Points to pertronix swap help..

[mopower440]

I have a 1986 bayliner capri 1950 with the Volvo Penta AQ225E engine. It has the stock prestolite distributor with points. I am going to swap to the petronix ignitor2. Now, do i need to get another coil to use with the petronix? If so, they have a kit with the coil recommended for the ignitor. Next, will i still need a ballast resistor and if i do, can i use the stock one or is it not the right resistance?
Last, Can i keep whats left of my points in the glove box on the boat for an emergency to swap in just in case the petronix fails out on the water or will it be too much to swap back in a hurry?

thanks

 

[no704]

Loose the ballest resistor. Put in a 12v "performance" coil from the auto store. Wouldn't bother keeping the points.

 

[no704]

And you can regap the plugs wider

 

[ScottMartzen]

^ x2 no need for ballast if you get the right coil.

 

[mopower440]

anyone know of a good but inexpensive coil that will work with it without the resistor?

 

[no704]

Any "performance" coil. Think I got one called a flame thrower from orilies when I did the swap. I don't think coils need to be marine.

 

[bruceb58]

Do yourself a huge favor and just get a Delco Voyager distributor. Way more reliable then the Pertronix.

Buy the time you buy the coil and the Pertronix itself, a coil, new wire, cap and rotor you can spend a little more and buy a brand new distributor. Pertronix is still using your old worn out distributor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-5-7L-350...xVWguP&vxp=mtr

 

[mopower440]

That is an electronic spark timing distributor..Dont I have to have a PCM to control it?

 

[bruceb58]

Nope...everything is inside.

 

[mopower440]

Nope...everything is inside.

curious because that's the same unit that was on my throttle body injected truck that was run by a pcm..

 

[bruceb58]

They can be stand alone and the ECM can control it in addition. There is a connector on this distributor that can be used by the ECM to retard spark in the event that a knock sensor detects knock and the ECM tells the distributor to retard the spark. On boats like yours, that input is not connected and it acts "stand alone".

All spark advance based on RM is done within the distributor.

Same distributor is used on most GM engines put out by Volvo and Mercruiser. Some are controlled by an ECM and some are not.

 

[mopower440]

They can be stand alone and the ECM can control it in addition. There is a connector on this distributor that can be used by the ECM to retard spark in the event that a knock sensor detects knock and the ECM tells the distributor to retard the spark. On boats like yours, that input is not connected and it acts "stand alone".

All spark advance based on RM is done within the distributor.

Same distributor is used on most GM engines put out by Volvo and Mercruiser. Some are controlled by an ECM and some are not.

will the advance be right like my old points distributor? Im afraid the advance may be too aggressive for my older engine compared to the engines these distributors actually came in..you tell me??

 

[bruceb58]

Should be very similar.

I will look to see if I can find a chart.

 

[mopower440]

New, its too expensive for me right now. Wish i could find a used setup, but the only used ones i know of are automotive ones. Too bad i couldnt find the advance setup from a marine one because i can get the whole automotive setup cheap from the junk yard, but the advance wont be correct for marine applications..

 

[bruceb58]

Depends on if you are planning on replacing your existing cap, rotor and wires too. Then it's not a whole lot more.

 

[mopower440]

about the delco voyager electronic distributor...seeing that they used that distributor on the vortec small blocks that had the center bolt valve covers...will it even work on my old style 350 that has the old perimeter bolt valve covers? Do the teeth on the distributor shaft work with the older cam in the older engine?

 

[bruceb58]

Yep...works fine.

1967 to current as long as it's standard rotation.

 

[mopower440]

Being its EST, how can it work with no PCM to control it? Also, will the advance be too much OR too aggressive compared to my old points distributor?

 

[bruceb58]

I answered this in post #11.

 

[mopower440]

I answered this in post #11.

Bruce, I know you said in post 11 they can be stand alone, but im asking HOW they can be stand alone being the advance is electronically controlled...wouldn't the thing require something to control it or does it ALSO have mechanical advance weights in it for non PCM machines?