<VV> Petronix, Dwell, Distributor

Wed Nov 2 17:16:08 EDT 2011

Ah!  Not know as much I just get a rebuilt distributor and that 
solves the problem ... and I don't mind the spending the money as the 
whole thing is new ... Eric

At 12:36 PM 11/2/2011, Harry Yarnell wrote:
>Most sloppy dwell readings come from a worn point plate. Common problem.
>Next would be shaft bushing. There's only one.
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
>[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Eric S. Eberhard
>Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2011 3:27 PM
>To: Ramon Rodriguez III
>Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>Subject: <VV> Petronix, Dwell, Distributor
>
>I believe so -- it has been a LONG time since I used a dwell
>meter.  I knew mine was bad because it was sloppy, which is only one
>way a dist can be bad.  If you took the cap off, the insides
>"wiggled."  As this got worse, the Petronix II could no longer cover it up.
>
>Your story sounds EXACTLY like mine.  You sound a lot like me, know
>enough to be dangerous.  I had similar problems.  I did everything a
>human could do to a carb.  I did everything a human could do to
>ignition.  Since it was my Judson car I was out of my normal realm
>(stock is much easier because you have actual instructions and
>specs).  I was blaming the Judson setup.
>
>I tried an old Pertronix to see if that was the problem.   The old
>one was the Petronix 1 and the car essentially did not run.  I put a
>different Petronix 2 in (at the time I had 4 Corvairs so I had a lot
>of spare lying about) and it went back to it's slightly bad
>habits.  So Clarks tech person suggested the distributor after
>telling me the difference between p1 and p2 and why the p2 with it's
>dwell adjustment in real time could cover up a bad distributor.
>
>I was never happier than after I got the one from Clarks.
>
>Someone else may be able to tell you a better way ... I would suspect
>variations in dwell and I am not sure you would see that just
>parked.  In fact many people put in a p1 and don't set the dwell (not
>that I have even thought about how/what one could do ...).  For my
>limited talents, a p2 with matching coil was simpler ... just costs a
>little more ;-)
>
>E
>
>At 09:09 PM 11/1/2011, Ramon Rodriguez III wrote:
> >That is good info Eric, thanks.
> >
> >One other question, with the Pertronix I will a dwell meter show me
> >whether or not I'm having a worn distributor problem?  The
> >distributor is not new or rebuilt, I mistakenly thought that it
> >would compensate and nullify that issue if present.  Also if the
> >problem was distributor shaft wobble I'd expect to see the timing
> >mark dancing a bit under the timing light, it has been rock steady..
> >does that not mean it's ok?
> >
> >Since I have a dwell meter I'll use that if it will help, otherwise
> >I guess I'll just pull the distributor and check it out.  How do I
> >check the distributor for wear... I assume that I check for
> >looseness, but how much is acceptable and how much is too much?
> >
> >
> >
> >Ray R.
> >
> >
> >
> >On Tue, Nov 1, 2011 at 3:29 PM, Eric S. Eberhard
> ><<mailto:flash at vicsmba.com>flash at vicsmba.com> wrote:
> >Pertronix 1 and Pertronix II are different animals.  Pertronix II
> >adjusts the dwell real-time.  It can help compensate for a poor
> >distributor and it does keep you from having to deal with the dwell
> >-- both of those items could be causing your problem.
> >
> >I use Petronix II coil and ignition with battery voltage at the coil
> >(a little better than 12 volts generally).
> >
> >Also use 8mm wires  and good plugs that won't foul.
> >
> >Often the problem you describe is the distributor ... is it
> >sloppy?  Old/new?  I had one car with a real bad one, and the
> >Pertronix masked it for a long time and it ran OK.  With points it
> >ran like your car. I finally got a Clarks rebuild and it made a large
> >improvement.
> >
> >Do NOT use a Pertronix II coil or high output coil on a Petronix 1
> >ignition or it will die.  Use stock or Petronix 1 coil.  I am
> >surprised the P1 instructions say not to use 12 volts, they used back
> >when there was no P2 ... but people put hot coils in and burned them
> >out.  I have never had a P2 fail or behave badly (despite the CORSA
>article).
> >
> >Eric
>
>
>Eric S. Eberhard
>(928) 567-3727          Voice
>(928) 567-6122          Fax
>(928) 301-7537                           Cell
>
>Vertical Integrated Computer Systems, LLC
>Metropolis Support, LLC
>
>For Metropolis support and VICS MBA Support!!!!    http://www.vicsmba.com
>
>For pictures:  http://www.vicsmba.com/ourpics/index.html
>
>(You can see why we love this state :-) )
>
>  _______________________________________________
>This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights are
>the property
>of the writer, please attribute properly. For help,
>mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
>This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America,
>http://www.corvair.org/
>Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
>Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
>  _______________________________________________

Eric S. Eberhard
(928) 567-3727          Voice
(928) 567-6122          Fax
(928) 301-7537                           Cell

Vertical Integrated Computer Systems, LLC
Metropolis Support, LLC

For Metropolis support and VICS MBA Support!!!!    http://www.vicsmba.com

For pictures:  http://www.vicsmba.com/ourpics/index.html

(You can see why we love this state :-) )  