Delco EST ignition swap questions

[Offshore4]

I am looking to swap out the old Mallory ignition in favor of a Delco EST on my 1979 Mercruiser 260. A mechanic I know made it sound like it was a lot of work for an engine that old. I have searched the forums and most of the info I find is from people with engines that are mid 80's.

Does anyone have experience or a link to instructions for installing a Delco EST on a motor similar to my old one? I was quoted nearly $1000 for a mechanic to install and would much rather do myself. Thanks!

1979 Searay weekender
Mercruiser 260

 

[Scott Danforth]

its like a $350-$450 kit (sale dependent) with instructions easy enough to follow if you have ever stabbed a dizzy and set timing. fits all Gen 1 small blocks from 1967 to today.

http://www.michiganmotorz.com/delco-voyager-marine-electronic-distributor-p-119.html

what is wrong with your current dizzy?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Why does a so called mechanic want to start ripping people off. A points system is nothing magical. properly maintained it`s as good as any system out there.
Remove the dist cap and look where the rotor is pointing,or tap the starter to move it to a better location
Remove the dist, install new dist with rotor pointing in the same place
install cap, check/reset timing

 

[Offshore4]

Thanks for the quick replies.

The motor currently runs, just not as well as I would like it to. Occasionally stalls when warm and doesnt idle the greatest. I just want to upgrade the ignition and get away from points. I have not heard of anybody who has regretted this upgrade

 

[Bt Doctur]

OK , what health is the engine in , what are the compression readings hot and cold?
Have you checked for excessive timing chain wear/play?
cylinder balance test?
Fuel delivery ,carb serviced?
Installing a new ignition system will not cure these symptoms

 

[Scott Danforth]

Thanks for the quick replies.

The motor currently runs, just not as well as I would like it to. Occasionally stalls when warm and doesnt idle the greatest. I just want to upgrade the ignition and get away from points. I have not heard of anybody who has regretted this upgrade

points wont make the motor run better and quit stalling. that most likely is fuel related, along with the idle issue.

you still have all the yearly maintenance on the motor. points adds literally 5 minutes of work to your maintenance every 3 years

 

[Offshore4]

So I guess I should have been a little more specific with my last post. I understand that the ignition alone is likely not the remedy. I am currently rebuilding the carb and when I pull the boat out of storage will do additional inspection/ maintenance.

That being said, I have been wanting to upgrade my ignition system for a while now due to the benefits I have heard of (better mileage, more power, smoother running, ect..). As far as points vs electronic ignition, I have not heard from or read about anyone who regretted spending the time and/or money.

So I'm not really asking "what is wrong with my motor". My question is: is there anything about my old merc 260 that would make the installation more difficult than slightly newer motors?

 

[Scott Danforth]

you can not get better mileage or smoother running from changing from points to electronic on a dizzy. going from dizzy/carb to EFI and spark mapping, yes. just changing how the coil is triggered, no. it physically cant happen if the advance curve is the same. most older distributors use weights and springs, the voyager is electronic advance

your motor is a Gen 1 Small Block Chevrolet. PERIOD. installing a dizzy is installing a dizzy. you just need to wire a shift interrupt switch with an MC/Alpha/Alpha I-GenII drive to get it to come out of gear.

if you dont want to spend the money on a whole dizzy, get a pertronics trigger and convert your dizzy.

However I would suggest going thru your carb.

 

[Offshore4]

Ok, I appreciate the installation advice. You guys may be right about no real gains in performance. Just wondering why I am reading so many forum posts from people who have done the conversion that claim it made their motor start easier and run better.

 

[Bt Doctur]

They make that claim because they never tried to maintain the motors at their peak. You trade a set of metal contacts that wear for a set of magnetic contacts.that dont. You still have the cap, plug wires and plugs. If you really wanted performance install a magneto. The faster it turns the better the spark

 

[Alumarine]

They also make the claim to justify spending the money.

Both of my points type motors always start at the touch of the key, hot or cold.
Going to electronic is on my list too, just way down my list.

 

[bruceb58]

Just wondering why I am reading so many forum posts from people who have done the conversion that claim it made their motor start easier and run better.

Placebo effect.

 

[achris]

If you do go the EST route, make sure it's marine rated... A lot of 'upgrades' out there are not designed to be used in an enclosed environment, ie, a boat engine bay...

BTW, I built a Capacitor Discharge system back in the eighties for my old 165... Still used the points as the trigger, but the engine did start better, and the idle was smoother... The spark plugs also semmed to wear better... ie, longer between changes. Economy and power... No measurable difference. But I still do recommend it as an improvement. One of our long time members has just posted that he replaced the points on a 3 litre and for the first time after winter the engine fired straight up... In the past he was forever fiddling with the points...

Chris.........

 

[mr300z87]

I know from growing up in the 80s after electronic ignitions became common that I have always struggled getting point set properly from lack of experience. So After I purchased my 1968 Plymouth back in the early 90s one of the first thing I did was convert it using Pertronics. Can I say it ran or started better I do not know but I can tell you that in the 20 plus years of ownership I have replaced the Cap and Rotor and plugs only twice, no dealing with point gaps and dwell meters as part of a tune up. Put it in and forget about it.

 

[bruceb58]

I can tell you that in the 20 plus years of ownership I have replaced the Cap and Rotor and plugs only twice, no dealing with point gaps and dwell meters as part of a tune up. Put it in and forget about it.

You do realize that cap, rotor and plug replacement interval have nothing to do with if you have a points ignition or Pertronics right?

 

[Offshore4]

Ok, thanks for the input guys. I think I am going to go ahead with the upgrade. Even if I don't see noticeable performance improvement, I am cool with it being a little bit less maintenance

 

[bruceb58]

My suggestion is do the EST over the Pertronics.

 

[achris]

....

 

[mr300z87]

I know that it was just a reference to easier maintenance.

 

[Fishermark]

Get yourself a Delco EST distributor - you can shop around and get a complete kit with wires and harness for not too much money. The primary difference is the shift interrupt. With the points system, the shift interrupt switch momentarily grounded out the system. With the EST system you need to momentarily provide 12v positive instead of a ground. Easy to install and I think you will like the change.

(I don't remember who put this picture together. Maybe the late great Don S? Anyway - I've had it in my files for awhile...)