Re: Has anyone used a Petronix in their 356 engine?

Posted by HH56 On 2021/12/6 10:53:20

Quote:
Not sure if you are speaking of a Pertronix unit or not but if not and if your distributor is stock and the type (most that Packard used are) that has a cloth covered very fine stranded flexible wire between the points and the outside terminal be aware that the old fabric covering on that flexible wire is known to rot and have chunks fall off which can result in a short and the exact symptom you described. Many have discovered this issue after disturbing the wire when changing points or condenser and having the insulation fall off in a hidden place not to be found out until either the car won't start after the work or starts acting up a few miles down the road. If that happens the wire needs to be replaced with the same type wire which can usually be found at Napa or on ebay. Search or ask for distributor lead wire.

If the last mechanic did find a broken wire and tried to replace it with ordinary hook-up wire -- even the type advertised as extremely flexible -- or even tape up or repair the old wire, in most cases that wire is now too stiff and with the constant flexing of the wire caused by the advances moving the breaker plate it will soon fatigue at some area where it takes most of the flexing and break again. The same can happen even if the correct wire is used if a mechanic cannot get the exact length of the old wire and tries to shorten or lengthen a replacement piece. The length changes may result in a stiffer area than the rest of the wire and that spot would change how or where the wire flexes.