Keep it stock?
There certainly is a charm in it and sometimes it is plain necessary to keep our cars all stock. This is done by utilizing components in the car from the time era of the car itself, often called NOS parts.
But sometimes there are upgrades that can be done without compromising the stock look. One such upgrade is the hidden Pertronix Ignitor installation.
Pertronix Ignitor
What the Ignitor does, is to replace your stock breaker-points in your distributor with an electronic ignition module that fits inside your distributor. This makes for a completely hidden setup and a stock appearance.
There are 3 versions of the Pertronix Ignitor
- Ignitor
This is the oldest and most proven version, and has been around for many years. It is recommended for the stock or mildly modified engine.
- Ignitor II
This is a smarter version than the original Ignitor and it can sense the level of current from the coil, and uses a micro-controller to adjust the dwell(adaptive dwell). This is best used in modified or high performance engines.
- Ignitor III
This version has all the features the Ignitor II has, plus multi-spark trough the whole RPM range and an adjustable rev limiter. This one requires full 12 volts to the coil.
You can read more about these over at the Pertronix Inc Website.
Pertronix Installation Instructions
This is quite easy. First, disconnect the battery. Take of the lid on your distributor and remove the stock points system. If the old points are in good condition, be careful to not harm it, you might have use for them later, anyway it is always good to have a backup.
As a picture (or movie) is worth a thousand words, here is a good video from YouTube that show how easy the procedure is:
Note! According to Pertronix themselves, this Ignitor install will be most efficient if you also swap out your old coil with a Pertronix Flamethrower coil. This is not really needed for the Pertronix Ignitor I, but if you go for the Ignitor II or III then it is advisable to swap the coil also.