Electronic Ignition (but aren't they all electronic ?)
Now why on earth would you want to throw away a perfectly sound C/B ignition system which you understand and then replace it with a black box about which you have no idea and might as well have come from another planet ?
I have no answer, but it’s what I’ve done.
Over the years I’ve even had several versions of electronic ignition on the car, ranging from the “points assisted” types which retain the points but reduce the arcing by lowering the switch current, to those with magnetic or optical switching systems.
The Old Faithful CB Points
And they’ve all been discarded at some point for one reason or another, most of which I’ve forgotten but do include one or two memorable roadside maintenance sessions accompanied by lots of swearing.
But this is the 21st Century, right ? Rocket science is old hat, we have computers and phones that don’t even need wires so surely they must have sorted out how to do an ignition system by now ?
And as I get older with reading glasses I don’t want to be fiddling about underneath a pair of webers to set up some new CB points, especially if I’m going to be doing it all again in a few months time.
The 21st Century Pertronix
So, it’s once more unto the shops dear friends, credit card in hand as I decide which system to try (again). In the end it came down to either Lumenition or the Aldon/Pertronix systems, and I went for Pertronix simply because it looked the neatest.
And it works.
Ok, if you’ve read the previous pages on rev counters you’ll know that my rev counter has modern internals so maybe that aspect isn’t surprising, but it fired up first time with the old coil (Bosch) and so far has been a first time starter.
On the road I can’t tell any difference but I do feel there is an improvement in starting, the car does fire up very quickly whereas with the old system there would be a few churns before it worked up enough enthusiasm to cough a bit.
Worthwhile mod ? Fingers crossed, yes. I distrust these magic boxes with a passion but against that I can think of many more ways in which the OEM system can let you down.