PERTRONIX DIST

[Shovelrick]

So new Pertronix dist come with the center plate mounted upside down, I found this info from RiffRaff on OCS so I'm calling them to ask why? Im also flipping mine which changes ign timing, Im posting a few pics of how it looks now before I change it then more pics after I flip it

 

[kmakar]

I wonder why it's flipped?

 

[Shovelrick]

Pert is closed today so Im waiting to ask them some questions as I also have a mech stop kit for a Billet dist and want to make sure they'll work, I did find this and RiffRaff said to retard the dist after the correction but he said it was a lower adv number

 

[68Chevele]

We used to switch that plate out all the time with the factory ones as there were different sizes. Flipping the plate over just changes the total timing, so lets say you have one that has 28° one way and add 10° of base timing for a total of 38°. Now you flip that same plate over and you might have 20° in the distributor and add in now 18° for a total of 38° that's all. I have a bunch of those as I used to go out to the junk yards and pilfer them all the time for different ones to setup my stuff.

 

[Shovelrick]

I never knew that and recently gave my friend my HEI dist from the 70's or I'd be taking a close look at it, think I still have pics of it though, I'm calling Pert tech today to ask why they send them out like this, RiffRaff has an excellent write up on Steves Nova site about this subject, these pics aren't very good but all I have of the 70's HEI

 

[Shovelrick]

I went over to work on the dist and called Pert tech and he never heard of the center plate upside down issue so I said I'll send pics and also told him about MSD instr saying its on wrong " he politely said Well you know we're not MSD lol so I didnt hear back and flipped the plate anyway and waiting on a response from RiffRaff to see if it looks the same as his or if he sees a problem that he might have ran into, Im in no hurry anyway, heres some pics

 

[Shovelrick]

I started the car and Wow what a difference, the idle doesn't bounce around it sounds more responsive and overall Way better, I thought the 231/239 110 lsa cam was making it idle odd but now it just sounds right and No bouncing timing mark, Im Very happy I wasn't able to get a pic of timing light while revving, holding cam, light and revving wasn't working hoping I catch someone there when Im there to watch tach and hold gas pedal next time, Oh I have 12° idle for now and about 28° revving to what Im sure is above 3K

 

[Shovelrick]

Another thing I noticed is that MSD instr say for a Reverse rotation dist that orig set up I had is the way to set it up, wonder if someone at Pert never got the memo?

 

[Shovelrick]

I just ordered an MSD 84281 vac stop plate kit to help tune this dist in and stop vac adv at 10*, it'll be here some time Thursday so once I put the kit in and get a ship capt. that lives there to handle the gas pedal and watch the tach so I can set timing I'm going for a test drive, so far it's really waking up in the lower rpm's, daily driving in traffic range instead of WOT

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

So are Pertronix HEI only or is there a points option?

 

[bikeron]

Another thing I noticed is that MSD instr say for a Reverse rotation dist that orig set up I had is the way to set it up, wonder if someone at Pert never got the memo?

Many of these companies have "let go" the old guys who know the history of these products. The history was not passed on.
The MSD6 ignition boxes have had different revisions over the years due to end of production of critical components.
This is why I would look for an older MSD 6 than buy a new one.
No one on their help line seems to know about this however.

 

[Shovelrick]

I agree, I've spoke to two different techs at Pert but only 1 about the center plate, 1st guy talked me out of buying a mech curve kit a said hook vac to ported vac to get the results I was after, so I bought the kit from Summit, hoping to have it all done thurs or fri after the MSD vac limit plate gets here

 

[Shovelrick]

I got the MSD limit plate today but Dave Ray doesn't think its good, says I should use the Crane stop plate but its no longer available so Im putting the MSD part in this evening and inst show to use Blue Loctite so Im letting it sit over night before starting it up, I remember reading his thread a long time ago about the Crane stop and now wish I'd of ordered a few, oh well

 

[Shovelrick]

So are Pertronix HEI only or is there a points option?

They sell a small body dist but it's electronic

 

[Shovelrick]

I installed the MSD stop plate last night but then found out I shouldn't have used the Blue bushing that came with the kit so going back today to remove the bushing LOL

 

[Shovelrick]

I forgot to add the pic of the Blue bushing that only gets used on MSD distributors, it's what needs to come back out to place the MSD stop plate under the arm instead of on top and it'll need the screw I removed from the Pert dist instead of the ones that came in the kit

 

[Shovelrick]

Well after fixing the Blue bushing issue I didnt have enough vac adv so I flipped the MSD plate to C position now I have 15° at idle No can, 26ish W can and 44-45° reving above 4K rpm, these dist are set up for Cali CARB rules...WE Dont like that

 

[bikeron]

Well after fixing the Blue bushing issue I didnt have enough vac adv so I flipped the MSD plate to C position now I have 15° at idle No can, 26ish W can and 44-45° reving above 4K rpm, these dist are set up for Cali CARB rules...WE Dont like that

This is really good info! Thanks for posting.

 

[Nashville Cat]

A lot of work but sounds like it's paying off ! You are getting close

 

[Shovelrick]

I wanted to buy a Dave Ray small body HEI but he wasn't building at the time, still think he's not building them but this is getting there, Dave did say I should use a Crane stop plate but they're not avail. anymore, S&S motorcycle bought Crane (I've been using S&S engine parts for over 25-30 yrs and great parts) Don't know why they decided to stop making them but Dave's going to start making plates that are similar from what he said in another post not mine