring.

Also, what did you do about the vacuum advance? As soon as I reconnected that it seemed to go haywire.

[Geoff Kingston]

In hard cash terms for cars like ours with limited use some improvements are not worth making LPG being a good example. The need to do something with the R Types and their hot start issues (very bad on the early car) led to the purchase of the Winterburn units. I was so pleased with the results that it just seemed a good idea to fit a unit to the S2 as well as it was getting a lot of short local runs then stood for a while and of course there is always the cost factor for the twin points which hopefully will last longer.
The nice feature of the winterburn unit is the ability to switch back to points, going back to the CD setting the cars have a smoother slightly faster tick over and rev smoothly when cold, and as I see it these units offer all the advantages of the Petronix and Powerspark without the disadvantages.
The electronic ignition systems from the Rolls/Bentley parts suppliers in the uk are not cheap and the Petronix system and associated coil I bought a good few years ago for my 403 cost more than the Winterburn units. This was never fitted as the poject stalled. I am open to offers!!, it's a neg earth unit .

[Tom410]

Originally Posted by livermoreb

That is interesting Tom. How did you get it to run properly with the Pertronix? Did you have to make any major changes to the timing? I tried to get mine running at 7 btdc as it says in my handbook but that was no good. It ticked over fine at around 19 btdc but as soon as I tried to accelerate it started misfiring.

Also, what did you do about the vacuum advance? As soon as I reconnected that it seemed to go haywire.

I think it is essential to keep the gap between the pickup and the magnetic ring as small as possible. And check if the coil and the HT leads are suitable for electronic ignition.
I had to disconnect the vacuum line anyway, as the unit itself was broken. After timing was set to spec the engine ran pefectly smooth and revved easily.

But I had a similar problem to yours with my Fiat 2300 S Coupe after I fitted a Pertronix. I found one of the small screws that came with the kit was to long. So the centrifugal advance was blocked, hence the timing at higher revs completly out.
Another time I trapped the wires of the pickup between cap and distibutor body...
Hope that helps.
Tom