Distributor Rebuild

Post by **tkhersom** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 5:30 pm

I am in the process of rebuilding the distributors on my 1958 WBR engines. Have any of you had any experiance with the Pertronix upgrades? I am not concerned about show points, just reliability and value. Part of me thinks these engines have been runing this long with points, why mess with it, and another part of me says spend the money it will be well worth it.

Troy

Trick414 · Post by **Trick414** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 6:55 pm

I don't know if this will help, but here's some info:

http://www.chris-craft.org/discussion/v ... highlight=

Post by **tkhersom** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 7:50 pm

Thanks for the Video.

Are you happy with the way it is working?

Troy

drrot · Post by **drrot** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 9:16 pm

Installed Pertronix in my MBL many years ago. Did 275 miles on the St. Johns this month without missing a beat

runabout36 · Post by **runabout36** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 7:14 am

I've had Pertronix in my ML for many years and also have them in a K engine. As Jim Staib said "hasn't missed a beat" Originality is one thing, reliability is another. With Pertronix you don't have moisture affecting the points. They do not degrade over time. I keep the original style points and distributor mounting plate in a tupperware container in the boat just in case. As you said, it will be money well spent.

Post by **tkhersom** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 7:40 am

Thanks Guys!

You have helped confirm my what I suspected.

I think it will be even more valuable around the salt water.

Are you running a regular dist. cap or a funky one like in the video from Trick414?

Troy

runabout36 · Post by **runabout36** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 7:58 am

I'm using standard cap and rotor on a IAY 4009 distributor. Don't know why the bigger cap and rotor in the video. With the standard cap the only way that a boat show judge would know there was electronic ignition is the extra wire coming out of the distributor. I got mine from a website I believe was called RetroRockets.com.

Tom

runabout36 · Post by **runabout36** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:04 am

...the website is www.vintageperformance.com

drrot · Post by **drrot** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:28 am

Standard cap also.
Mine is 12 Volts too.
I installed Pertronix so it would start without issues in weather like this.
One less thing to worry about.

Trick414 · Post by **Trick414** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:36 am

It's been a year and a half since that video. I forgot about the big cap and rotor.

Like I mentioned in the original post with the video, I made the video for David at Classic Boat Connection. I was the first one to buy the Ignitor II from them (at least for a 4009 distributor). David told me had sold plenty of the original units, but hadn't worked with the Ignitor II. He told me to call him back if I ran into any issues. I did have some issues so I sent the video with the cap and rotor part numbers.

I had talked to Pertronix tech support because I was having trouble running down the Prestolite numbers they had in the manual. The manual stated not to use the original parts due to clearance issues.

They gave me the cross parts, and I threw the video together for David.

David then hooked up with Pertronix and they (Classic Boat Connection) did some testing and consultation with Pertronix and found the stock parts were ok after all.

If I remember correctly, this was all because the Ignitor II was slightly bigger than the original Ignitor.

TRANS AM · Post by **TRANS AM** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 6:12 pm

I put the Pertronix units on my 1941 w engines years ago.I run a standard caps and rotors on the 4009 distributors. With the old points system the the port engine was always a hard start. Not now spend the money

Post by **tkhersom** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:54 am

Any input on the Ignitor VS the Ignitor II.

My first thought is that they upgraded to the II for a reason.

Spoke with "Classic Boat Connection" this morning and they only use the original Ignitor system, didn't even know there was a II offered.

Troy

PS: If anyone knows of a supplier of internal parts and gears for the IAY-4009 distributors please let me know.

jim g · Post by **jim g** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 6:09 pm

The difference between the two is igniter 2 is a higher voltage to the plug and you can leave the ignition without burning up the ignitor.

Distributor Rebuild

Distributor Rebuild

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