How to install Pertronix II

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Supermike
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How to install Pertronix II

Post by Supermike »

In preparing to install my Pertronix II unit, I wanted something "pictoral" (I'm a visual learner) to take to the garage. I found this article on mustangmonthly.com, but it wasn't really suitable for printing.

So I took a little time tonight to capture all the images and text and put it in a Word doc. Then I converted it to PDF (for Adobe Reader). Hopefully this will help someone who isn't all that familiar with points or taking apart the distributer.

Heck... I'm still trying to figure out how I'll remember which plug goes to which port on the dizzy when I'm ready to put it back together. I'm thinking masking tape and numbers right now. LOL!

Anyhow... I was going to attach the file here, but it won't let me attach a PDF, so I've dumped it on my personal site for now. I hope it doesn't kill my bandwidth! Maybe Keith can copy it up to the site somewhere...

How-To Install the PerTronix Ignitor II

Hope this helps!!

:fr:
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Tim P.
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by Tim P. »

Piece of cake Mike I did mine within 40min doing a nice job too been running for 10yrs now never had a problem yet sure beats points and gives a hotter spark with the accel super coil. over the others. I have faith in ya :thup:
OH BTY when you gap the unit use a brass gap gauge or a plastic type not the metal they show in the pics because there is an electromagnetic thing about this unit and metal does something to the pickup thingy that isnt good for it. :hmm:
Tim
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Supermike
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by Supermike »

Hey Tim... good to hear from you! Thanks for the vote of confidence... You know my mechanical skills are questionable (at least to me), so I venture into things like this with caution. Fortunately, I'm more confident with my ability to understand electrical stuff, so this is a bit more within my realm of possibilities. :)

Good suggestion on the gap gauge! I figured most of them WERE either brass or aluminum, so I'll be sure not to get one made of steel!
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Current owner of a '06 F150 King Ranch 4x4 SuperCrew
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by Lar4t9r »

Supermike wrote:In preparing to install my Pertronix II unit, I wanted something "pictoral" (I'm a visual learner) to take to the garage. I found this article on mustangmonthly.com, but it wasn't really suitable for printing.

So I took a little time tonight to capture all the images and text and put it in a Word doc. Then I converted it to PDF (for Adobe Reader). Hopefully this will help someone who isn't all that familiar with points or taking apart the distributer.

Heck... I'm still trying to figure out how I'll remember which plug goes to which port on the dizzy when I'm ready to put it back together. I'm thinking masking tape and numbers right now. LOL!

Anyhow... I was going to attach the file here, but it won't let me attach a PDF, so I've dumped it on my personal site for now. I hope it doesn't kill my bandwidth! Maybe Keith can copy it up to the site somewhere...

How-To Install the PerTronix Ignitor II

Hope this helps!!

:fr:
Thanks for taking the time and making the effort to put this PDF together. I plan to convert my '69 in the near future, this will help.
Thanks again. :thup:
:fr:
Laurence (Proud owner of 1969 Ford F-100 and 1970 GTO)
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Supermike
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by Supermike »

You're welcome... hope it helps!!
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by wildcard »

That has to be one of the best how-to threads I've seen. :thup: I've been considering going to electronic but was concerned I may get in over my head. After seeing the visuals, I have no doubt I can do that swap with no problem. Thanks a million for the visuals. :thup:
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by Tim P. »

Hey Mike when I got mine it came with a little piece of plastic for the gap setting,,,just a FYI :D
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by papabug71 »

Great write-up! I plan on running the Pertronix unit, so this was a great help. :thup:
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by wildcard »

My only question is, does the new coil come with the kit ? And if not, do I HAVE to change coils ?
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by Supermike »

The coil does not come with the PII "kit"... you have to buy it seperately. I think the PII requires the 45,000v coil, so you'll want to swap them out to get the best performance and to avoid blowing out your old coil.
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by drytoast »

I just purchased the Pertronix I but have not recieved it yet. The question I have is do you need to bypass the pink resistor wire off of the ignition to install it. thanks in advance. Toast :thup:
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

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drytoast wrote:I just purchased the Pertronix I but have not recieved it yet. The question I have is do you need to bypass the pink resistor wire off of the ignition to install it. thanks in advance. Toast :thup:
Some people say they did NOT bypass the pink resistor wire and used their stock coil with the PI ... but Pertronix instructions and others say that you SHOULD bypass the pink wire. On the whole, I think it would be a good idea. The trick I am trying to figure out is how BEST to bypass the resistor wire while doing the LEAST amount of damage to my stock wiring, which has pretty much persevered 40 years without being cut. As of now, I'm reconsidering running a new wire from the ignition to the coil, if I can figure out how to wire it to the ignition.

I also have this graphic I put together about a year ago, for those who are unsure how to go about this. Note... this drawing is sort of 67-specific. For 68 or 69 and up, the pink wire goes all the way to the ignition instead of the red/green wire.
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Last edited by Supermike on Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by seattle67 »

Nice tutorial Mike, thanks for sharing that with us! :thup:
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by basketcase0302 »

Very good thread on the Pertronix, thanks Mike!
BC # 16 had a slight miss in her when I ran the engine, (I'd set the Pertronix air gap by eyesight). :shh:
Time to go back and verify the air gap on the pertronix.
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Re: How to install Pertronix II

Post by Supermike »

Supermike wrote:
drytoast wrote:I just purchased the Pertronix I but have not recieved it yet. The question I have is do you need to bypass the pink resistor wire off of the ignition to install it. thanks in advance. Toast :thup:
Some people say they did NOT bypass the pink resistor wire and used their stock coil with the PI ... but Pertronix instructions and others say that you SHOULD bypass the pink wire. On the whole, I think it would be a good idea. The trick I am trying to figure out is how BEST to bypass the resistor wire while doing the LEAST amount of damage to my stock wiring, which has pretty much persevered 40 years without being cut. As of now, I'm reconsidering running a new wire from the ignition to the coil, if I can figure out how to wire it to the ignition.

I also have this graphic I put together about a year ago, for those who are unsure how to go about this. Note... this drawing is sort of 67-specific. For 68 or 69 and up, the pink wire goes all the way to the ignition instead of the red/green wire.
As an important FYI to '67 owners...

Per my instructions (based on discussion info gathered here), I had recommended cutting the red/green wire in order to bypass the pink resistor wire.

DO NOT DO THIS!!

What I found is that in doing this, you will cut off the wire that tells the alternator to charge the battery. This will cause you (or someone) significant headaches later, and could significantly reduce the life of your battery. It took me quite a lot of time to sort that one out.

What I recommend doing is running a new wire from the ignition to the coil, as shown in my diagram, but NOT cutting the red/green wire. Instead, just un-hook it from the coil and wrap it up good with electrical tape. This should effectively disconnect the old resisted wire from the coil while allowing the new wire to take care of the connection from the ignition to the coil.

Here's the thread where this was found and discussed....

http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 66#p425066
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