[Healeys] Distributor guy

Tue Aug 30 19:21:55 MDT 2022

I have been using solid core copper wires and a Pertronix in my Bugeye for
20 years. Not even a hiccup.
Mike MacLean

On Tue, Aug 30, 2022, 6:17 PM Steven Kingsbury via Healeys <
healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:

> Bob,
> Thanks for the link, I'll check this out and chase it down. I know also
> you said you were using the solid core wires, but on this website you sent,
> it definitely advises against that. Like you, I wonder why. other than
> messing with a radio, I would see no disadvantage. And sense I have no
> radio, I don't mind messing with folks next to me and their radios!
> Stay tuned! (No pun intended)
> Steven
>
> On Aug 30, 2022, at 12:40 PM, Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> Found some here:
>
> https://vintageperformance.com/retrorockets/austin_healey.htm
>
> Looks like there's two versions--'early' and 'late'--for 4-cyl Healeys.
>
>
>
>
> On 8/30/2022 8:42 AM, Steven Kingsbury via Healeys wrote:
>
> 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
> BN1
>
> On Aug 29, 2022, at 11:28 PM, Michael Oritt <michael.oritt at gmail.com>
> <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 Oritt
>
> On 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!*
>>
>> *Doug*
>> *To 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 Sims*
>> *www.healey6.com <http://www.healey6.com/>*
>> *Matawan, NJ*
>>
>> *From:* Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> *On Behalf Of *Jim Ryan
>> *Sent:* Monday, August 29, 2022 10:12 AM
>> *To:* 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 Williams
>> 1960 BT7
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