[Healeys] Pertronix ignition, wires and coil choice?

[Brits'n'Pieces (Eric Frenken)]

Increasing the dwell generally has the negative effect of long charging
times with low rpms. The coil gets hot and loses power after a while. So
increasing the dwell is no guarantee for a good spark at all times.

What do you refer to when you are saying "Pertronix"? The ignitor or the
complete dizzy? In case you want a reliable ignition system go for the
complete dizzy or a 123ignition. These systems work like a charm with high
voltage coils and carbon filament leads. No additional surpression needed,
no arcing, no crackling in the radio, no misfires, no hassle.

Eric

-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Alan Seigrist
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 1:20 AM
To: Randy Dickson
Cc: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Pertronix ignition, wires and coil choice?

Randy -

Using the Pertronix increases the dwell, this means that you don't need some
uber-duper sparking coil to get a good spark with the set up - also as you
surmise, it may cause arching problems in the old Lucas dizzy set up.  A
standard off the shelf "universal" coil from Pep Boys or NAPA should be
sufficient, get a chrome one if you really want.

On the wires, you don't want to use modern suppression wires as the
carbon-filaments they use will break down in the Lucas screw cap - you must
use metal wires.    Lucas bumblebee wire is a good choice, with the Lucas
suppression ends on them works well (and there's no crackling on the radio).
You can see what the Lucas suppresion end looks like here (#194):

http://www.vintagemotorspares.com/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/hodge?opendocument&p
art=2

Best,

Alan

'52 A90
'53 BN1
'64 BJ8