Tech Ignition Upgrade
Every time we buy a Ford car from Total Performance Years, one of the first things we do is address the primitive breaker point ignition system. When the breaker points burn, or otherwise come out of adjustment, the engine will develop a miss and everything is straight downhill from there. In fact, we've been left standing by the side of the road on more than one occasion because the breaker points had either fried or come out of the correct adjustment.
On its vintage distributor, Ford didn't have a "better idea" when it came to setting point gap or dwell. Other brand distributors were often equipped with a "dwell window" where an Allen wrench could be used to set the dwell with the engine running. It was a simple matter to attach the dwell meter and find the correct adjustment quickly and exactly. The dwell for a set of points in a Ford distributor cannot be adjusted while the engine is running. All one can do is set the point gap with a feeler gauge, reassemble the distributor, and fire it up. Once the engine was ready to run, the dwell meter could be attached and the dwell measured. Any disparity between the desired setting and the actual indicated setting required disassembly of the distributor for another go-around.
Fortunately, the folks at Pertronix have a solution to this quandary that is elegant in its simplicity. Their Ignitor electronic ignition kit replaces the points and condenser assemblies with an electronic module that has no moving parts. A magnetic sleeve is fitted over the distributor shaft and the module's distance from the sleeve is set with a feeler gauge. Once this is accomplished, the ignition adjustment is set for life with no adjustment ever needed. Follow along with us in this short procedure and we'll show you how easy it is to put a Pertronix Ignitor into your vintage Ford distributor.
 We begin our upgrade on this...  We begin our upgrade on this typical small-block found in a '66 Mustang. Disconnect the distributor cap and set it aside; the rotor comes off of the distributor shaft itself. Now is a good time to check the cap and rotor for burned or pitted contacts and replace if necessary. A lightly used set can be cleaned up with a fine file or emery board. |  After removing the retaining...  After removing the retaining screw and undoing the electrical connection to the points, the condenser can be removed from the distributor, as shown here. |  The same goes for the point...  The same goes for the point set as well. Be sure to remove all of the old points to coil wiring from the distributor housing as the Pertronix kit has all new wiring. |
 In this photo the magnetic...  In this photo the magnetic triggering ring is installed over the distributor's hex shaft (where the points used to ride). It is keyed to fit, so you may need to rotate it a little to get it to install properly. Gently press down on the ring to seat it completely. |  Now it's a simple matter to...  Now it's a simple matter to connect the two electrical leads from the Pertronix module to the ignition coil. Remember, black is always negative. The instructions say you may shorten the wires if you wish, but on our car there was no need to. |  Here, the new leads from the...  Here, the new leads from the Pertronix unit have been guided through the hole in the distributor housing. A gentle tug on the wire's grommet will seat the grommet in the hole in the casting, creating a weather-proof connection. |
 With everything squared away,...  With everything squared away, we reinstalled the distributor cap. When we hit the key, the engine jumped to life immediately instead of requiring several revolutions to fire. We noticed a smoother idle right away, which means our breaker points were on their way out. We're glad to be rid of them before the inevitable breakdown. |  In this crucial step, the...  In this crucial step, the included feeler gauge is used to set the module distance from the triggering ring. The desired clearance is 0.030-inch. Once the required clearance is set, tighten down the retaining screw firmly while not allowing the module to shift position. |  Using the new screw furnished,...  Using the new screw furnished, the Pertronix module is installed onto the distributor advance plate. Be sure to reattach the distributor ground strap; if you don't, your car won't run. The module is retained with the single screw, which you won't tighten down just yet. |