Pertronix 1.5 vs 3.0 OHM coil and Tach

[akorna]

Many threads on the Pertronix install and the option of going with the 1.5 OHM coil w/Resistor or the 3.0 OHM coil w/out the resistor.

Tech support at Pertronix recommends the latter (Part 40511) - but this would provide full battery voltage in RUN to the Tach. Does anyone have this set-up and experienced any issues with the stock tach?

[zcar70]

I am running the stock coil with the resistor and the tach works fine......

[Arne]

I've played with several coil selections with my Pertronix, both 1.5 and 3.0Ω coils with and w/o resistor. No tach issues in any config for me.

FWIW, I've not been able to get any combination to run correctly with the Pertronix on my car except a 1.5Ω coil w/o resistor. Not what anyone recommends, I know. But using either a 1.5Ω w/resistor or a 3.0Ω Pertronix coil causes the engine to stop revving past a certain point, generally from 3500-4000 on up, depending on the combination in use. I am currently using the stock Nissan 1.5Ω.

[jwgarvey]

Many threads on the Pertronix install and the option of going with the 1.5 OHM coil w/Resistor or the 3.0 OHM coil w/out the resistor.

Tech support at Pertronix recommends the latter (Part 40511) - but this would provide full battery voltage in RUN to the Tach. Does anyone have this set-up and experienced any issues with the stock tach?

This is also my consern Akorna before I purchase pertronix and bypass the ballast. I will be sure to follow this thread. thanks for bringing it up.

[mayitin]

The crane electronic is really good no isues at all. Using an MSD usually your tach quits working.

[jwgarvey]

I've played with several coil selections with my Pertronix, both 1.5 and 3.0Ω coils with and w/o resistor. No tach issues in any config for me.

FWIW, I've not been able to get any combination to run correctly with the Pertronix on my car except a 1.5Ω coil w/o resistor. Not what anyone recommends, I know. But using either a 1.5Ω w/resistor or a 3.0Ω Pertronix coil causes the engine to stop revving past a certain point, generally from 3500-4000 on up, depending on the combination in use. I am currently using the stock Nissan 1.5Ω.

Thanks for the info on the tach question Arne .

Also, with your current set up 1.5 (stock coil) w/o resistor, have you ever burnt out a coil or have any other issues developed related to this set up? thanks John

[Zforce]

I use a mallory dual point dist with the pertronix ignitor and 1.5 ohm coil and stock ballast resistor with no problems. If your engine is not revving past a certain point it could be low voltage at the ignition run wire where the red wire from the pertronix goes. One thing I noticed with the pertronix upgrade for the stock dist is the trigger magnets are closer together than they are on the mallory setup, the mallory dist is much larger than stock so I thought there might be spark scattering under the cap at high rpm. I don't know just a thought.

[Arne]

Thanks for the info on the tach question Arne .

Also, with your current set up 1.5 (stock coil) w/o resistor, have you ever burnt out a coil or have any other issues developed related to this set up? thanks John

Not so far, but that is a concern. I've been running this way since last August.

If your engine is not revving past a certain point it could be low voltage at the ignition run wire where the red wire from the pertronix goes.

I've suspected something along this line, but haven't been able to pin anything down yet. Will do more testing at some point, as I'd really like to get the original coil off the car.

[akorna]

Thanks for the feedback - doesn't sound like anything conclusive at this point regarding the coil selection. I may experiment with this since I just installed a rebuilt distriutor due to a bad breaker plate - so I know that the shaft, vacuum and centrifugal advance is all working OK.

[soundmasterg]

I upgraded my coil on my 240Z to a Crane Fireball performance one, and am using the Pertronix with the resistor bypassed. With the Pertronix you have to make sure to not leave the key on with the Pertronix plugged in. If you have to work on the car you have to unplug the Pertronix or it will overheat and burn up. Its a pain but the performance improvement from the Pertronix is worth it for me. I'm on my third Pertronix however. The first one was defective and the car would just shut down sometimes, and I couldn't restart it until I opened the cap to let the unit cool off. The second one I burned out because I left the key on without unplugging the Pertronix. The third one is working perfectly and I get good revs and power up to redline.

When I go to my turbo engine I plan to Megasquirt and coil pack instead of the Pertronix.

Greg

I'll add that the Crane performance coil I have is a 1.5 ohm coil.

Edited February 7, 2010 by soundmasterg

[jwgarvey]

Thanks for the feedback - doesn't sound like anything conclusive at this point regarding the coil selection. I may experiment with this since I just installed a rebuilt distriutor due to a bad breaker plate - so I know that the shaft, vacuum and centrifugal advance is all working OK.

Where did you purchase the reman dizzy and how much did you pay?

[tlorber]

I just bought an electronic dizzy off Craigs List for $60.00. I haven't installed it yet but I'm looking forward to the performance enhancement.