Electronic ignitions

[Jordan]

I love FS. I have the new modern distributor in my car, with the centrifugal advance and i like it a lot. My brother has their unit that fits inside the normal model a distributor, and it also works very well. I've never heard of anyone having a problem with their distributors and I would recommend them to anyone.

[jerry shook]

Still wondering why cars dont still have the points and condencer, mabe the mechanical brakes ,the updraft carb, or the generator or the 3 speed trans, ( just wondering) god bless

[John Butts in CT]

Originally Posted by jerry shook

Still wondering why cars dont still have the points and condencer, mabe the mechanical brakes ,the updraft carb, or the generator or the 3 speed trans, ( just wondering) god bless

Improvements may be improvements, and each one may do its job differently (if not "better")... but I'll take George Washington's ax over a chainsaw any day when I'm cutting wood for fun

There's room in the hobby for all, so let's celebrate each other's enjoyment.

[Jim Parker Toronto]

If it Makes Spark, we do it !!!!
www.bubbashotrodshop.com

"We also offer a new Mallory unit for the Model A curved for auto matic advance. Comes complete with new cap and rotor, single contact for $ 150."

Are you going to add it to your site and show us a picture?

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Originally Posted by Jim Parker Toronto

If it Makes Spark, we do it !!!!
www.bubbashotrodshop.com

"We also offer a new Mallory unit for the Model A curved for auto matic advance. Comes complete with new cap and rotor, single contact for $ 150."

Are you going to add it to your site and show us a picture?

Will do got some at the machine shop right now...

[roddyb34]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I have a Nissan electronic that i got for free ,did some minor machining to fit fires first kick every time ,runs as nice as the missing chunk of babbit on #4 will allow ,,

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by jerry shook

Still wondering why cars dont still have the points and condencer, mabe the mechanical brakes ,the updraft carb, or the generator or the 3 speed trans, ( just wondering) god bless

I've got a theory, ...and this is my opinion only but it is seemingly more apparent to me that people (even folks here) cannot do 'squat' anymore!! Folks cannot figure out, --or follow written instructions on how to adjust their brakes, ...thus automated adjusters are installed. People today have trouble setting & maintaining a set of ignition points. Thus ignition conversions are sold. Model A drivers apparently cannot learn to double-clutch, -thus synchromesh transmissions are installed, and ........ (you fill in the blank)!

IMHO, "Restorers" cannot 'restore' (return something to an equal condition as when it was originally manufactured) like I remember folks in the Model A club doing some 40 years ago. I don't guess this shouldn't surprise me because most Dad's today cannot make repairs around their house and most Mom's cannot even cook or sew either! I have been around the restoration hobby for as long as I can remember of my 50+years, and I have seen many trends come & go in this game. Maybe the trend will soon start going back to where most Model A "Restorers" actually start 'rebuilding' (restoring) something on their car instead of 'replacing' something.

.

[sturgis 39]

Originally Posted by jerry shook

Still wondering why cars dont still have the points and condencer, mabe the mechanical brakes ,the updraft carb, or the generator or the 3 speed trans, ( just wondering) god bless

The more things change the more they stay the same. Model "t" had a coil for each cylinder and a crank driven timer which is now the new and better. Vent windows have come and gone. Locking steering wheels have come and gone and have rose from the dead. Twenty one inch tires and wheels have come and gone and are now popular. I am waiting for the wing cap and bare spark plug wires and the up draft to come back. Advertising sells and marketing works on normal people.

[Kurt in NJ]

The model "A" is a reliable car, it's reliability is in the fact that if it breaks down it can be tinkered with and driven home.

A modern elecronic car has a different kind of reliability, it goes a very long way---usually without breaking down, but when it does it gets towed to the shop, then a new module ,or sensor installed (as diagnosed by the computer).

I like the original reliability, but also can see that there is some need for the attempts at installing "modern" reliability, it enables some that can not tinker to drive their A, if it broke it would get towed anyway and they feel more confident to drive because they have "modern" improvements

[denis4x4]

Per-Lux, Inc. bought the Ignitor (now Petronix) electronic ignition from the original inventor back in the seventies. I handled their marking and advertising for many years. The original purpose of the Ignitor was for installation in irrigation field pumps and refer units that ran 24/7. Ryder rental Ford trucks had Ignitors installed at the factory as did smaller UPS trucks. Another big OE user was TowMotor fork lifts.

It's been my experience that FS (and Remund) failures can be directly linked to installer error. I currently have four Ignitor/Petronix equipped cars with tens of thousands of miles with only a single failure. And that was due to the fact that didn't follow the installation directions!

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by jerry shook

Still wondering why cars dont still have the points and condencer, mabe the mechanical brakes ,the updraft carb, or the generator or the 3 speed trans, ( just wondering) god bless

When you understand how all the component systems function (both new and old), it's really quite simple. There are physical limitations to the various systems and the more modern ignition and fuel delivery systems extend those limitations dramatically in most cases. In the case of the Model A, the physical limitations far exceed the actual needs. However if you want to have a Model A that will cruise safely and comfortably at 125 mph as my modern car is designed to do then you definitely have some re-engineering to do!

