Pentronix conversion - how important is Flamethrower coil?

[superbenk]

My points crapped out this morning and nearly ruined a planned boating day. I was able to nurse them back to help with some sand-paper, but I'm seriously considering the Pentronix electronic conversion kit so these things aren't anything I ever have to worry about again. I'm wondering what kind of benefit the Flamethrower coil gets me (realistically) when combined with the Ignitor II conversion kit? The Pentronix site says I'll get a better spark, but will it really make a difference? Is it worth the additional cost to replace my existing OEM coil (it's actually a Sierra or Mallory replacement coil I got a year ago)?

 

[86 century]

Re: Pentronix conversion - how important is Flamethrower coil?

I have installed six petronix conversions over the last year all using stock coils with no problems.

Will it hurt anything to change the coil no
will it make you go faster start better or anything else probably not.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Pentronix conversion - how important is Flamethrower coil?

+1 ^^^^^

If you really must have a flamethrower...PM me.

But OEM is fine.

 

[ybcoach]

Re: Pentronix conversion - how important is Flamethrower coil?

long time ago isn't it?
Well, i have the pertronix kit and the flamethrower coil . Pertronix kit is a "must" no more points crapping out!! The only advantage with the flamethrower coil is the fact that you can eliminate the resistance wire, and put the 12v directly to the coil, and the spark is really harder. Maybe when plugs are getting foul or wet, it still sparks...but i'm not sure about that.

 

[astuckey]

Re: Pentronix conversion - how important is Flamethrower coil?

If you do decide to go with the Flamethrower coil, thats fine. If you get the 1.5 ohm version, you still need the resister wire. I am pretty sure if you get the 3 ohm version, you don't need the resister wire, but don't hold me to that, as I am not 100% sure. (of course, if you used the 3 ohm coil with the resister wire, thats too much resistance) If you have the flamethrower 2 coil, you can not use it, unless you add an external ballast resister to the resister wire, to get a total of 3 ohms resistance. You still need the 3 ohms of resistance, because you will fry your ESA without it. What I did, was I cut the wires from the ESA to the connecter that goes to the switches, and made my own ESA. I took one of the cut wires, and ran it to ground, and the other, went to power a relay, that connects a ground wire to the (-) side of the coil. I used 12v switched from the alternator, for the positive, to the relay. This thing works great! The shifting is very smooth. Now, I have eliminated the high failure ESA, AND I now run a full 12 volts to the coil, without the resister wire, or any other form of resistance. (I have the flamethrower 2 coil) The only reason I installed the flamethrower 2 coil, is because I knew I could run high voltage to it, and I wanted to widen my plug gap a little bit. The three main things I wanted to do, were install the electronic ignition, remove the ESA, and remove the resister wire.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Pentronix conversion - how important is Flamethrower coil?

If you do decide to go with the Flamethrower coil, thats fine. If you get the 1.5 ohm version, you still need the resister wire. I am pretty sure if you get the 3 ohm version, you don't need the resister wire, but don't hold me to that, as I am not 100% sure. (of course, if you used the 3 ohm coil with the resister wire, thats too much resistance) If you have the flamethrower 2 coil, you can not use it, unless you add an external ballast resister to the resister wire, to get a total of 3 ohms resistance. You still need the 3 ohms of resistance, because you will fry your ESA without it. What I did, was I cut the wires from the ESA to the connecter that goes to the switches, and made my own ESA. I took one of the cut wires, and ran it to ground, and the other, went to power a relay, that connects a ground wire to the (-) side of the coil. I used 12v switched from the alternator, for the positive, to the relay. This thing works great! The shifting is very smooth. Now, I have eliminated the high failure ESA, AND I now run a full 12 volts to the coil, without the resister wire, or any other form of resistance. (I have the flamethrower 2 coil) The only reason I installed the flamethrower 2 coil, is because I knew I could run high voltage to it, and I wanted to widen my plug gap a little bit. The three main things I wanted to do, were install the electronic ignition, remove the ESA, and remove the resister wire.

My OMC Stringer is a 1980 which is pre-ESA. From what I'm reading, there isn't a lot of benefit in getting the Flamethrower or any other high-output coil. This is a 32 yr old 4 banger that I just don't want to deal with points on anymore. If the coil could get me some noticeable additional power or give me some other noticeable improvement, I'd definitely think about it. Otherwise, I'll probably just do the conversion with the OEM coil.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Pentronix conversion - how important is Flamethrower coil?

Howdy,


I used a PERtronix (will anyone ever spell it correctly?) ignition modification system in my 55 F-600 with an OEM 239 Y-block V-8 with the OEM coil and the "Flame Thrower" coil.

Both coils worked fine. Couldn't tell the difference. REMEMBER, the Pertronix system is essentially a replacement for the "points" which is a simple mechanical (make/break) switch

The replacement switch is simply an electronic switch that never "wears" out.

It doesn't know what the final voltage is (it's switching small currents by comparison)

The final voltage is determined by how many turns of wire in the primary and secondary windings in the output transformer (THE COIL!) and current in the in the primary winding.


If you're going to use one with an ESA, you need to speak to the Pertronix people about it. They do have a "work-around" to make it work. To make it work with a Cobra, you still have to incorporate some sort of ignition "pulsing" to get the same torque interruption so you can get it out of gear. Their modification does this.



Cheers,


Rick