I recently purchased a pertronix from a member off this site.
I finally got around to installing it last night and was so excited I started it up around 1 oclock just to hear it. It fired up quite quickly and ran well. Although, I have a manual choke its not connected and I usually just ride the gas pedal until it warms up. No big deal. But last night I noticed I didnt have to ride the gas pedal it seem to idle immediately.
Somewhere I read you should change the gap on the plugs. Does anyone know if this is the case?
I have used a conversion on my delco disributor and didn't change the gap in my plugs. Unless you did anything else to the igniton you would be safe with factory gap setting. There isn't any more voltage going to the plugs, just a more consistent signal as opposed to points. At least in my case.
Ok, sounds good. I do have new wires but am still on the old coil, I will upgrade that soonly.
It just ran so well I thought it might be firing hotter. But it sounds like its fine to leave factory gaps in the plugs.
Thanks for the inputs
Im no mechanic and do like original vintage. But I like long road trips and dont want to worry about it.
I will keep the points and condenser as road trip back up.
Bob, i have converted every oldie i have had since the 1990's and presently have the set up in my 57 Pontiac and 1974 Chevrolet. I would not have it any other way. On all my cars i have gone to a plug gap of 40 over the factory 35 setting. You can also run 45 as well. Play around with the plug gap to see what best suits you. Generally that gap is widened with a hotter spark and i know that in the past Pertronix has said that.
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
Ok then,
Ill run it at the factory settings just to get a feel for it.
Then Ill try the 40 gap just to feel the difference.
I did not know pertronix has been around that long.
The 90s was last century. :)
And some of my best memories
Thanks LS
I did this swap over on 64 Impala 409 !! I changed the coil to a "BLASTER" & eliminated the resister feed to coil to give a "full" 12 volts!! Changed the S/plugs to "E 3's" starts much better, [have manual choke] & runs great!!!!
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Some times I wake up GRUMPY, but today I let her sleep in !!!!!!!!BLACKSTOCK Ont.
You also should run their matching recommended coil, I think the stock coil will fail. Ive run a pertronics since 2003 in my 59, 62, and 63 409. Im running the III in the 409, it has a rev limiter. Always ran their Flamethrower coils. Put one in a friends 47 Willys too, they work great and are pretty cheap IMHO.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
