Brooklyn Beer Posted November 29, 2019 Share Posted November 29, 2019 (edited) Changing over to pertronix in my 46 Dodge which is still stock 6 volt positive ground. Anything special I need to worry about not covered in the instructions? I hooked up the internal ground wire after removing points but the external ground off the distributor that used to go to coil +, should I connect that to + battery now instead? Edited November 29, 2019 by Brooklyn Beer (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted November 29, 2019 Share Posted November 29, 2019 I wouldn't do that unless you buy a second system for the jockey box. Points systems work fine and are easier to deal with in case of a failure. We have seen many pros and cons about those things and I for one wouldn't waste my time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Beer Posted November 29, 2019 Author Share Posted November 29, 2019 Been running them in my 12 volt cars with not a single hiccup. This is the first time on a 6 volt positive ground application. I am guessing I shall run the external distributor ground to the battery ground.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Beer Posted November 29, 2019 Author Share Posted November 29, 2019 Done and done. Car never even did a full turn before it fired up. Adjust the timing about 4-5 degree's and we are back in business. I had a hunch either the coil or the condenser was going out as twice in the past week she would just shut off but fire right back up after a minute of sitting. Today she would not even fart or cough. In goes the pertronix and she fired right off with no hesitation. Every vehicle made today has the same type of ignition so it can't be that bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted November 29, 2019 Share Posted November 29, 2019 I like Pertronix, but I have not had much success using them in 6-volt applications. Remember that as voltage goes down, current goes up, and it seems that the Pertronix has a very limited range in which it can remain operational. I suspect that the 6-volt Pertronix units are just their 12-volt units repackaged, which would explain why it works sometimes and sometimes fries itself instantly. Add in the notably irregular regulation of many early 6-volt electrical systems and I'm not surprised they have an above-average failure rate. The thing I always remember is that points and condenser will still work even in failure mode, while Pertronix will stop working in a split-second puff of smoke and permanently disable the car. As I said, I like Pertronix in 12-volt applications where the regulation system is pretty good, but my success rate on 6-volt cars is low and I have retrofitted about a half-dozen Pertonix-equipped 6V cars after a no-start, no-run condition that we eventually traced to a fried unit. Not saying it always happens or will happen, but for us, that's a failure rate above 50%. It might work marginally better than points, but if the points ain't broke... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Beer Posted November 29, 2019 Author Share Posted November 29, 2019 My first time in a 6 volt application so I guess I will see what happens. A much different installation for sure from 12 volt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rageracing Posted December 1, 2019 Share Posted December 1, 2019 I put one on my 34 Pe and could never keep it working. It would just lose spark and I even tried it when I ran the motor on a test stand. No idea and they couldn’t tell me why either 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooklyn Beer Posted December 1, 2019 Author Share Posted December 1, 2019 I had mine fire right away. Took it for a 6 m iles run and the timing still needs adjusted some as at 45 and giving her the coals she breaks up a little bit . Stupid me forget to try a hot restart to see which way the timing was off. Never a problem in my 12 volt systems so taking a chance here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC5 Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 I guess I could see using one of these if points are super rare for your vehicle and you put a lot of miles on it. Is point wear that big of a deal on old Dodges? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 16 hours ago, MikeC5 said: Is point wear that big of a deal on old Dodges? No. Not if properly maintained. Replace every 10 or 20 thousand miles. Adjust if necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC5 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 Agreed. The Pertronix seems like overkill to me, unless your distributor is really difficult to access. If your wiring is good, clean and adjust the points at the start of the driving season (at most). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 The distributor can be easily removed for service. Much easier to change points out on the bench. Remember that adjusting the dwell will affect the timing, but adjusting the timing will not affect the dwell. However these things will run fine with the thickness of a matchbook points setting, thickness of a dime for plugs and timing by ear. I tried gapping the plugs with two nickels once, didn't work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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