TO INSTALL OR NOT TO INSTALL A PERTRONIX DISTRIBUTOR 1964 SI ":E "

Maui; Like Michael states is your car negative ground. The Pertronix comes both negative and positive ground systems. make sure you known.what it is. Also do you have a alternator or generator. which makes a difference.

My Pertronix distributor is still in the box. I will try again to install.
Good Luck

Edward Messikian
JCSNE

Are you sure your car is negative ground? Although it shouldn't prevent spark, your coil is wired incorrectly. Try reversing the connections. Use a meter to check the voltage on the white wire.

Pat just spent about 15 hours trying to get a Pertronix Ignitor to work in my 150 roadster...finally sent unit back to Pertronix after they suggested many tests....they sent me a new one but said the returned unit was good....I tried again...and ran all the tests to check everything from the battery to the distributor....and they all checked ok....I have a negative ground system. the Igniotor seems to fit fine and the rotor is ok ...I have thepertronics red wire going to the neg/sw side of a lucas sports coil and the black Ignitor wire going to the Pos/cb side of the coil .....the white wire from the ignition goes to the neg/sw side of the coil and the black and white wire which used to go from the coil to the distributor as ground is disconx.....I get no spark from the coil wire when I disconx it and hold it to ground.....I have installed the ground wire within the distributor and it goes from the existing plate to tthe Pertronix plate and is securely anchored to one of the two screws that secures the ignitor module to the plate. I was about to sent it back and forget it and reinstall the the points etc...but after reading about the better performance and starting I decided to get in touch with you.....It sounds like you may have experienced the same problem. John

FYI, the rear cylinder (nearest the windshield) is #1, NOT the front cylinder (it is #6). For a positive ground car, one side of the coil should be wired to switched (-), the other side of the coil should go to the Pertronics distributor.

My experience is that the Pertronix unit DOES make a difference: noticably better starting and idling for sure.
Hope this helps -
George

THANKS FOR THE REPLY PAT. I BELIEVE I HAD IT WIRED CORRECTLY PER YOUR DISCUSSION. ONE SIDE OF THE COIL USES AN ADDITIONAL WIRE CONNECTED TO GROUND. I USED THE FRONT CYLINDER AT TDC TO SET IT UP . I MAY USE THE REAR CYLINDER IF IT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE.

WILL THE CAR PERFORM ANY BETTER.

You may have it wired incorrectly. I had some difficulty when I installed one on my XK150. You need to first understand that the pertronics unit is a magnetic switch but, different from the points it replaces. In a factory ignition, one side of the coil is directly connected to the negative side of the battery (positive ground cars) through the ignition switch. The other side of the coil is grounded through the distributor points. Thus, when the points close, the circuit is made through the coil engergizing it. When the points open, the circuit is broken and a spark generated. Now, with the pertronics unit, you must permanently ground one side of the coil. The hot wire from the ignition switch (negative) is connected to the pertronics unit. The other wire is then routed from the pertronics unit to the other side of the coil. If you just tried connecting the pertronics unit to the same wires the distributor points were connected it will not work.

You may have it wired incorrectly. I had some difficulty when I installed one on my XK150. You need to first understand that the pertronics unit is a magnetic switch but, different from the points it replaces. In a factory ignition, one side of the coil is directly connected to the negative side of the battery (positive ground cars) through the ignition switch. The other side of the coil is grounded through the distributor points. Thus, when the points close, the circuit is made through the coil engergizing it. When the points open, the circuit is broken and a spark generated. Now, with the pertronics unit, you must permanently ground one side of the coil. The hot wire from the ignition switch (negative) is connected to the pertronics unit. The other wire is then routed from the pertronics unit to the other side of the coil. If you just tried connecting the pertronics unit to the same wires the distributor points were connected it will not work.