Pertronix installation success

[StuartL]

Couple of things here...

Firstly, the Pertronix installation is so easy that I could do it. The hardest part was finding a good source of ignition switched 24v but that turned out very easy when I realised the supressor was right in front of the distributor.

Easy installation and the engine fired up first time.

Now the obvious questions...

I know that the timing isn't right, although I can't hear the pinking it feels a little sluggish in mid-range and Pertronix Europe warned me that this was likely so I'm expecting to have to back off the timing a little. It's a little late to do that now so that's a mini-project for tomorrow morning.

However an unusual thing occurred when taking it out for my test route.

The test route includes an 18" fjord which I've been through several times before without any worries. Today, though, the engine misfired and the charging circuit warning light flickered. A bit of throttle seemed to cure it and we came out the other side ok. On the way back through the fjord the same happened.

When I got home I took off the engine cover and I can see droplets on the top of the fan shroud which I assume are from splashes from inside the engine cowling. Have I just been lucky before and this was a little water ingress into the intake or could this be something to do with the Pertronix installation? I'm pretty sure the distributor housing is well and truly seated and tightened.

Thoughts?

[spandit]

I didn't realise West Berkshire was that close to Norway to have fjords!

If the charge warning light flickered it could just be that the engine revs dropped enough for the alternator to stop charging so wouldn't worry too much about that just yet (at least the light works - it was the first thing that told me my fan belt had come off!)

If you are getting misfiring whilst going through water then something isn't sealed - are the connections that come off the Pertronix well waterproofed? One thing you can try is running the engine and squirting bits with a hose to see if that really is the problem.

I did have Pertronix on mine but got so fed up with moisture in the distributor that I installed MegaJolt so don't have a distributor at all! It's pretty waterproof - certainly performed better than my old ignition system at my recent off-roading in Bordon (not far from you - perhaps you are the chap Hesketh told me about)? That said, I do have a misfire now and not sure why. Hoping it's a broken down HT lead as one of them was touching the rocker cover and might have overheated

[StuartL]

I didn't realise West Berkshire was that close to Norway to have fjords!

So I took the cover off and got my hose out.

*cough*

I can't make it misfire by assaulting the distributor, coil or supressor with huge quantities of water.

I hereby declare that I must have managed to get water into the air intake by driving into the (relatively shallow) stream too quickly.

Lesson learned and snorkel to be considered.

[psychoman]

I didn't realise West Berkshire was that close to Norway to have fjords!

So I took the cover off and got my hose out.

*cough*

I can't make it misfire by assaulting the distributor, coil or supressor with huge quantities of water.

I hereby declare that I must have managed to get water into the air intake by driving into the (relatively shallow) stream too quickly.

Lesson learned and snorkel to be considered.

Wouldn't have thought so... we've used ours in some pretty deep fords and not had a problem yet, other than the starter motor getting a bit iffy when wet - certainly no misfiring. Check the air cleaner, see if you've any sign of water ingress?

[spandit]

You may find that water condenses in the distributor as the engine cools overnight and you'll have the same problem - take the cap off and have a look!

[StuartL]

Further testing with the engine access hatch off has revealed interesting behaviour.

When fording something in the lower part of the engine is picking up the water and spraying it upwards. It's not a lot of water but it's a splash and seems to occur throughout the water crossing. At the same time the alternator light flickers dimly. The water is approx 2' deep.

I had no misfiring issues this time so I still conclude that that misfire was probably water ingress, maybe this splash of water somehow got directed into the intake? I'm considering a splash cover for the intake to avoid that specific problem without going for a full snorkel.

I suspect the alternator light is because of water in the alternator. Does everyone elses alternator work underwater?

Today really showed that I do need to fix the timing from the Pertronix installation. Was notably sluggish in the cooler weather and although it drove ok I had to drop a gear for a hill I wouldn't normally have to.

If I've done my maths correctly then a couple of degrees of timing adjustment is actually a pretty tiny movement on the distributor housing, is this correct?

[spandit]

I've had mine completely underwater and the alternator was fine...

...distributor wasn't and as a result I wrecked the exhaust!

[StuartL]

Having now adjusted the timing (where by 'adjusted' I mean attacking the distributor housing with a socket extension and a club hammer) the performance is a lot better. I haven't applied much science to the adjustment, the advance is about half what is was and this feel a bit better.

Alternator light didn't flicker on the ford either, so I'm wondering if the lack of torque due to bad timing was causing a drop in engine revs when it hit the water and that was enough to bring the light on.

I believe I now officially write this off as a success and move on to the handbrake, which is now at the end of its adjustment travel and appears to no longer work

[ExpeditionImports]

Something is not right here.

Your timing will have to be set when installing the Pertronix. This is do to the fact that the magnet placement can vary in relation to the pickup, hence timing the engine is required.

You mentioned DECREASING your advance. That is incorrect. With the Pertronix, the timing should be ADVANCED. Here in the states most people find the sweet spot 7-10 degrees advanced. (BTDC)

We find the easiest way is with a 12V programmable timing light. Set the advance on the light, and line up the strobe on the pointer and hash mark.

Not sure if there is a bit of a technical translation description issue here....?

Cheers,

Scott






H

[StuartL]

Advanced? The guy at Pertronix Europe said I'd need to retard it because the Pertronix system responded faster with the spark than the stock points...

Urgh.

Now what?

[spandit]

Now fit MegaJolt and take control of your timing!

[psychoman]

Swap it back to standard

[Jim LaGuardia]

Points are crap, Pertronix setup(7-10 deg BTDC @850-950rpm) is the best solution for most drivability issues. If you set the idle too low you will get the symptoms you posted when fording.
Regardless what you have, it is ill advized to repeatedly ford deep water. The distributor is water resistant, not water proof and nylon fans get brittle with age.
If you manage to suck water into the motor it may result in a large hole in the block as water does not compress. By the way engines are expensive to replace and if you manage to explode a fan, be prepared to also replace alternator bearings and pull tin to remove all the fan shards. It is time consuming and the fan is $$$
I recently had my fan fail due to a worn bearing in the alternator while on the freeway. After repairing the alternator and replacing the fan, I still have to repair my engine cover as it somewhat fractured/shattered from the fan shards Truck is so much quieter with new alt bearings.
P.S. no alternator works under water(unless it is sealed) and a wet belt can also slip as fan is loaded with water.