petronix ignition

Val

Hello all, has anyone used these products? I was considering it but wanted some feed back before I invested teh money, Also I am looking for a voltage regulator for my 39 Six. 212 CID

Thanks

[Deleted User]

Yes, I have used them in many different engines and have never had any issues. They are great as you never have to check the points gaps any more and keeps the engine in tune for long periods of time.

bob ward

I've had a pertronix in a 308 for 8 years, it still makes a good spark.

A while ago there were discussions on here about pertronix not being available for the Hudson 8s. Looking at their website they currently claim to cover the 35 to 47 8s, does anyone know if that is actually true?

JasonNC

I didn't like the unit I put on my 262 and went back to using points, but that was before I had the valves adjusted. I kept the unit and I may put it back on one day to see if it runs better, but right now I'm happy with the points and condenser.

jjbubaboy

Hey Val,
I have had 2 different cars and one I/O boat with them. Love em and only had 1 issue and Pertronix took immediate and great care of me.
Jeff

Frankvintagefullflowcom

I do know a guy who couldn't get his to work on his Hornet and did some snooping to find that the magnet ring was either made incorrectly or was meant for another version. Pertronix sent him the correct one but made no apologies for the screw-up. An acknowledgement of the error would have been good PR in my opinion. I do have a couple of them and they seem to be fine although I don't have any problems with the ol' Kettering style breaker points system either.
F

faustmb

A local guy has it in his 49 8 cylinder. He has had issues with it burning out coils... Not sure why, but they told him he needed to run a "hot" coil with it. His coil burned out in October and he put a stock one back in until he could order a new one. This is the only negative account I have ever heard about them though, they are a staple in the VW air cooled world.

464Saloon

I have them in my 54 Hornet, my 51 and 55 Ford pick ups and my 68 442. I have done a number of conversions for friends over the years. I burned one in the Hornet but if I remember right I was running a coil with the wrong ohms. They worked with me on it without problems, All the others have worked fine

Henk_Brough

A couple of months ago I have written about my Brough/Hudson 1937 with LPG.
The problem was the overheating of the coil. Special on LPG there was misfiring after about 10 miles.
Other members give me the advise to buy the Petronix Ignition with a Coil from 40000 V.
They were absolutely right!!!!!!
The car has much more power and is so flexible now. Also the coil is just hand warm.
To place it on the car is very simple. A child can do it. I also expect the fuel consumption will be better. I have not checked that now.
With the stroboscope light I set the timing about 6 degrees earlier. ( Modern Fuel )
It is not perfect yet on LPG( patrol fine ), but I ‘am pretty sure there is something with the LPG installation.
I have got already some idea’s to look at. It is winter in Holland now, so I wait till spring with the tests.
I let you know what are the results.
I wish you all a Good Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Last : thank you very much for all the advise I have got the last year. Without that advise the car was not on the road yet. And that from people I have never seen. My compliments !!

Val

Thank you all for your comments. I knew I could find a wealth of info here. I am serioulsy considering petronix as I dont want to have to re learn about points. I havent had to adjust points in a car since the early 1980's. But I will get a coil to go with the unit so everything should work ok. Again I thank you all. And wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

jjbubaboy

The most important part of the pertronix working correctly is coil voltage. The coil must always have at least the proper amount of volts (6v, or 12v) at all times. I experienced this when running lights and fan and my gennie couldnt quite keep up. Ran rough, misfired, etc.
until the voltage returned.
Jeff

Hudson Grandpa

Pertronix recommends that you also purchase the "Flame Thrower Coil" which does put out 40000V. Comes in either black or Stainless. Once you get everything installed, and timed, thats all she wrote for points problems...New Rotor might not be a bad idea also.

SuperDave

I have one on my 49 eight, 6 V pos. gnd. Bought it about a year ago. Works fine with the original 6V coil.

