Points to electronic

[Joshua Nichols]

I am not a fan of points.. I would like to know how I can make what I have electronic.. Do they make a kit for such a conversion? I didn't see anything in the Iboat stuff that would fit the 4.3.. I have a little high end miss and I would like to eliminate the points before they leave me on the lake one day.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Points to electronic

Ayuh,... Pertronics....

Being an OMC, you'll have issues hookin' it up though...

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Points to electronic

You have a couple of options. Assuming you have a prestolite distributor, see PG 17 of the pertronix link; http://www.pertronix.com/catalogs/pdf/ptx/2010/Pertronix2010.pdf

The pertronix stuff is hit or miss. Some people have good luck with them. Others have failures with in a short time, and still others never have them work right.

The best solution is to consider replacing the whole distributor. It's going to remove any doubt about the distributor working correctly, and fix any wear (distributor wise) that could cause issues with your timing. Mallory has a model that should fit your engine; http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-YLM700AV/

 

[sethjon]

Re: Points to electronic

I am not a fan of points.. I would like to know how I can make what I have electronic.. Do they make a kit for such a conversion? I didn't see anything in the Iboat stuff that would fit the 4.3.. I have a little high end miss and I would like to eliminate the points before they leave me on the lake one day.

Sorry to disagree, but I am a fan of pts. Keeping them right is as easy as anything you will ever do on a motor. There are kits for the change over if you still want to. You won't feel any difference with electronic ignition though.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Points to electronic

I put the pertronix kit on my 2.5L merc about 3 years ago. Runs fantastic. My dad has run one in his 66 mustang from many years. If you get one make sure you get the ignitor II. The original will burn out if you leave the key on without the engine running. The second version fixes that.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Points to electronic

Cool deal.. Yeah phasing out the 100 year old technology is a must.. I sent in a request to them today to make sure their unit will work with my application.. Looks like they can be ordered from O Riley.. Oh how I love those idiots.. So going to make sure I go with my guns loaded and correct part numbers and such

 

[bigdan1]

Re: Points to electronic

I have installed at least 10 sets of pertronix conversion yet ...never had an issue

no more points variation ......timing always on specs ...great !

 

[Aloysius]

Re: Points to electronic

The Pertronix unit requires a full 12 volts to operate..can't be run through a ballast resistor.

I find the Pertronix stuff well made and dependable.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Points to electronic

100 year old technology has been around 100 years for a reason....

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Points to electronic

100 year old technology has been around 100 years for a reason....

That doesn't make it the best, that makes it the standard. Carburetors are still around too, but you'd be hard pressed to find many people who feel carburetors are "better". Magnetos on piston-aircraft are old technology, but that doesn't make them the best.

The pertronix units can be replaced just as fast as the points can when stranded on the water. It is simply that most people don't carry a spare electonic unit with them like they do with points.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Points to electronic

I have installed a few of the Pertronix setups......Did the boats run any better or have more power? NO!

I could find better things to upgrade for the money.

 

[Aloysius]

Re: Points to electronic

There's definitely an argument for "old tech".. It's dam hard to 'file" a Pertronix unit to make it work when you're 50 miles offshore. However, that's what spares are for.

Properly adjusted and maintained, there's no power advantage of electronic over points.

most people who complain about their electronic conversions haven't performed the conversion properly!

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Points to electronic

Well I figure I can carry a point set with me and use it if the electronic craters.. I just thought going electronic would keep a constant adjustment.. Points wear out.. Condensers fail and burn them up.. I don't know seemed like a good upgrade.. Should I just buy a dwell meter (if I can find the old tech) and keep what I have?

 

[Lou C]

Re: Points to electronic

Ya don't have to adjust them constantly, depends on the hrs you put on it...I set mine 3 seasons ago and they have been the same ever since...dwell meter and timing light...easy...in all the years of driving I had with cars that had points...I only had one breakdown...in a 1965 VW Beetle...I had em in my 72 Chevy (no failures) 70 Ford (no failures) and usually changed them on the annual tune up. In my 88 OMC I've had same set in for about 5 seasons...they are not pitted yet so no sense in changing them. I do not see the big advantage to getting rid of the points...Boats by themselves especially I/Os are so maintenance intensive that the little time it takes to change and adjust a set of points....is the least of the work that needs to be done...

the main issue with the conversion is you have to keep the ESA working, or you won't be able to get the Cobra dog clutch out of gear...that's a safety hazard...for sure...

I do like trouble free electronic ignition in cars, never had a problem with it in many years of use...but points are really not a big problem...In salt water we have other much bigger worries with I/Os such as bellows leaking and trashing gimbles and ujoints and corroded exhaust manifolds....now those are problems....

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Points to electronic

easiest most reliable way is to convert it to the DELCO EST system and rewire around the ESA.
wire it up just like the 3.0 merc that used EST and go play.
now there is no ESA to fail and caps,wires,rotors,pickup coils and modules can be had at most napa stores that carry sierra marine parts.
the DELCO EST is very very reliable and has no mechanical advance to deal with.

 

[bigdan1]

Re: Points to electronic

100 year old technology has been around 100 years for a reason....

because the dint discover any better before !

yes and I guess you still run the good old tidex non detergent oil .....
and run on leaded gasoline .....

sure the points were good but electronic is better :
sure the tidex was good but detergent oils are better
same for gas ......

at 58 I`m from the points era! being a car mechanic for 40 years almost ,
points were the thing in the 60`s ....adjust these periodicaly if you wanted to keep your timing on specs otherwise with points degradation,loose in the shaft etc... came the timing loss.....

I have changed thousandS of points sets ,faulty condenser etc...

I have changed less then 200 ignition electronic components since 20 years or so ....

please lets evolute !

p.s: for those that still favor points over electronics ...why dont you convert your car to points ...it would be feasible !

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Points to electronic

And just to clear up a bit of misinformation above, the pertronix does absolutely nothing to keep timing correct, it only controls dwell. Which is worthwhile and should give you a stronger more consistent spark but doesn't really give more power.

If you really want to upgrade, consider the thunderbolt as a poster said above, which will eliminate all the mechanical bits you have now.

Here is an example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...r_id=140376841933&ua=?*I8&itemid=150485183399

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Points to electronic

I'm never really sure where people get the idea that somehow the electronic conversion is going to get them more "power". I don't know of a way it will produce more power. The idea is just to remove the problem of diminishing dwell settings and point/condenser degredation. The conversion only makes it so that you don't have to check/set point cap every year. It will provide better ignition spark timing over time since the electronic system will not not change timing from where you set it.

The only down side to the Pertonix units is that they retain the mechanical advance . . . which is seldom an issue and is almost always a broken or worn spring that can be replaced pretty much without tools aside from whatever is needed to get the dizzy cap off. Full HEI is better, and distrutorless ignitions are at the top of the pack, but none of them gives you any more "power". They just progressively remove more and more of the mechanical components out of the equation. (progressive as in: points-pertronix-HEI-distributorless)

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Points to electronic

the GM HEI was never marinized, the thunderbolt was a mercury derivative of an electronic ign.
the delco EST was and is widly used in the marine market.
price the difference in caps and rotors from thunderbolt to EST.

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Points to electronic

+1 on the Delco EST. If your gonna spend the money you should get the whole deal. They sell kits that include everything you need for $259 online.
Just search.

It comes with the dist, plug wires, coil, timing plug.

To me the elec conversion plates are a waste of time. You still will have your old dist with your old mech advance system and you'll have to deal with the ESA system still.

If your going to upgrade buy the whole deal and be done with it.