I recently coverted to electronic ignition (pertronics) and now my crusier idles really smooth and starts way easier. The problem is that now I have no power (can't get over ~2K in 4th) and it misfires in 3rd and 4th sometimes. I have systematically been looking for vacuum leaks and fixed the ones that I have found (one between the carb and maifold and a few of the old vacuum ports on the carb from the removed smog equip). I have also replaced the cap, rotor and spark plugs. This has helped the performance in 1st and 2nd (accelerated about the same as before the pertronixs) but it still periodically misfires in 3rd and 4th and I can't get over ~2,300 RPMs. I am running a 69 F w/ stock distributor. Anybody have any ideas? I am a newbie when it comes to diagnosing engine probs so any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Brian

1) tune it up and set the point gap and timing. Sounds like the coil isn't saturating at high RPM so that you don't have a high enough voltage to fire under load. I don't know whether this will be an issue with the Pertronix because I don't know anything about how they work. Timing changes with point gap.

2) if you are using a wider than normal spark gap, you might try replacing the plug wires or setting the gap back to .035-.040.

I was thinking it might be the timing. The pertronix unit replaces the points, so no gap to set. I also replaced the stock coil with a 40,000 volt coil with 3 ohm resistance and eliminated the balast resistor as per the instructions. Plug gap is ~.035. Plug wires are only ~1yr old, but will replace if needed.
Thanks

Originally posted by bsilva132
I am running a 69 F w/ stock distributor. Anybody have any ideas?


I think I may have found the cause of your problem :flipoff2:

It runs suprisingly well for putting it in in a day. I got it for a case of Coors and it had a blown head gasket and 5 and 6 were full of rust and water. As such it did not turn over, but after some work it broke free and we dropped it in and turned freely. It has run for a year without a tune-up other than the initial work to get it to run good enough to go on a run the weekend after. I have changed the oil regularly and often to get rid of any crap that had built up. I will get a 350 eventually, but I need the $ right now for the SOA and my wedding in June.

Brian,

Did this happen before you installed the Pertronix?

Plug wires? Do you have a decent VOM (volt-ohm-meter)? Check the resistance of each wire & coil wire & report back what you find.

You're missing under full load, so my first thought was to check the distributor cap... but that has been replaced, so time to look at the wires.

Simple trick, when very dark at night, is to open the hood when it is running. You'll see any sparking along the wires if they are bad.

Tom :usa:

If it ran fine BEFORE the elec. ign. upgrade and now it misfires...

ALL other things having NOT changed???????

You have a timing issue.

Probably retarded too far from what you say. (starts and idles nice)

Pin head is showing his age with the points/ timing info...:flipoff2:

.001 " of gap is equal to 1 deg. of ign. timing IIRC

Getting rid of the ballast means you are running full batt voltage at all times instead of just at crank over.
No big deal if the coil is designed to handle this....
Instructions seem to say it is:)

Does the Pertronics have a gap setting for the "trigger"
I don't know if it is "hall effect" mag, etc.....

The coil isn't hot after use is it??????

Cory

Is this definitely related to the fact that you replaced the points with Pertronics unit. Meaning that after you put the Pertronic unit in and started the vehicle, it wouldn't rev above 2-3K RPM????
Or did it get gradually worse over a couple of days??
It does sound like a timing problem, like it's not getting full advance from the distributor. But it also sound like you may have a fuel starvation problem also. That would explain the backfiring because no fuel wil cause lean misfiring. I would just check the quick basics with the fuel system. Like the fuel filter and fuel flow and pressure. More than likely, if you have fuel pumping in the carb, you have the 3-5psi it needs, so that really isn't that big of a deal!!
But it doesn't make sense that the simple installment of the Pertronics unit would affect high speed advance. Is there any type of advance on the Pertronics unit??(like Lord Basky said)


Kruzrtek

I am not sure if it was doing his before. The cruiser has sat for a while and was getting some roll cage mods, so I have not driven it for about a month. When I did pick it up I only drove it shortly to flat tow it home and then to pull it in the garage. The plug wires are only a year old but I guess they could be bad. I do not have a VOM. I will check everything when I get a chance (bogged down with work:( ) . I will hopefully have time this weekend. Thanks a bunch for all the help.

i agree with the timing issue. check the bb on the flywheel with a timing light and a tach. rev it up and see if the timing advances with the increase in rpm. you could be (almost) completely missing the power stroke and pumping unburned fuel into the manifold, causing the backfiring :confused:

So today when I got home from work and was walking past the cruiser in the garage I decided that even though I did not have a timing light, I would just advance the distributor a little. Runs sweet now. Lots of power (for and F that is), and good throttle response. Thanks for all the help.

Originally posted by Lord Baskerville

Pin head is showing his age with the points/ timing info...:flipoff2:

.


Hey, that's wisdom; not merely age. Back when I was making a living doing tune ups, everything had points and if you had a cool car like my '67 SS 396 Malibu, you had two sets of points. :D

I don't know anything about Pertronix and I much prefer ignitions that don't have a distributor. :flipoff2:

Originally posted by Pin Head



Hey, that's wisdom; not merely age. Back when I was making a living doing tune ups, everything had points and if you had a cool car like my '67 SS 396 Malibu, you had two sets of points. :D

I don't know anything about Pertronix and I much prefer ignitions that don't have a distributor. :flipoff2:

Diesel?

On the dual points.... first car I ever bought was a 1971 Datsun 510. Funny thing was I was (still am) a complete geek who actually read the workshop manuals long before I bought the car.

Test drove with my Dad (I was 16 at the time) and anytime it went into third gear... it would cut out. Put in the clutch, it would rev fine. Only thrid gear. Punch it in third, ran fine. 40K miles on it!

Wispered something into my Dad's ear.... and we bought it.

Yep... dual point ignition, manual transmission. Second set of points were only used in third gear, partial throttle, clutch pedal out. Lady sold the car as it was "acting strange".... adjusted the second set of points, and ran like a champ!

28 years later... well at least I've gotten laid since then, but still a nerd! :)

Tom :usa:

P.S. kicking myself as I *thought* you had written up that the timing was fine. Oh well... :)