[Healeys] Distributor guy

[Steven Kingsbury]

Been watching this entertaining discussion from the sidelines and I'm one of those: "it's your car, do what you want" guys, but I have a question about the Pertronix shift. According to the directions, a change in plug wires is required. From solid core copper to carbon fiber. So how can those of you going back and forth from points to Pertronix doing it? Or, are you just sticking with the solid core wires? I tried going to the Pertronix, but the base plate for the "ignitor" wouldn't fit where it was claimed, in the depression for the condensor, it fit way off not quite 180 degrees but close, and though I did get a backfire, I never got the car to run and gave up.I pulled the distributor, tore it apart, cleaned everything up, put everything back together, refit it with new points and reinstalled it in the car using the cell phone photos I took to get it back as close as possible and bam!, she fired right up! Got my timing light out, made the slightest adjustment and I'm back in the game.I have since been able to buy another distributor from a BN1, which was a bit of a mess inside, but was able to tear it apart, clean it, put it back together and it now works just fine and now if I have trouble on the side of the road, I have a spare distributor to switch out. But I may go the Pertronix path in the future, and the solid core wire question is still in my mind. As well as the placement of the ignitor. Or am I just using the wrong Pertronix kit? I've got the LU-149 kit. Thanks!Steven Kingsbury BN1On Aug 29, 2022, at 11:28 PM, Michael Oritt <michael.oritt at gmail.com> wrote:I've had the pleasure of replacing a set of contact points alongside the road in the dark.  If you don't get the stack of insulating washers and parts correct you are going nowhere and it's awfully easy to drop one of the bits down and under the car--with the same result.  I put a Mallory Unilite distributor/ignition system in my Healey about twenty years ago with absolutely no issue other than a cracked external ballast resistor and about three years ago I replaced the module simply because I did not want to push my luck any further.  On long trips I carry a spare distributor with drive dog attached, allowing for quick and easy replacement and no need to worry about timing so long as I pay careful attention to the positions of the rotor and distributor body when switching things out.On my race cars I use Pertronix modules simply because the failure mode is almost always total which makes diagnosis much easier whereas with points there is one more component (the condenser) plus very often when points ignitions go bad the problem is often partial and/or intermittent, resulting in more time lost trying to diagnose the problem with more sessions lost due to having more possibilities to eliminate. Best--Michael OrittOn Mon, Aug 29, 2022 at 8:47 PM warthodson--- via Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:Since Pertronix don't have points I guess the answer is: "the car would not have been disabled due to the points failing".  Gary  -----Original Message----- From: dwflagg--- via Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net> To: ahbn6 at verizon.net Cc: healeys at autox.team.net Sent: Mon, Aug 29, 2022 12:00 pm Subject: Re: [Healeys] Distributor guy  Also, years ago whilst traveling the New York State Thruway I came upon a disabled Austin Healey whilst driving my own to a fraternity brother's wedding. This was before cell phones. Disabled vehicles were at the mercy of tow trucks and exorbitant fees. It was determined there was no spark. With no tools but just a nail clipper with a nail file, we filed the points, and were both on our way! Try that with a Pertronix unit! DougTo add more fuel to the fire, while driving on the freeway in Las Vegas years ago I had the rotor on my BN6 split in two. A highway patrolman stopped and repaired it with super glue and a rubber band. I limped home 15 miles – put on another rotor and kept a spare for safety and the repaired one in the parcel shelve for memories. Try that with a Pertronix unit John Simswww.healey6.comMatawan, NJ From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Jim RyanSent: Monday, August 29, 2022 10:12 AMTo: patrick williams <2x2doc at gmail.com>Cc: List Healey <healeys at autox.team.net>Subject: Re: [Healeys] Distributor guy Just wondering, the debate between this unit and the original points has always been that you can replace the points in the event of a failure on the side of the road. How difficult is it to replace this unit in the same manner if you carried a spare, and what would the cost be for that spare? I'm referring to a1958 Bugeye here. On Mon, Aug 29, 2022, 8:21 AM patrick williams <2x2doc at gmail.com> wrote:It's been close to 20 years ago, but Jeff rebuilt my distributor, including the vacuum advance diaphram, and put in a pertronix unit.  I'm very happy with the results.Pat Williams1960 BT7_______________________________________________Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.htmlSuggested annual donation  $12.75Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys http://autox.team.net/archive/healeysHealeys@autox.team.nethttp://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeysUnsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/ryan@jimryan.com_______________________________________________Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.htmlSuggested annual donation  $12.75Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys http://autox.team.net/archive/healeysHealeys@autox.team.nethttp://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeysUnsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/warthodson@aol.com_______________________________________________ Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html Suggested annual donation  $12.75  Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys  Healeys at autox.team.net http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys  Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/michael.oritt@gmail.com _______________________________________________Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.htmlSuggested annual donation  $12.75Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys http://autox.team.net/archive/healeysHealeys@autox.team.nethttp://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeysUnsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/airtightproductions@icloud.com
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