ModelA Times
 

Has an article: "Isolating Road Troubles---" and states the ignition system causes 95%, Compression 1%, fuel 4%. How does having an electronic ignition system compare to theses finds, plz.
I now have one on my '31, just a couple months, so there's no history

Thanks

Re: ModelA Times
 

If you have trouble with an electronic ignition out on the road there is no fixing it. With a points system you can 9 times out of 10 fix it on the road.

Re: ModelA Times
 

You can fix it. You need extra parts, just like anything else.

Re: ModelA Times
 

If a person choses to use electronic ignition it is probably best to go ahead and buy two setups to begin with , then you would have parts to fix it with when ignition failure happens on the road . For hotter spark I use the Pertronix flame thrower coil . After all , the spark comes from the coil . I've always made it home with points ignition on my model A .

Re: ModelA Times
 

When I bought my new engine, I put an electronic ignition on it. Well it lasted about 5K miles. I replaced it with a stock "loaner" that had been rebuilt by one of our club members. 7K miles later and I still haven't given back the loaner.

Re: ModelA Times
 

Remind me not to "loan" Carl any of my spare parts.

:D :D :D

.

Re: ModelA Times
 

I had an electronic ignition in my Roadster that failed on a trip. I thought I had prepared myself sufficiently by purchasing a spare module from the distributor manufacturer. That way I figured if it failed, I could replace it with the spare and be on my way.

Well it didn’t go too good. Once I got into the distributor, I found that the manufacturer had riveted the module to the plate in the distributor. In the location I was at I didn’t have access to the necessary tools to drill out the rivets and reattach the replacement module. I ended up trailing the Roadster home. Bummer

I replaced the electronic ignition with points and original distributor now. I think if the electronic distributor had been designed to be worked on, I would have kept it as I liked the hot spark and automatic timing advance. It was very expensive and very disappointing.

That’s my experience.

Re: ModelA Times
 

If you do use the electronic system, only you can fix it and supply the parts when on tour with other A’s. They can’t help you in most cases.

Re: ModelA Times
 

Having run the Per-Lux Ignitor (now the Petronix) on boats, Model A's and classic cars for 40+ years, the only failure I've had was self inflicted due to a bad ground. Based on posts here, I have to figure out what I'm doing wrong!!