elec ignition upgrade ?

[FUN-9C1]

How much HP is the elec ignition supposed to have over the points system? I'm about to order some odds and ends, getting psyched to get the boat out of the garage and tinker with it and go skiing. Would you guys recommend spending the $100 for the upgrade? I remember some years had the same motor as mine (carbureted 351) but with elec ign, but don't remember the HP. I've never done it but hear it's pretty easy. Any thoughts?

[Laptom]

RE: elec ignition upgrade ?

I don't know if it ads HP, but you get a lot of peace with this $100,- upgrade; better cold and warm starting, better idling, never the need to adjust the point or replace the points... I did it, and it was an easy installation. I would recommend to do this upgrade.

Tommy

[vtncsuskier]

An electronic ignition would be well worth the money. I had it done to my 87 SN 2001 (sold it last spring) and I could tell a big difference in starting the boat. I could also tell a difference in throttle response. Before the electronic ignition I would occasionly get hesitation but after the EI the response was great.

Not sure about added HP....could not tell a huge difference. Unless you are trying to pull up 5 people barefooting or running 1500lbs of ballast HP in that boat was never an issue....plenty of power.

[morfoot]

What would you guys recommend? Wanting to do the same to my 88' 2001 and was leaning to pertronix ei for the upgrade. Any feedback??

[Mikeski]

Doesn't add any HP over a perfectly tuned boat with points, provides 100% more horsepower over a boat that won't start because the points are bad, endless possibilities in between.

The points elimination kit was the single best upgrade that I did to my 1984, completely eliminated spring starting headaches. It pays for itself in two tune ups, there is really no reason not to do it. I used the kit that Overtons sells, Mid-Ohio probably sells something as good or better.

If you want increased HP upgrade to GT-40 heads, maybe freshen up the carb with a rebuild kit if it's not idling and accelerating smoothly. New rings, cam, and lower bearings combined with the new Heads and you pretty much have a fresh motor.

[83sn2001]

The simplest conversion is the Prestolite that skidim sells, It is a direct replacement and is as easy as changing the points.

[FUN-9C1]

The simplest conversion is the Prestolite that skidim sells, It is a direct replacement and is as easy as changing the points.

That's where I'm getting it from if I get it. Thanks for the responses. My boat runs "the nuts" already, no hesitation, fires right up hot or cold which is why I was wondering if it's worth upgrading. I've pretty much made up my mind after reading your replies and thinking some more, it's one less thing I have to maintain. What the ****. Thanks, guys.

[kdiddy]

could someone fill me in on what is required with this?
My boat starts horribly, and there's always a bit of corrosion on the contacts (points?) when I clean it off it usually works fine.

I'd love to not have to worry at all about this, and for $100 sounds like a no-brainer, if it's easy.

The boat's an 89 Sport.

[83sn2001]

All you have to do is follow the directions that come with it. If you can change points, you can convert to electronic. Just remember to bypass the resisitor. The easiest way to do that is to connect both wires to the same side of the resistor. It is very simple and well worth the money and time. Your boat will start more easily, especially when cold. You use your stock cap and rotor.

[horkn]

All you have to do is follow the directions that come with it. If you can change points, you can convert to electronic. Just remember to bypass the resisitor. The easiest way to do that is to connect both wires to the same side of the resistor. It is very simple and well worth the money and time. Your boat will start more easily, especially when cold. You use your stock cap and rotor.

in my pertronix kit, it says to keep the resistor if it had one before.

I ran it without the resistor for several years, but I have been having a running issue recently, and putting the resistor back in did not seem to change anything.

on my boat (78 martinique 351 PCM) the coil gets very hot, then dies. It will not re start until the coil cools off.

funny thing is it ran like a top after my conversion to the pertronix years back. It then slowly started having higher rpm running issues, and now will run great for a half hour or so, until said hot coil issue happens again.

I originally thought my cap was shot, so I got a new one, no change.

a new Accell SS coil did not help either.

now I have it wired with the resistor, and new cap, the old point setup in with brand new tune up parts ( from the tune up kit with the cap and rotor) and still the same issue.

Is there a way to test the pertronix to see if it still works?

also, I have now ordered a new MSD coil with new ballast kit since I have heard way too much bad stuff about the Accell coils failing.

I wish I would have taken a pic of how it is wired, but seeing that it did the same thing regardless of how it was wired, and regardless of points or electronic ign, I can only hope the new coil will fix this.

anyone with any advice?

what was a reliable great running boat now has me getting tows in from other boats, or paddling back if I am close.

Tom

[horkn]

also, what number is the pertronix kit that you guys are running, is that the same number of the kit that DIM sells?

I got mine from Summit Racing for at least 20 dollars less than the one that DIM sells.

[horkn]

Any thoughts????

I am headed up north tomorrow to hopefully solve my issue, armed witha new coil, and my manula to amke sure everything is wired right.

[Hollywood]

in my pertronix kit, it says to keep the resistor if it had one before.

If all you are doing is swapping the points for the drop in puck, then yeah don't mess with the resistor.

I ran it without the resistor for several years, but I have been having a running issue recently, and putting the resistor back in did not seem to change anything.

