Pertronix trouble shooting

[luigi164]

383 with Pertronix factory distributor the engine will run and be happy at 11 12 degrees BTDC.
Hope this helps.

Here also, stock 383 bbl, stock distributor and pertonix....never used a timing light. Set the timing with the use of a vacuumgauge. I've read alot about adjusting the engine and a lot of people recommend the use of a vacuumgauge and your "ears"...listen to what the engine likes. Just my experience . .

 

[detmatt]

Here also, stock 383 bbl, stock distributor and pertonix....never used a timing light. Set the timing with the use of a vacuumgauge. I've read alot about adjusting the engine and a lot of people recommend the use of a vacuumgauge and your "ears"...listen to what the engine likes. Just my experience . .

Let’s not over complicate things for him anymore than they are here. He should be able to get it to run right with his timing light.

 

[rags]

don't discount coincidence. this is the same vehicle with the unauthorized off the shelf rebuilt edelbrock carb. swap. this could just be a problem there manifesting itself at bad time. do yourself a big favor, before you check the timing, take two minutes and double, triple check the firing order. also, someone HAD said earlier to point the timing light at the carb. this is actually done to check spray pattern on t.b.i. injectors. don't know if it'd help with a carb. tho'.

 

[Triple Pickle]

don't discount coincidence. this is the same vehicle with the unauthorized off the shelf rebuilt edelbrock carb. swap. this could just be a problem there manifesting itself at bad time. do yourself a big favor, before you check the timing, take two minutes and double, triple check the firing order. also, someone HAD said earlier to point the timing light at the carb. this is actually done to check spray pattern on t.b.i. injectors. don't know if it'd help with a carb. tho'.

Changed my mind! Gotta be fast! LOL

 

[rapidtrans]

I gotta ask.
What was wrong with the points?
After toasting two of these same Pertronix units I put the points and a stock type coil in the car. Starts better, runs fine and have not been left stranded since.

 

[stubs300]

Just so I don't make a big mistake here is a generic pic I found of timing lines similar to mine. The right side red line is about where it was. The left line is about where I am now. I wanna go past that 10 mark further to the left?

That's correct. You could take it out to the end of the timing tab and it would put you at 12, maybe more? If you have pinging when it's that far, bring it back a degree or 2 and check for pinging again. If none, then your done!

 

[cbarge]

Here also, stock 383 bbl, stock distributor and pertonix....never used a timing light. Set the timing with the use of a vacuumgauge. I've read alot about adjusting the engine and a lot of people recommend the use of a vacuumgauge and your "ears"...listen to what the engine likes. Just my experience . .

Yup. Stock cam should get 18 or 20 inches of vacuum. Mild cam should get 15.

 

[LocuMob]

This is the video I went over last year to refresh my brain when buttoning up my engine. It's not a Mopar, but the same.principles apply.



For your timing marks, as others have said, you're going the wrong way, turn the distributor Clockwise, and advance the timing to the other side of the marker. Circled in blue.

 

[cbarge]

I also recommend purchasing a Factory Service Manual for your year, make and model. Invaluable to have one.

I agree having a FSM is handy. But in this case when you upgrade anything pertaining the ignition (and fuel systems) the FSM is just good bowl reading. The dwell and curve with the Pertronix you cannot base your timing on factory specs. Add insult to injury today's gas is not the same as the year the OP car was manufactured.
Hotter spark,hotter ambient temps and crappy gas cannot work with FSM specs.
Tune by vacuum gauge timing light and by ear..
B/RB and LA engines with today's scenarios love more initial timing. Ping? Do a recurve on the distributor and you will feel and hear the difference of a happy motor vs one being held back.
Cheers.

 

[Biggredd2069]

Its raining and about to snow so not gonna take it out yet but did move it to 12 or 13. Pic attached. Can feel the idle go up a touch but think I'll have to check the carb too

 

[Triple Pickle]

I’m darn impressed with the pics of the timing marks. I see how you done it, cool, and helpful for those trying to help you sort this out. I think we’re getting somewhere now!

 

[LocuMob]

Its raining and about to snow so not gonna take it out yet but did move it to 12 or 13. Pic attached. Can feel the idle go up a touch but think I'll have to check the carb tooView attachment 284374 View attachment 284374

Better?

 

[1970cat]

i may have missed it , but you did remove the vacuum line from the advance and plug it before setting the timing, right?
adjusting the timing will change the idle speed. you will have to adjust it as you go.

 

[stubs300]

For your timing marks, as others have said, you're going the wrong way, turn the distributor Clockwise, and advance the timing to the other side of the marker. Circled in blue.

View attachment 284370

How the heck did I miss that? Thanks

 

[Biggredd2069]

Time for an update. Think I had an alternate issue. There is a stem at the back of the manifold, part of the vacuum to the brakes that seems to have lost one of the caps. I recapped it, advanced the timing, and seems so far to be running good. Drove it about 5 miles so far in stop and go. Fingers crossed that was the issue.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Wow, 5 pages to eliminate points on a stock car.
Watch out Joey the new servers will explode if someone wants to do a engine overhaul.

 

[67Monaco]

Wow, 5 pages to eliminate points on a stock car.
Watch out Joey the new servers will explode if someone wants to do a engine overhaul.

C'mon give the kid a break he just popped his cherry.

 

[Biggredd2069]

Haters gonna hate. Sorry we can't all be born experts like you. Your what makes this forum awesome. Can't wait to see how awesome your help is to the next person.

Btw this was a great learning experience. It did pop my cherry and I learned quite a bit about my car. So thanks to everyone. Especially the diagram.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Haters gonna hate. Sorry we can't all be born experts like you. Your what makes this forum awesome. Can't wait to see how awesome your help is to the next person.

Not hating, but you have to listen to what people are telling you. You have 5 pages of people fixing your problem, and you do something different each time, WTF.
Their are people here way smarter than me. I may disagree with them on opinion things, but when they are explaining something they know about I STFU and LISTEN.

 

[BLUPORT]

Haters gonna hate. Sorry we can't all be born experts like you. Your what makes this forum awesome. Can't wait to see how awesome your help is to the next person.

Btw this was a great learning experience. It did pop my cherry and I learned quite a bit about my car. So thanks to everyone. Especially the diagram.

I feel your pain. When I joined here after buying my 68 Newport (3832bbl/727) I knew NOTHING about these cars... Now I'm at the point where I can time it and tune the carb in a matter of 10 minutes.

When you have time, and you're not wrenching on the car, read through as many forum threads as you can, you'll pick up something you can use later.