Petronix ignitor II for 65 Tbird

[Derek De Ville]

I am in the process of substituting the distributor ignition points for
a Petronix ignitor II transistorized ignition kit. Has anyone done this previously and can they give me any tips on hooking this up. thanks

Derek

[Joe Van Datta]

I installed one on my 66 --no problems, just follow the insructions that come with the unit.

[Derek De Ville]

Hi Joe

Thanks for the information. I have just ordered it and wondered
how hard it was to hook it up? My car runs fine now with the single
points distributor, but I would imagine the transistorized igntion is a lot
less bother. You never know how long the points are going to last. I have had them last 10,000 miles but sometimes they go in 1000 or less.

[Joe Van Datta]

This is a great improvement over the point system Derek.
You don't need a dwell meter to set the points and you no longer have a condenser.
The installation is about as easy as it gets.
Good luck,
Joe

[Derek De Ville]

Hi JOhn,

Thanks for the info.
I now have the ignitor II in kit form along with a flamethrower coil by
Petronix. In the instructions they say that if you have a resistor
wire going from the coil to the ignition switch......that you should replace
that with a 12 gauge wire. Apparently the ignitor II will not give full
performance if you leave the resistor in the circuit. I just wondered if
you had done this on your 66 Tbird. I have a 65 Tbird without the transistor
ignition and it just has the single points distributor. Would you happen to
know how I should hook up the 12 gauge wire. It says to bypass the circuit
at the fuse box???

I sent you an email yesterday but you may not have received it.

Thanks

Derek

[Joe Van Datta]

I installed the kit with the Flame thrower following the insructions that came with the kit.They did not mention changeing anything.
To quote " If your system has a ballast resister do not remove it"
Since the 66 Bird has one you just install the kit and it will run just fine.
I have had the Pertronix system on my 66 for three years --no problems.
Good luck,
Joe

[Harley Eaton]

Derek: the resister wire is in the wiring harness of you 'Bird. Many have questions about where to hook up to ignition controlled 12 volts. I haven't seen a real good answer.

[66tbird]

On There Web Site Pertronix.com Under Faq You Will Read, About Low Voltage Thats Where You Have A Res. Wire Or Ballast. If You Check Voltage At (+)pos. Side Of Coil While Engine Is Running. If Voltage Is 4.5 T0 About 7-8 Then You Have A Res. Wire Or Ballast. If You Do Your Car May Run Rough. It Gives You A Test. (jumper To Battery). I Will Say When Changing To Another Power Supply For Your 12 Volts. Make Sure It Remains At 12 Volt When Car Is Running,it Is Keyed Only In Run Position,not Assy. Side Of Key.some Say They Run Fine Without Change Mine Needed Changed. Hope This Helps

[Harley Eaton]

66TBIRD: Did your wiring ned to be changed to provide 12 volts to the coil? Where did you get your 12 volt power supply?

[Derek De Ville]

I recently read the instructions regarding Petronix Conversion from
ignition points to ignitor module. It claims that if you leave your
ignition turned on when the engine is not running, that you may
cause the coil to overheat. This will cause permanent damage to our
coil and the ignitor module.

Has anyone experienced this problem? It sounds kind of odd because
sometimes people tend to turn on their radios with the engine off.
I am going to install the petronix this week. I purchased it last Fall
after I put my 65 Tbird in the garage for the winter. Thanks.

[Harley Eaton]

If you are going to listen to the radio without the engine running, use the accessory piosition on the ignition switch. Not the run position. That's just common sense.

[Darrellinceres]

So did anyone ever figure out where the resistor wire is? On the original Petronix Ignitor you left the ballest in but on the new ones with thier new coils they want 12V for best performence. So it needs to be bypassed. I really don't want to run a new wire when I should be able to replace the resistive wire.

[Harley Eaton]

The resister wire is in the vehicle's wiring harness. To find it, you will need to unwrap the wiring harness that comes off the ignition switch. I believe you will find the resister wire to be pink in color. The shop manuals seem somewhat vague. The resister wire is identified (if you can call it that) in section 9, Figure 1 in 1964 and 1965 3shop manual: section 9, figure 2 in 1966 shop manual. You can read about replacing the resistance wire on page 9-16 in the 1965 shop manual, or page 9-18 in the 1966 shop manual.
Section 9 will also tell you how to test the resister wire. Good luck. Of course, you can check the voltage at the coil with the engine running as well. Should be near 6 volts.

[Darrellinceres]

Thank you Harley