Pertronix: Won't rev past 4-4.5k

[sblake01]

I believe that the condensor is simply for radio noise supression and wouldn't have any effect on how the car runs. What condition is you advance mechanism in? Does it move freely?

[Cutlass372]

Hmm, I will have to check on that, it says that you suck on the hose to see if it opens and closes freely? I will have to check on that when I get home, I am in Philadelphia right now.

[sblake01]

Hmm, I will have to check on that, it says that you suck on the hose to see if it opens and closes freely? I will have to check on that when I get home, I am in Philadelphia right now.

I use a vacuum gun but that's the 'old school' method you describe and it works too.

[doradox]

Thanks, I figured it out while waiting. The timing was almost fully retarded, so I advanced it a little at a time and It wanted to be fully advanced. I got it to rev to like 6k in neutral and 5.5-6k under load, but it still doesn't rev freely through its range. Where should I look now? I still have the condensors hooked up, so maybe I should take them off? What do you suggest?

Have you actually checked the timing with a timing light?

Steve

[Cutlass372]

I tried to earlier, but it was just to bright out for me to see the mark. I have the gun, I just need to get it in a darker place. I just need to get back to the car when I can.

[Cutlass372]

So I checked the timing and moved it to where it wanted to be, reved it up and the idle jumps and stays at 1500. When this happens it makes the timing off again (maybe cause the increase in RPMs? Also I broke off the distributor hold down bolt and now it need a new one.. Anyone have an extra one they would want to possibly donate for the cost of shipping (72 2.4L)? It would certainly help me out. Where should I look to fix these problems? The car reved up much better, but seemed to get stuck around 6k. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Elliot

[Walter Moore]

So I checked the timing and moved it to where it wanted to be, reved it up and the idle jumps and stays at 1500. When this happens it makes the timing off again (maybe cause the increase in RPMs? Also I broke off the distributor hold down bolt and now it need a new one.. Anyone have an extra one they would want to possibly donate for the cost of shipping (72 2.4L)? It would certainly help me out. Where should I look to fix these problems? The car reved up much better, but seemed to get stuck around 6k. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Elliot

The "distributor hold down bolt" is an ordinary M6 bolt that you can buy at nearly any hardware store.

The reason that the timing is "off" at 1500 RPM is that the centrifugal advance mechanism starts advancing the timing at about 1000 - 1100 RPM. To set the initial timing you have to keep the car below 900 RPM, and disconnect the vacuum advance hose from the distributor.

Sorry that you didn't get a response earlier, but there is so much traffic on this site that once a thread gets some age on it, and is pushed off of the RSS feed, most people don't notice new updates.

[Cutlass372]

So I got the part that I needed, tried to set the timing and it still doesnt seem right. When driving I get to around 4500 rpms and the car starts to cut in and out. It goes up in rpm, but it is very choppy and makes the tac jump around some. Right now I have both of the wires that came off the Ballast wired together, the black and white (i believe) on the positive, red and black on + and -, and I believe another black on the -. Does this seem right? Maybe this is the problem? Also, where should the timing be? What mark is TDC, the one all the way to the right or to the left and what mark should I have it set on at idle. I need help trying to set this right, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Elliot

[Arne]

Just a WAG here, what plugs are you using, and how wide are they gapped?

[Marty Rogan]

Re-read the Pertronix install instructions. It's been a long time since I installed on, but I believe is states that you still use the ballast resistor.

Marty

[ChrisZ]

I run my Pertronix w/o ballast resistor, i might fry it, who knows, i have also tried with BR and it makes no difference.

Chris

[Zedyone_kenobi]

Try replacing your cap and rotor.. just a hunch, but it really helped out my revving problems.