Civilian conversion without instructions - need help please

[mbechtel]

I hope I'm not posting something that's been gone over too many times. I'm in a bit of a bind and I have spent over an hour looking for this topic and help on this newsgroup, plus other Pinzgauer areas.

I bought the civilian ignition kit from EI (already had the Petronix installed when I bought the truck). The kit did not come with any instructions at all. Now my truck runs worse than before and I've got a myriad of questions.

1. Does the coil negative side go to the distributor or positive side?

2. Why wouldn't the kit have a 24 vdc coil?

3. Should the Petronix pickup be in any certain position? It looks like it swivels freely around on the shaft with no set position.

4. When I adjust the timing, I get a HECK of a shock when I touch the top of the distributor cap wiring. Is this normal?

5. When I run the engine, I get quite a bit of backfiring. Can someone tell me the order of the wires on the distributor cap in order to ensure I got that correct?

6. Any other thoughts or suggestions on what I might have done wrong? I was simply amazed there were no instructions included.

7. At what degree should I set the timing? 6-7 degrees BTC?

8. Should the spark plug wires snap onto the spark plugs and be VERY obvious that they are plugged in correctly?

9. When I placed a bit of the gel on the inside of the spark plug wire, should I just put a small amount around where the metal portion connects to the rubber?

Thanks for all the help.

[springhill]

http://www.sdp-pinzgauer.org/html/pertr ... stall.html

Try this---it should answer most of your questions.
Good Luck

john

[ExpeditionImports]

In a nutshell the installation instructions are posted here:
http://www.expedition-imports.com/ign__ ... nstall.htm

Pertronix instructions are posted here:
http://www.expedition-imports.com/pertronix_install.htm

Troubleshooting instructions are posted here:
http://www.expedition-imports.com/pertr ... ooting.htm

All of these links and information are posted in the webstore, and on the website. You should have received install instructions, our bad.


1. Does the coil negative side go to the distributor or positive side?
The wiring is simple, black wire to negative side of coil, red wire to positive, input voltage from noise suppressor to positive side.

2. Why wouldn't the kit have a 24 vdc coil?
Your igntion system is not 24V. It is 17-21 volts and coils are actually rated for voltage ranges. Pertronix themselves specced the 3ohm epoxy coil for the Pinzgauer system.

3. Should the Petronix pickup be in any certain position? It looks like it swivels freely around on the shaft with no set position.
That is your problem. The magnetic ring should be fully seated over the lobes and cannot swivel. See the troubleshooting doc. for detailed alignment info.

4. When I adjust the timing, I get a HECK of a shock when I touch the top of the distributor cap wiring. Is this normal?
No, something is not proper.

5. When I run the engine, I get quite a bit of backfiring. Can someone tell me the order of the wires on the distributor cap in order to ensure I got that correct?
Firing order is found in the owners manual. Buy one, everyone should have it handy. Firing order 1-2-4-3 (also listed in aboe docs.)

7. At what degree should I set the timing? 6-7 degrees BTC?
We reccomend 3-5 degrees, but many run it higher. Advance at idle really doesn't mean jack, you should be most concerned about the max advance at max RPM. See your manual for proper spec.

8. Should the spark plug wires snap onto the spark plugs and be VERY obvious that they are plugged in correctly?
Yes, make sure to remove the nubs from the plugs.

9. When I placed a bit of the gel on the inside of the spark plug wire, should I just put a small amount around where the metal portion connects to the rubber?
The gel is primarily lubrication for the silicone boot.

Cheers,

Scott

[Lightningpinz]

Another quick thought. Did you unhook the condenser in the distributer? Usually a green wire running from a side of the distributer to the post where the incoming power lead from the coil went. If you didn't unhook that wire, then do it now.

[ExpeditionImports]

FYI, We see an inordinately higher number of problems from installations that are trying to save the extra 10 minutes by splicing the black wire of the pertronix inside the distributor. As per our instructions and Pertronix, the black wire should be running DIRECT to the distributor. If installed in this manner, the condensor wire can be left attached and actually works very nicely looped over the Pertronix wires to hold them out of harms way.

Cheers,

Scott

[mbechtel]

Scott,

All my fault. I finally ripped open the plastic 'window' on the box and found the instructions handily tucked away there. But I used the instructions and pictures on your website along with your posted instructions and what you sent me, as well as my English service manual. Here's my list of mistakes:

1. I did not remove the 'nubs' on the spark plugs. Now that the 'nubs' are removed, the plug wires fit GREAT!

2. I did not put the black wire from the distributor to the negative terminal of the new coil. I had the white wire there. Once I changed that, the 'shocking' problem went away.

3. I had one of the plug wires (2 and 4) reversed. Swapped that back around.

4. I did not know to line up the inductive pickup on the distributor shaft. I removed that, saw the marks on the underside, put it back on correctly.

I started it up and it ran pretty gosh darn good. Then I adjusted the timing and the pinz was running a LOT better. Wow! Now the power on the beast is better than ever and I'm a happy boy to have my favorite vehicle back in service.

Thanks so much to everyone. I read these posts daily and have gotten so much information and guidance. I keep hoping I won't need it for other repairs, but you guys are all great!! Thanks especially to you Scott because your civilian conversion kit is FANTASTIC!!!!