Well you've probably fried your EI puck from your coil.

on my boat (78 martinique 351 PCM) the coil gets very hot, then dies. It will not re start until the coil cools off.

funny thing is it ran like a top after my conversion to the pertronix years back. It then slowly started having higher rpm running issues, and now will run great for a half hour or so, until said hot coil issue happens again.

I originally thought my cap was shot, so I got a new one, no change.

a new Accell SS coil did not help either.

Get the petronix coil, and bypass the resistor. Do it right. The petronix coil has higher internal resistance, which is why you don't need a ballast resistor.

Your coil now has about half of the proper resistance. Running w/o the resistor is feeding too much current to the coil, which is why it's getting hot.

now I have it wired with the resistor, and new cap, the old point setup in with brand new tune up parts ( from the tune up kit with the cap and rotor) and still the same issue.

Is there a way to test the pertronix to see if it still works?

also, I have now ordered a new MSD coil with new ballast kit since I have heard way too much bad stuff about the Accell coils failing.

I wish I would have taken a pic of how it is wired, but seeing that it did the same thing regardless of how it was wired, and regardless of points or electronic ign, I can only hope the new coil will fix this.

Throwing new parts at a screwed up wiring job will only cause the new stuff to fail to.

Call Summit and have their tech line get you straight. Oh wait, you wanted to save $20 over the skidim price and now are stuck paddling your boat to shore.

[horkn]

in my pertronix kit, it says to keep the resistor if it had one before.

If all you are doing is swapping the points for the drop in puck, then yeah don't mess with the resistor.

I ran it without the resistor for several years, but I have been having a running issue recently, and putting the resistor back in did not seem to change anything.

Well you've probably fried your EI puck from your coil.

on my boat (78 martinique 351 PCM) the coil gets very hot, then dies. It will not re start until the coil cools off.

funny thing is it ran like a top after my conversion to the pertronix years back. It then slowly started having higher rpm running issues, and now will run great for a half hour or so, until said hot coil issue happens again.

I originally thought my cap was shot, so I got a new one, no change.

a new Accell SS coil did not help either.

Get the petronix coil, and bypass the resistor. Do it right. The petronix coil has higher internal resistance, which is why you don't need a ballast resistor.

Your coil now has about half of the proper resistance. Running w/o the resistor is feeding too much current to the coil, which is why it's getting hot.

now I have it wired with the resistor, and new cap, the old point setup in with brand new tune up parts ( from the tune up kit with the cap and rotor) and still the same issue.

Is there a way to test the pertronix to see if it still works?

also, I have now ordered a new MSD coil with new ballast kit since I have heard way too much bad stuff about the Accell coils failing.

I wish I would have taken a pic of how it is wired, but seeing that it did the same thing regardless of how it was wired, and regardless of points or electronic ign, I can only hope the new coil will fix this.

Throwing new parts at a screwed up wiring job will only cause the new stuff to fail to.

Call Summit and have their tech line get you straight. Oh wait, you wanted to save $20 over the skidim price and now are stuck paddling your boat to shore.

wow, I could do without the smart answer. the wiring was never incorrect, it will blow the ignition fuse if you try and start it with the wiring wrong.

I am knowledgable on how to use a digital multimeter, but without one in the boat after the boat died requiring a tow back, I had to guess.

fwiw, the kit summit sells is the same exact kits that skidim sells. I just need someone to verify the number off of the kit that SKIDIM sells. There are several applications that will work, even according to pertronix.

I ran it for years on my boat (5 to be exact) and when it started to have this running issue this summer, i suspected everything BUT the pertronix.

I thought it was a failing accell coil that are known to fail way before they should. swapping to the original pcm coil from 78 worked the same as the newer accell coil, so that verified that the coil was not the issue.


well, a new MSD coil, with the new tune up points ignition and new MSD resistor, allow it to run just fine for the most part, well, I do have a carb tuning issue, but thats it.

I got a new holley 600cfm 4160 carb since the one that was on it when I bought the boat was not a marine carb. Although a few minor parts will convert a street carb to a marine one.

after I verified everything (wiring, ohms, everything), the only issue with the pertronix that I have, is that it is dead. It seems 5 years was too much for it- it only had a 30 month warranty. It runs fine on the points system.

Now all I have is a float setting adjustment to finalize, and it will be fine, until next year when i get a new pertronix, probably an ignitor 2 so i do not need to worry about the coil getting too hot if I leave the key on. But at that time i will probably get an MSD 6 ignition box as well. the msd 6 box does not need a resitor either, but for now I will leave it alone.

The newer petronix kits show to remove the resistor, while my old one said to leave it in if it was there. Running quality as the same wired either way, but it was wired without the resistor for those 5 years like I had mentioned. The pertonix now will not create any spark, so I know it has just stopped working, which has been known to happen.

Also, pertronix themselves say running any points type coil is fine, as long as it has the proper resistance, other wise then you will need a resistor.

the MSD blaster coil is totally fine for use on a pertronix, without a resistor.

oh, and I didnt have to paddle in this weekend....nor do I plan on paddling in for quite some time