Electronic ignition?

3

37reus

Junior Member
I am curious as to this groups thoughts on conversation of the early Ford V8 distributer to an electronic ignition system? Would the conversation demand a 12volt system? If conversation might be recommended is there a preference to which manufacturer is best suited?
 
I recommend that you do not make this conversion. The original Ford distributor is a very dependable design....I think it is bulletproof as compared to a electronic replacement....
 
37reus said:
I appreciate your input, how about an electronic fuel pump as a back up?
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For peace of mind and especially during a 'vapor-lock' event, an electric fuel pump is the way to go. It's also desirable to have if the car has been unused for an extended period of time....
 
I can tell you,the stock ford setup works VERY well, we have just done 4227 miles away in our 33 towing a caravan with the 99a engine and the stock ford helmet ign setup,with an 11a advance, 6volt
We did quite a few days in the pouring rain,one day 526 klm and the next about 430 ks did some days in 39c and one day in 42 C,no overheating or fuel problems,
not a problem ,
I have a rebuilt dist and coil assy in the tool box as a spare,all it does is take up space.
Lawrie
 
I really don't get this desire for electronic ignition set-ups, especially in our cars that see limited mileage and are not used in foul weather. Those set-ups are susceptible to power surges and spikes that make them prone to failure. When I got my '51 in '87, I replaced the points, condenser, and rotor; 30 years and 23 thousand miles later, I'm thinking it may be time to do a little ignition system maintenance, even though it's running fine.
 
Wow, guess I'll get smacked around for saying but I have a crab electronic Mallory running for 4 years with no issues. Runs greats. I don't have any issues with the stock either but didn't have one on the engine when I got it. Just seemed easier to install and set up.
 
Anthony; just asking, but are you running an alternator or a stock generator? It makes a difference. As a few of the folks on here know, I am developing some "upgraded" electrical parts for these cars, and have found that modern components are susceptible to voltage spikes, etc. Just gathering knowledge.
 
Of the 7 vehicles here, I don't have anything with points anymore.
Setup on my '48 uses a Hays reluctor & Mallory pickup in the distributor with an old Jacobs box from the 80's. Works like a charm. Zero maintenance.
System is 12 volt from a 12si Delco alternator, with only the instruments and heater blower running off a power converter (30 amp / 180 watt).
 

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I think the electronic ignition folks are trying to solve a problem that doesn't really exist. The original Ford distributors need service every 20,000 miles or so. Then you trade for a refurbished unit from someone like Bubba, just like the folks did in the old days. The Ford design is sophisticated and rugged. And it will get you home when a failed electronic rig won't. I hear all sorts of problems with generators vs. alternators and 12V vs. 6V. Oh, what tangled webs we weave....! It ain't broke, so it doesn't need to b fixed!!
 
This all sounds good until you hear the endless stories of bad replacement points and condensers. The original systems work fine if you can locate replacement parts!
 
DD931 said:
I think the electronic ignition folks are trying to solve a problem that doesn't really exist. The original Ford distributors need service every 20,000 miles or so. Then you trade for a refurbished unit from someone like Bubba, just like the folks did in the old days. The Ford design is sophisticated and rugged. And it will get you home when a failed electronic rig won't. I hear all sorts of problems with generators vs. alternators and 12V vs. 6V. Oh, what tangled webs we weave....! It ain't broke, so it doesn't need to b fixed!!
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I've had one failure in 25+ years that left me stranded in San Diego, where I lived at the time. It was a Pertronix unit on a Mustang. (back when they were called Perlux) The fundamental design flaw of those things is heat,
which is the mortal enemy of electronics. There's plenty of that inside a distributor.
I've also got self-adjusting brakes on the front of my '48. I also got rid of that silly fan hub with its periodic oil changes (asinine) by putting a custom aluminum hub on it with two high speed bearings in it.
Just because it's a '48 truck doesn't mean I want to be dealing with some of that '48 "technology"...... in 2017. I still get plenty of adventure driving it 2-3 times a week and pretending to be back in the day.
 
My experience .... my '47 came with a 12 volt system, alternator, and a Pentronix module in a crab. Ran okay for about three years then the Pentronix unit died. I worked with Bubba through three more Pentronix rebuilds/placements that all failed .... replacement alternators and coils .... a very expensive exercise. Bubba did what he could from his location but after extensive investigation I could not determine cause. As Bubba commented once, seemed my car had a gremlin in it. In meantime, Charlie NY built me a crab with points. Except for a vapor-lock problem, the car has run fine since then. Electronic modules may perform fine, but I trust the points setup.

Car came with Airtex elec pump at tank .... use it to prime carb. Understand they are offered in either 6 or 12 volt.
 
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Running 12v electronic ignition works just fine...with 6v you have a very low voltage reserve before the voltage is so low that the circuit starts to missbehave.
With the low voltage reserve you can´t have a real good voltage regulation of the input to the igniton which makes it more sensitive.
Next is running generators...and the lost knowledge that a few capacitors at the right location calms down voltagespikes.
But as others have stated...why do you need it ?
More then enough sparkpower from a normal setup and not daily driven or any hard to reach emission standards to solve.
 
I want to thank you all for your responses and shared experience. I want to check with a few early V8 local guru's as well before addressing a good run through of the typical "tune-up" issues as we prepare for the coming car season. I am not as experienced with older Ford's, more time spent with GM of that era and my mentor recently passed on. Thank you all for your kind consideration, I hope our paths may cross in the coming days :)
 
Sixty years ago I wanted electronic ignition cuz it was 'better'. With all those years of improvement I'm not sold on the concept any more. Simply because I don't find an advantage in performance.

On the fuel pump I'm for it. As an ajunct switchable device it won't leave you stranded and does have a positive function. My car had/has it's added fuel pump wired to the ignition switch but I'm going to add an additional on/off switch to control when it's use when needed.
 
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