Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

Just exactly WHAT is the REASON(s) that ANYONE would decide to convert to e-Ignition.?????

This is assuming that we are dealing with cars that were ORIGINALY designed with battery and ignition points and coil.

1. The quality and availability of points/condensor is declining/variable.

2. With the rear position of the distributor, replacing points and then adjusting dwell and timing has always been a difficult task.

3. Some EI provide a hotter spark, especially at cranking.

At present, I'm running a Pertronix on one engine and a Mopar solid state conversion on another. The Pertronix is less expensive, but I do believe the Mopar is better and more reliable.

FWIW, I've been rebuilding both the Autolite and Delco distributors and converting them to the Mopar trigger. They come with new bushings, vacuum advance, trigger, rotor and cap. However, at $300, they're not selling quickly, so when the last couple are gone, I won't do any more.

jack vines

True, distributors converted from points and condenser to electronic components do require much less maintenance. They are almost maintenance free except one must keep in mind that caps and rotors are still subject to the same wear and need to be replaced from time to time. Don't forget to add a couple of drops of oil when doing regular service.

(o[]o)

Quote:

Good recommendation, but I'd add spark plugs and wires.

These days, when anyone asks for help on an engine tuning problem, I refuse to touch it until it has all-new ignition components - points, condensor, rotor, cap, wires and plugs.

One owner got indignant about the cost, saying, "I just replaced those not long ago." but I didn't see new parts. When pressed for the date, he finally admitted they were more than ten years old. "Guess I didn't realize how much time had passed."

jack vines

Ah, you lucky guys who can actually find and be able to purchase a new distributor cap and rotor for a reasonable price. Go out and buy spares NOW, they won't be around forever, ditto for points.

Try to source a cap and rotor for a 1933/34 Eight or Super Eight! If you're really lucky you might find a good used but serviceable cap for $500 and probably more, maybe half that for a used but serviceable rotor. These caps and rotors were reproduced maybe 25-30 years ago, all long since sold out and the tooling apparently lost or destroyed. I see the Twelve cap and rotor is currently in reproduction for about $1000, but nothing that I'm aware of even on the horizon for 33/34 Eights and Super Eights.

At least for the NorthEast points, which when you can find them are maybe $400 a set (two sets required), there is a conversion kit available. New coils are available as a reproduction item, about $400 for the pair as I recall.

All that makes keeping these cars on the road regularly for reliable touring etc. more and more of a challenge. That I continue to be able to do so is only because I began to hoard these parts decades ago when they were beginning to get scarce. So while reasonable availability and prices prevail, don't procrastinate - stock up while you can.

I run an electronic ignition in my 4cyl porsche. It is programable with a laptop, so I can change the curve very easily. You can do things like 0 deg advance below 500 rpm for easy starting, then have advance say 10 deg from 500 rpm and ramping *down* to the normal idle and then above idle your normal advance curve. This trick of increasing advance when you go below target idle speed helps stabilize a low or cold idle. This helps the porsche since it has no choke.
What else? Rev limiter if needed, not much use in a packard though. The better electronic ignitions control coil charging by time and not just angle. This allows you to run a hotter lower resistance coil.
In some cases, electronic distributors may be cheaper than good oem parts (porsche world this is a problem)
Some electronic ignition systems also incorporate data acquisition if you are tuning or doing dyno runs.
That being said, points and condensers do work pretty well.

"programmable with a lap top".
Well, ok then, why have an ECM for the e-ignition at all??? Why not just let the Lap Top act as the ECM??

Consider an ECM failure. Then what do u use as a back-up???? Why not use the Lap Top as a back up????

CONSIDER an ECM going bad 200 miles from home while traveling thru a desolate area. Then use the Lap Top as a back up??? Or do u carry a spare ECM???

BOTTOM LINE: what is the price of the ECM and double that to carry as a spare. OR, scrap the ECM completely and just run from a lap top.

Mr Vines, in tuning up my car, to make it as reliable as possible, I just did what you suggested.When I returned to pick up the car, the mechanic said, "you know those new parts aren't near as good as the original ones I took out."
Duh! why did you ask me to replace them then? Sure enough, the new capacitor went out after only 75 miles. I just barely made it back from a country drive to my house. Luckily I got another mechanic to come look at it at the house and he fixed it with a part that says made in USA. My shop is 35 miles away which would have required a $165.00 towing fee. Maybe I should leave well enough alone if the car is running ok.

Mr Vines, in tuning up my car, to make it as reliable as possible, I just did what you suggested.When I returned to pick up the car, the mechanic said, "you know those new parts aren't near as good as the original ones I took out."
Duh! why did you ask me to replace them then? Sure enough, the new capacitor went out after only 75 miles. I just barely made it back from a country drive to my house. Luckily I got another mechanic to come look at it at the house and he fixed it with a part that says made in USA. My shop is 35 miles away which would have required a $165.00 towing fee. Maybe I should leave well enough alone if the car is running ok.

55.56

I thought gm used the same cap points. Pontiac..buick.

56 cad?..