[jerry shook]

Just wondering, why so many a owners are going to more modern things, could it be they are more reliable on the road easer to drive ,they dont need adjusting every time you drive them . Why do ( squat) when you can spend your time enjoying your a. Just wondering. God bless

[steve s]

Originally Posted by denis4x4

... It's been my experience that FS (and Remund) failures can be directly linked to installer error. I currently have four Ignitor/Petronix equipped cars with tens of thousands of miles with only a single failure. And that was due to the fact that didn't follow the installation directions!

Denis,

Do you know what the most specific common errors are? I'm guessing failure to provide a good ground.

Steve

[sturgis 39]

Originally Posted by jerry shook

Just wondering, why so many a owners are going to more modern things, could it be they are more reliable on the road easer to drive ,they dont need adjusting every time you drive them . Why do ( squat) when you can spend your time enjoying your a. Just wondering. God bless

It is advertising and egos of most people. Somebody makes a remark about something so they change it to get acceptance from their piers. It is like people that brag about their aluminum radiator. The copper radiator cools almost twice as much as an aluminum radiator but people see them advertised and a buddy has one. There are a lot of sheep following sheep. New is not always better and more reliable.

I have also found people that seem to be religious are the ones you have to watch your ring finger when you shake hands.

[Richard Wilson]

MY experience is that if you buy one electronic ignition you had better buy two. They work fine when they work but when they malfuntion you can not repair on the side of the road. On an overnight club tour several years ago one of our group had his electronic ignition go bad. The Model A was running well and then it quit just like the switch had been turned off. If he had been by himself he would have been stranded 200 miles from home on a very remote country back road. Luckily, we had enough spare pieces in the group to replace the dead electronic ignition system with a "points" distributor and we were on our way.

[CWPASADENA]

Originally Posted by Roadster Rich

I have run the FS Modern Ditributor (6V) for three years. Part way through my first year I tried to start it in the garage and nothing. Returned to FS. Looks like I must have burned out the igniter with the key left on? Don't remember doing that, but FS was excellent. I bought a replacement igniter and they sent back the unit with a new igniter and a spare that I bought. I still love the way it drives, but I keep a totally functional original distributor in the car in case this igniter dies at any time. Can't go wrong dealing with FS

I agree!!!

If you are going to run an electronic distributor, you should also have a good totally functioning spare distributor with you and the necessary tools to change it. There is nothing worse then being stranded away from home on the side of the road trying to diagnose a failed electronic system.

My opinion,

Chris

[jerry shook]

Just wondering, i have a new aluminum radiator in my 31 s/w it was a lot cheeper and cools a lot better. Then the one i had in the car . Am i a sheep following a sheep or am i saving money and improving my (a) . I have 3 (a) 2 with fs ignition,the 2 with fs start and run better.with a lot less problem. (watch that ring finger). God bless

[just plain bill]

I'm enjoying this thread, reading the pros and cons. I have some of each FS, Pertronix conversipons, Mallory's, both converted and points. But I find myself reverting to the old fashioned stuff. In my current engine in my car that only is driven 1/4 mile at a time I have a "bone" stock model "B" distributor, wing cap and all. The last time my car ran a 1/4 mile it was going 82 MPH at the end of the 1/4 and didn't miss a lick. (Old term for an engine not missing) At that time I had the coil from my Ford tractor in the circuit, now I have a 6 volt Mallory Best coil in the circuit. Just love all of the "obsolete" stuff. I had a FS on this engine and it died in the tech line at the Antique Nationals in 2009 after several years off service. Bitch to trouble shoot in the pits.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by jerry shook

Still wondering why cars dont still have the points and condencer, mabe the mechanical brakes ,the updraft carb, or the generator or the 3 speed trans, ( just wondering) god bless

I say we throw away the carburetor and install fuel injection, then we won't have to pull the choke and turn the knob to make the mixture richer for warmup. Ooooh.......the drudgery of having to adjust things to make these old cars start and run!

80 year old technology just can't be any good compared to today's, so I say we modernize and get rid of all the old parts from the carb to the brakes. Wait a minute.....pistons moving up and down is almost 300 year old technology so they must be the first to go. Lets convert to rotary, or even go more modern and convert to electric. No wait, electric's a hundred year old technology also. Maybe we can lay in rails and go to maglev. That should keep us going for awhile.

[Ron Lachniet]

Wow, This opened a real can of worms. I only asked because when I was first married I bought a BSA motor cycle. I worked on that thing for eight hours so we could ride it for three. I then bought a honda and rode it trouble free for years. I love tinkering with things as much as the next guy but I would rather do it on my terms and not in a parking lot fifty miles from home. Thanks