Wiring for Electronic Conversion

[Jamepc]

I just bought a used distributor for my Mercruiser 120 that already had an electronic conversion installed. I assume the negative wire from the distributor goes to the negatine coil terminal. Does the positive distributor wire go to the positive coil terminal? <br />Also, what else has to be done? Something about cutting a resitor wire?<br />Thanks for any help!

 

[Don S]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

It depends on what kind of distributor you now have. You will also may or may not need a different coil, and may or may not use the resistor. Depending on the distributor type.

 

[Jamepc]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

My current distributor says SAE J1171 MARINE.<br />The replacement is identical except for the conversion.<br />Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

The J1171 tag only means it's coast guard approved for marine use, has nothing to do with make and model.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

Jamepc, That number is the marine certification number (at least we know it isn't an auto dist.), that is not the part number.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

I guess We are typing at the same time.

 

[Jamepc]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

It's a breaker point from an 85, not Thunderbolt. Does that help?

 

[Don S]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

That still doesn't say much if you don't know what make conversion is in it.<br />Mercruiser didn't even put the Thunderbolt ignition on the 3.0L engines. They did have and EST distributor and the Digital.

 

[Jamepc]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

Conversion is Ignitor by Petronix CARB 0 D-57 2

 

[Jamepc]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

Can anyone else tell me how to wire the distributor I have in my '85 Mercruiser 120 Breaker Point distributor with an Ignitor by Petronix CARB 0 D-57 2?<br />The (-) distributor wire goes to coil (-), correct? The (+) distributor goes to coil(+) , correct? Does something else have to be done like cutting the resistor wire (and which one is that?)<br />Thanks for any help,<br />James

 

[olbuddyjack]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

Negative goes to coil negative. <br />Positive goes to key on power(12v). <br />Don't remove the resistor wire. <br />If you wire the distributor + to the coil + you'll get stepped down voltage to the distributor rather than the full 12v. You could go to the key side of the resistor wire or any place else that recieves "key on" power.

 

[Jamepc]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

Thank you for your help olbuddyjack!!

 

[Don S]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

You might want to check with PerTronics before hooking it up. Some of them actually use a ballast resistor, and without it, you could burn up your unit.<br />Here is some information on type coil, nothing on how to wire it however.<br /><br /> http://www.pertronix.com/tech_support/troubleshooting.htm

 

[Mahoney]

Re: Wiring for Electronic Conversion

Without shift assist it goes as follows:<br /><br />After splicing red from ignitor to the key on ignition switch terminal on ballast resistor its a piece of cake. Tach wire and Black wire from ignitor go to -, purple(black stripe) from ballast resitor go to +. Only 3 wires run to coil, 2 on negative and one on positive.