My '63 with a 292 has Pertronix in the distributor, that I installed a couple years ago. My battery was drained down enough that it wouldnt crank enough to start. I had the boy give me a pull to start it. I could blow the horn, so I still had some juice. I couldnt get this started for anything. He pulled me over to the shop, I stuck a charger on it...for 5 minutes...it lit right off.
My question is this: Do I need more juice than I would to pull start it then if it were points? This is a 12V truck, with a ballast resistor at the distributor. I have also noticed if I dont run the truck for a few days, and it cranks just a little slower than normal, it has a little difficulty starting.

Wondering.........

 

Opus,

I'm not an expert but to get better and hotter spark, like the Petronix, It would make sense that more juice is initially required to fire the electronics. The points system, being low tech, requires less juice because there are no circuit boardsand or other junk, just the same points and coil that have beeen in use for many years. I think it's kind of like an alternator vs a generator. .

Bubba

 

Kinda makes me want to go back to points...unless someone has some great words of wisdom.

 

If you happen to have a Flamethrower coil with the Pertronix, it is not supposed to use a resistor, as the coil has it built-in.

 

I have a petronix installed in my original 272 56 f100 for about 4-5 years now. IT WORKS GREAT!!!!! My points were nothing but trouble and I have NEVER had any problems with this modification. I will never go back to points-condensor again if possible.
Good luck.
ED

 

Opus, I just noticed you said the resistor was at the distributor. It is probably not the case, but if it is mounted between the coil and distributor, that wouldn't be good either

 

Yeah, that was to vague. This is how it is wired:


A hot wire and the positive side of dist wire go into the resistor. Out the other side of the resistor is the positive side of the coil.

Why does that seem weird to me?

 

I think the wiring there might be your problem. Hot wire to one side of resistor. Other side of resistor to coil +. Then you have your Pertronix wiring, which I don't remember for sure, but think black wire to coil +, red wire to coil negative (you need to double check that though. I might have it reversed).
If you are using the ignition terminal on the solenoid, that wire would go to coil +. It's purpose is to bypass the resistor on startup, shooting a full 12 volts into the coil creating a hotter spark on startup. When I had my Pertronix with Flamethrower I eliminated that wire.
Again, if you have a Flamethrower coil the resistor should not be used at all. Hope that helps. Mike

 

Seems the way I have it wired is correct. I spoke with Pertronix just now and they told me that it does require about 7 volts to work. Clearly my battery was at the point where it could barely blow the horn. I would guess that would be less than what was required to fire it, they seemed to think so too.

Guess that means case solved.

 

ive been thinking about getting an ignitor whats some of the befits besides no more points

 

Even though i still love my points in my two yblock vehicles, from all i have heard in here from people using this petronix setup, you aren't supposed to be using a ballast resistor, this is why your battery probably had to have a full charge to get it started, also why don't you use a transistor type voltage regualtor, this may help you some as well, as far as your battery not holding charge but a few days, that and check those battery cells and your generator, in my case i'm lucky because i do not have to use any voltage regulator, as i converted both of my 292 vehicles to a delco remy one post self exciter alternator that just has one heavy gauge wire that goes to the battery. Janet

PS I forgot to add that anytime a ballast resistor is used it does not go between the plus to distributor, but instead goes between the ignition minus side to the coil. But still if your battery only holds charge for about 3 days, you need to check your generator wiring and voltage regulator and battery. Mine could set 2 months and start up, you still have a charging or battery or bad wiring connection, i assure you that you do. Also if you are using the old mechanical type voltage regulator remember those can drain a battery if they arent flash wire polarized...Janet

 

Opus, apologies for the incorrect wiring info. I got mixed up between using and not using the resistor. Mike

 

Janet,

Pertronix paper work tells me I am to use the ballast resistor. It tells me also to wire it as I have described....as weird as it seems.

As far as the battery issue, it was terribly cold and I flooded it earlier. )

I have a alternator setup with an internal regulator, it charges correctly as well.

Happy New Year!

 

Well okay then, if it says the resistor goes between the fire side to the distributor, so be it, i've never heard of that though. I misunderstood you and thought you meant your battery always ran down every 3 days or so....Janet

 

When I installed the Pertronix a Flamethrower went in at the same time. For me the instructions were a little confusing. The Ignitor said that if your system used a resistor keep it in place. But in the instructions for the coil it said not to use a resistor, because the Flamethrower had 1.5 ohms of internal resistance. Therefore, a Pertronix Ignitor using a standard type coil with no internal resistance should use the resistor.