Re: Solid State Ignition

Posted by Predictor On 2009/9/9 20:00:15

Had a customer/victim with a 6th Series (1929) 626 that was equipped with a Delco distributor that had dual points and condensers. This was back in the early 80's and I couldn't find a set of points locally but I was able to "make" a pair (two pairs actually!) by combining a stationary arm from one brand (Chevy?) with a moving arm from another (Chrysler?).

It's been over 20 years and I don't recall the details but when I was done with this abortion it all lined up perfectly and ran great...especially after I removed the external condensers which someone had added to the body of the distributor...the distributor was originally built with the condensers under the breaker plate! No wonder the scope displayed a most perplexing pattern!!!!!!!!!

The irony of ironies is that the original condensers passed all tests and the replacements didn't!! Got it all straightened out, corrected the reversed polarity on BOTH coils and tightened all the loose connections on the primary side of the recently re-wired ignition switch (by a certain very well known Packard shop who shall remain nameless) and it ran so smooth that it I could idle it down slow enough to balance a nickle on the head. For the record, I didn't keep it that slow for long, I know about the oil starvation issues at such speeds.

The owner could finally pull the southbound Waldo grade north of San Francisco in high gear...he used to crawl up it in low(er) gear. The other impressive thing about this engine was that you could start from a dead stop in high gear without touching the gas...just slip the clutch a little to keep from stalling. That flywheel must've weighed more than an entire Honda!

Ooops, sorry for the hijack!