Ford Pilot V8 electronic ignition

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DocJohn

Member
Hi, does anyone know whether the Pertronix 1285 Ignitor electronic ignition will fit the UK Ford Pilot distributor. If not, what's the best way of getting a reliable and easy to set up ignition system for the Pilot? Thanks, John
 
DocJohn said:
Hi, does anyone know whether the Pertronix 1285 Ignitor electronic ignition will fit the UK Ford Pilot distributor. If not, what's the best way of getting a reliable and easy to set up ignition system for the Pilot? Thanks, John
Click to expand...


hOW ABOUT A PICTURE..........??????
 
DocJohn - good question, I run a Lucas Pilot Dist and would be interested as well - though I do run 12v so they may not have this application available
 
The Pilot was fitted with a reliable easy to set up ignition. It really is a good ignition. I see no reason to change it, why do you feel it needs to be changed? Is it the proper Pilot one with the "crab" shaped cap, or the commercial one with a sort of flat domed cap, that the leads are secured with grub screws in side the cap? The latter mentioned one has a four lobed cam in it, and is also very good. The only problem with either of these is the inability of New caps. But a good nick old one will last eons.
Martin.
 
From my (bitter) experience, the weak point on the pilot dist is the rotor arm. It can break down between the rivet and the shaft. You need to keep the resistance down on the ht side. No dodgy resistance caps, use good solid core wires.

Like I said, based on personal experience.

If you want a pertronics, you could convert to crab type distributor using a three bolt to two bolt adaptor and convert the dist to pertronics. I run a conventional crab type on my pilot 21stud in my 33.

Mart.
 
Mart, re the rotor, there were rotors without that stupid rivet, that hole in the rotor (where the rivet goes) has just melted plastic in it. Those ones are are much better than the metal rivet types when using resistance plugs/leads n stuff. Don't know when the original rivetless ones were made, but they are out there. Why they went back to the rivet, I don't know. But with all things being good and to spec (like you said), they are reliable. Haven't checked but there is s company called something like "red rotor company" that makes the Lucas rotors out of red stuff and these don't have that stupid rivet, atleast they do for other Lucas ignitions.
Martin.
I'll agree, that is an example of something bad from Lucas, before I get shot at
 
I will have another go. There were a lot of Pilots in NZ and a lot in our area were fitted with the 3 stud American distributor as complete new ones were available ex military in the 60s for about 5 pounds or $10 so a quick fix.A lot of the carbs were also replaced with the Holley but a good reliable engine . Cheers
 
scooder said:
The Pilot was fitted with a reliable easy to set up ignition. It really is a good ignition. I see no reason to change it, why do you feel it needs to be changed? Is it the proper Pilot one with the "crab" shaped cap, or the commercial one with a sort of flat domed cap, that the leads are secured with grub screws in side the cap? The latter mentioned one has a four lobed cam in it, and is also very good. The only problem with either of these is the inability of New caps. But a good nick old one will last eons.
Martin.
Click to expand...

I've got two actually: the Pilot saloon has the 'crab' distributor and the Woodie has the 'diver's helmet'. Odd, as the Woodie is supposed to be a very late car and wasn't registered until 1954.

Anyway, I'd like to make it as reliable as possible as my wife intends driving the Woodie and I don't think she'll take kindly to sitting on the roadside waiting for me to rescue her!
 
To clarify, the "crab" and "divers helmet" descriptions you used. Are we talking Lucas distributors? The stock Pilot had a "crab" shaped cap, but is not the distributor called "crab type" the latter is a very short two bolt American 21A distributor. Two completely different beasts. And the "divers helmet" is it the one I described with the grub screws inside the cap? The "divers helmet" usually meens the pre 42 American distributor with a seperate cap on each side of the distributor, this is fastened with three bolts. But don't just use amount of bolts to id them as both the Lucas ones have three bolts. On the Lucas ones, you adjust timing by rotating the distributor body. The Lucas ones are also about 4 or 5" long.
Just trying to clarify what we're talking about.
Martin.
 
They are both Lucas distributors. I suppose the question I'm asking is whether the US electronic ignition can be made to fit the Lucas distributors. Thanks, John
 
"can" be made to fit is different to "made to fit".

As far as I know, There is not an electronic ignition made to fit the pilot dist. You may be able to make one fit, but that depends on your skill level.

I have used an electronic ignition amplifier module from Maplins (It's a Velleman kit, less than £15) successfully but my car is 12V neg earth. This is the type that retains the points but does away with the condenser.

Other than the rotor arms mentioned above, there is not a big problem with the pilot dizzies.

Mart.
 
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