Electronic ignition from points

[dodgefever]

Anybody have any idea's on the best way to change from points to electronic on a 69 road runner. Kind of like the old look but would like better performance ?

 

[threewood]

I would recommend the Pertronix II or III along with their coil. They fit in a stock distributor and eliminate the ballast resistor. The III is multi spark and has a rev limiter. Retains the stock look with only 1 extra wire coming from the distributor. The BR can be retained by soldering a wire in place of the resistor.

 

[dodgefever]

I would recommend the Pertronix II or III along with their coil. They fit in a stock distributor and eliminate the ballast resistor. The III is multi spark and has a rev limiter. Retains the stock look with only 1 extra wire coming from the distributor. The BR can be retained by soldering a wire in place of the resistor.
View attachment 564305

Thanks, I have always hated to try re-engineering on these old cars, but lately thinking maybe it wouldn't be so bad if better performance on the engine. Along with better starting. She turns over now quite a few times before running.

 

[threewood]

Thanks, I have always hated to try re-engineering on these old cars, but lately thinking maybe it wouldn't be so bad if better performance on the engine. Along with better starting. She turns over now quite a few times before running.

The Pertronix II module screws to the stock advance plate, the III comes with a new advance plate. I have both and they are nice. Runs very smooth. As long as your distributor is in good shape they do the job.

 

[Garys1969RR]

I changed mine, on a 69 RR. I just got a used Elec ign distributor, and bought a new module. I got a used wiring harness that came off a 70 or 71 RR that had Elec ign. The harness plugs into the 3rd row down on the bulkhead connector, I'm pretty sure. I Liked it because it's all plug and play, and retains the stock look. The Petronix set up sounds like a good one, too. I wonder if that has an external box of any kind.

 

[threewood]

I changed mine, on a 69 RR. I just got a used Elec ign distributor, and bought a new module. I got a used wiring harness that came off a 70 or 71 RR that had Elec ign. The harness plugs into the 3rd row down on the bulkhead connector, I'm pretty sure. I Liked it because it's all plug and play, and retains the stock look. The Petronix set up sounds like a good one, too. I wonder if that has an external box of any kind.

No external box. It uses the stock voltage regulator, that's it.

 

[JimKueneman]

I would recommend the Pertronix II or III along with their coil. They fit in a stock distributor and eliminate the ballast resistor. The III is multi spark and has a rev limiter. Retains the stock look with only 1 extra wire coming from the distributor. The BR can be retained by soldering a wire in place of the resistor.
View attachment 564305

I left the resistor in just to reduce the stress on the electronics in the Pertronix III. I did not care about high RPM performance, I drive like an old lady and rarely get it above 4000 RPM. I looked at it with a scope and the difference was minimal and even with the resistor the energy delivered to the plugs was dramatically higher than with the points.

 

[65-440]

Pertronix ignitor 2 here, I soldered in a 10g wire inside the ballast. Looks bone stock

 

[Cornpatch MO]

I have had the I and now have the III ..love it ! The III does not have the sleeve that goes over the points cam--uses just the stock points cam. And , it converts back to points very easy if something should go wrong. Take a points set along for peace of mind......................MO

 

[Cornpatch MO]

Pertronix ignitor 2 here, I soldered in a 10g wire inside the ballast. Looks bone stock

Does the II have the sleeve that goes over the points cam like the I does? .........................MO

 

[threewood]

Does the II have the sleeve that goes over the points cam like the I does? .........................MO

Yes.

 

[JimKueneman]

Agree on the III for peace of mind. You just take the points plate out with the 2 screws for the plate and 2 for the vacuum advance. It took all of about 5 minutes. On a SB it was way easier taking the distributor out which took longer than putting the III in. Be very careful with the pot metal. At least on the SM there is only one little tab that keeps the plate from tipping so far the VR pickup is too far away from the old points "star" (which is now the reluctor for the pickup). Break that tab and you have problems. I had to put the plate on a piece of glass with 80 grit and give it a bit of a sanding to flatten the bottom of the casting. It has some roughness that kept it from sitting flat and I broke the tab trying to force it before I understood what was going on. Pertronix sent me 2 new plates with no questions asked. Good company to deal with.

 

[Bill Monk]

I also like pertronix but I went with the FBO system from 4secondsflat. The distributor is Mopar and you can get a full conversion kit. When you give them your engine specs, they will curve and phase the distributor to your specification, it uses a pertronix coil and eliminates the week link of the ballast resistor. Great people to work with. Check them out here:
http://www.4secondsflat.com/Ignition.html

 

[dieseldazzle]

I have been using the RTR MSD and Petronix distributors because 80% of the distributors I pull out to install the iginitors in have too much slop in them. I install the female socket dist cap tho since the RTR comes with male (tho now optional on the pertonix RTR I see). Easy to wire one to ground and the other two go to the coil. I also typically use one light spring and one dark spring that generally allows full advance by 3200 in the big blocks. Have about 6 of them this way now.

I have thought about scuffing it up and painting it cast aluminum as it is shiny. Pic for reference prior to installing female cap.

 

[mrsnicks]

Another + for Pertronix II. Using their coil and bypassed the ballast resistor.

 

[Ranger16]

Mine was converted before I bought it and has the Mopar Performance "orange box". I think the kit came with a new (pointless) distributor, but still uses the factory ballast resistor. So far, no complaints.

 

[moose1]

Pertronix ignitor 2 here, I soldered in a 10g wire inside the ballast. Looks bone stock

I did exactly the same thing - works great!