Frankvintagefullflowcom

I don't believe Pertronix has a "Flame Thrower" coil that is correct for the 6V systems of either polarity. I went through that with our Hornet and ended up with the original coil. The high secondary voltage version they had (the .6 Ohm version, I think) has too low of a resistance to safely work with the triggering device itself because of a ~10 amp draw on that teensy 18 Ga wire it is made with. Although that's probably only true in a "key-on, engine off" scenario, we all know that commonly happens at least for a short time. I called Pertronix about that concern (the outfit that I bought it from said it would work fine) and they said not to use the hot coil.
Just my 2 bits worth and I hope my recollection is correct.
They do work fine and I have some in use with no complaints.
F

Hudson Grandpa

http://www.pertronix.com/prod/ig/flame/coils/chart.aspx.

Am I reading this wrong or does Pertronix have a 6 volt Flame Thrower Coil, Which I do have on my car'
54 Hudson Hornet 308 Negative Ground. I guess I'm getting to old.

LHudson

Yes Petronox has a 6v coil. We are running one on a 49. 6v pos ground. If you run a 12v system they recommend running a ballist resistor in the system or a resistor coil. On my other 12v systems I run the resistor coils. I have had the ballist resistors go out and leave you in a bind. I have more confidence in the resistor coils. L Hud

Frankvintagefullflowcom

I stand corrected.

Henk_Brough

Reaction on L Hudson ( what a beautifull name !! ) The Flame Thrower Coil ( mine ) has an internal resistance of 3 Ohm. Is this one with build in resistor ( resisrtor Coil )? What you advise in my 12 V neg. system an external resistor or not?? How much Ohm if necessary ?
Thank you.

LHudson

Hey Henk. Thanks for the name comment. It's my sir name. About the coils. The technical aspect of the coil resistance of 3 Ohms. I do not know. We are running a Flame Thrower coil on the 49 with the Petronix. 6 v pos ground. No resistor. Also running a Petronix on a Wasp with 6v pos ground. The coil is a standard 6v coil. Can not tell any difference in the performance of either of the coils. We are running 5 12 v neg ground Petronix units on tractors that we have. I do know that it is recomended to run a resistor with the Flame Thrower coil on the 12v systems. We are running 2 units with resistors and standard 12v coils. We are running 3 units with resistor coils and no resistors. These units have many hours on them and none have failed. So far I have not had a failure of a Petronix unit. I have seen others that have had failures. Hope this helps. L Hud

LHudson

A note I would like to add. The Wasp is a 3 speed OD. The kickdown switch is connected to the coil. I disconnected the kickdown switch. I am afraid the direct ground of the kickdown would fry the electrical unit. Have not addressed that issue as of yet. L Hud

Geoff

You can connect a simple toggle switch on the dash in line with the governor to disconnect the overdrive instead of using the kick-down. I can do a tech article in the W.T.N. if anyone interested.
Geoff

LHudson

The is a active thread over on the HAMB that I have been following. There is interest. The name of the thread is (Overdrives and Electronic Ignition). Interest in the Overdrive trans seems to be making a comeback. L Hud

lostmind

This is from a Pertronix employee ? , posted at Jalopy Journal:
Re: overdrive and breakerless ignition

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OK, I just talked to one of our Electrical Engineer on this.
With a Negative Ground system, the PerTronix Ignitor modules don't have a problem with the 1950's Ford Style Overdrive switch that grounds to coil negative for an instant during O/D switching.
If the car is still Positive Ground, then we do recommend putting a 7Ω, 5 watt Diode in the wire from the switch to coil negative.
Using them in this way will not void warranty and should not cause any issues at all.

Other brands of Overdrive switching, like Packard and International for instance are different and require different installation procedure.

JasonNC

Is there anyone out that I can send my Petronix unit/distributor to check the vacuum and weights at a reasonable price? I would like to put it back on the car but I don't want to waste my time if the vacuum advance isn't working properly.

drivergo2

21st century hudson Randy Maus ? They rebuild them I think. John

JasonNC

Thanks. I need to get with him about a carburetor kit anyway after I get past Xmas.