[Fot] Got a problem with the race car, need advice

[Bill Babcock]

Are you running an alternator? I've found electronic ignition is sometimes
unreliable on a battery-only system. Pertronix used to be unreliable at lower
voltages, but they seem to do better now--Tony put a Pertronix back into
Peyote when he stuck a small alternator on it. The alternator didn't last, but
the Pertronix is working OK. Battery-only systems run at 12.5 volts or lower,
when you have an alternator the system is usually at 14 volts.

You also should check your wiring gauge and connections. The wiring for most
electronic ignition requires a high current capacity wire to the box. It
doesn't draw high current constantly, but any excess resistance in this wire
will screw things up. In the past I have both crimped and soldered the
connectors to the ignition system since any vibrational jitters cause
problems.


On Mar 22, 2010, at 7:35 AM, Chuck Arnold and/or Kathleen Kelley wrote:

> I have a petrol injected TR6 race car.  It has a Pertronix distributor
> [the whole distributor, not just the points replacement in a stock
> dizzy].  I also have a Crane ignition.  First time out with the car
> this year.  Drove a few sessions Friday, then more on Sunday.  First
> two runs Friday went OK as far as the engine goes [had suspension
> issues, but worked those out].  The third session was longer, and over
> the course of it the car started to cut out under WOT at about 4500 to
> 5500 RPM.  It did not do this always, but most of the time.  The tach
> would swing wildly.  It felt a little like a rev limiter [which is
> setto 7000 RPM],but only for an instant.  I did some investigating and
> found that I did not have the distributor fully locked, and it had
> "walked" to quite far advanced.  I though putting it back to where it
> belonged would fix the issue.  IT did not.  At the Sunday event it
> just got worse, so I only got one long session in.
>
> So, I beleieve there is a problem with either the Pertronix or the
> Crane.  I am asking for advice from all the TR groups I belong to.
> What do you think, and how should I diagnose it?  I do have a dual
> point Mallory dizzy I can install -- but may have no way to check out
> if it helps until race day.
>
> OR, do any of my Seattle area race buddies know of a road I could run
> a couple of test on [6K in second will do it] \!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chuck
>
> --
> Chuck Arnold and Kathleen Kelley
>
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