Breakerless Dist KIT

[Jack H.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

Of course, with any/all ignition systems, when they go you're dead in the water. The Breakerless SE has quite a few built-in safeguards and the one in my car has now logged +60K miles without a hiccup.

BUT, if you feel nervous, carry the original points & condensor in the car with you. Converting back to the conventional ignition is fast and easy. But, I doubt you'll have a need to do this except for that time when you want to have the car judged....

[Jack H.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

Other than the insensitivity to distributor wobble (the Breakerless SE triggers across an air gap via Hall Effect), about the only extra performance aspect you get is the module is smart and dials in a touch of dwell variance to compensate for high RPM operation versus conventional points....

[Joe C.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

I am curious, does anyone have knowlege of a retro-fit?
A)which one to get?
B)Cost?

C)Was there any improvement in performance?
D)They say it is undetectable(?)

(I have a 350 SB,just looking to make things better.)

FRANCIS

I highly recommend the Breakerless SE unit. I have NEVER heard any horror stories involving this system. That does NOT hold true for the "other" system, however.
It is easy to install, and "undetectable" from original, unreliable points setup. As Jack said, one of them pesky judges might get a bug up his arse, and decide to lift the points adjusting access door. Then its curtains!
Be sure to read the full description on their (M & H or Lectric Limited's) website. It uses the Hall Effect, which is the best type of transducer to use when substituting for points. It also is equivalent to the Pertronix II technology, in that it inherently uses the "adaptive dwell" system, which optimizes dwell throughout the rev range, and, unlike GM's electronic ignition, which utilizes a magnetic pickup, will deliver trouble free ignition well past 10K RPM, with constant 12KV from idle to engine destruct rev range. In the event of a failure (which is highly unlikely), simply carry a spare points/condenser set, a small (jewelers' )screwdriver and a needle nose pliers for a 10 minute change out.
There is only ONE drawback, when this system is compared to the Pertronix unit..........it is slightly more expensive. This system is BULLETPROOF, so long as you realize that fancy hot-spark, mega-gigavolt coils are not only unnecessary with the SE, but unsuitable! A high quality replacement for the original type coil is necessary, ie: one with an internal resistance of between 1.2 and 1.8 ohms. This type MUST BE USED WITH EXTERNAL BALLAST.
Another great feature of this system, is that IF you ever need to hook up any engine diagnostic equipment which requires a "clean" dwell signal, i.e: 0/12v square wave output, then this will give you one, without buying any other add ons.

Joe

Oh, there IS one more problem.
Your built-in rev-limiter is gone. So you'd better be quick on the trigger if you want to keep on doing powershifts at redline.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

Lynn;

The original Pertronix kit was designed to be used with an existing ballast resistor. I would expect that it would therefore work on your Vette with the resistance wire as well. I used one of these until the Pertronix II came on the market which provides the variable dwell feature, and uses a higher voltage coil (12V input). I don't have all the resistance factors handy, but if you are interested I can dig up the instruction sheet on that kit and advise tomorrow. I still have that kit as a spare, although I am not scared that the boggie man will kill the II model in my car anytime soon.

It is important to check out your distributor for wear and to shim out the vertical play in order to maintain the air gap w/i tolerance.. If you ever do that, make sure you get the drive gear back on exactly as you took it off. The dimple on the gear must face forward when the distributor is set up on cyl. #1. Otherwise, you may have trouble with physical interference of the VAC to the manifold or spark plug wire bracket when you arrive at your proper initial timing. Don't ask me how I know this.

Stu Fox

[William V.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

In remember installing a breaker-less kit into a year old 73 Monte Carlo.
The instructions suggested keeping the points and condenser in the glove box. The owner never had a problem but should it be needed a conversion back to points could be done at road side. Set your dwell on the points then remove and install the kit. At the road side you could convert back to points in a couple of minutes and save an expensive tow

[Tom L.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

Thanks for the input. As time (and finances become availible, being as I'm still recovering from body resto$shock) I plan on thouroughly going through the engine comartment/suspension to restore/upgrade what is needed.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

Ok Joe, I'll bite. What built in rev limiter are you referring to; Point Float?

Francis didn't say which engine he had, but he signs as having a 66 and a 350 SB. If he has hydraulic lifters he has a built in rev limiting factor.

As for me, I rarely power shift anymore due to the following:

1) my age and the natural slow down that is bestowed on me,
2) w/ a 3.36 final, why bother (not like the old days w/4.56's),
3) from my dragging days, I've seen how hard it is on syncros.

But every now and then, for old time sake, I love to pull a power 1 to 2 just to hear the chirp, and see if I still got the guts and hand speed.

Stu fox

[Joe C.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

Ok Joe, I'll bite. What built in rev limiter are you referring to; Point Float?

Francis didn't say which engine he had, but he signs as having a 66 and a 350 SB. If he has hydraulic lifters he has a built in rev limiting factor.

As for me, I rarely power shift anymore due to the following:

1) my age and the natural slow down that is bestowed on me,
2) w/ a 3.36 final, why bother (not like the old days w/4.56's),
3) from my dragging days, I've seen how hard it is on syncros.

But every now and then, for old time sake, I love to pull a power 1 to 2 just to hear the chirp, and see if I still got the guts and hand speed.

Stu fox

Ya see.........................THAT'S what I'm talkin' about! It's kinda like some people say :"once you go black, you never go back! (?)"
As far as points bounce, well...............yeah, I kinda assumed we were talking solids. It was sorta a rhetorical statement. I wanna show that the ignition will no longer act as a rev limiter if your engine otherwise has the rev capability.
You might be saying to yourself: "self.......how does he know this?"
Besides, someone else might be listening who has that OTHER SHP mousemotor that was introduced in 1965. I'm not sure if it will rev much past 6000 RPM, what with the hydraulics.......

[Stuart F.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

Guess I really should add a fourth reason I don't power shift much anymore, and this is the most important;

4) My clutch is the original diaphragm unit that came with the car 45+ years ago. I've been slipping that sucker trying to get under way for 45 years with a 3.36 rear end and close ratio tranny and, well, it's been very forgiving to date, but did you ever see what an exploding clutch does to a Corvette? Of course you have, and I'm sure you'll agree, it ain't pretty! Then there's the feet, or what's left of them-

Stu Fox

[Gene M.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

I just installed a Pertronix with the magnetic ring in my 427. Previous to install with points I had an after market coil that read 0.8 ohms and I also used a ballast resistor. Pertronix requires a 1.5 ohm resistance coil minimum. So I followed directions using another after market coil with 1.5 ohms still with ballast resistor.

My question is the final output to the plugs any different between the two coils based on the initial wound ohm reading or is it only in the secondary windings? or combination? Should I use a lower resistance ballast resistor from a 63?

[Francis F.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

I am curious, does anyone have knowlege of a retro-fit?
A)which one to get?
B)Cost?

C)Was there any improvement in performance?
D)They say it is undetectable(?)

(I have a 350 SB,just looking to make things better.)

FRANCIS

THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR REPLY's TO MY QUESTION,
it's a great thing to be able to draw on your expirence
with this item.
Francis

[Tom P.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

Guess I really should add a fourth reason I don't power shift much anymore, and this is the most important;

4) My clutch is the original diaphragm unit that came with the car 45+ years ago. I've been slipping that sucker trying to get under way for 45 years with a 3.36 rear end and close ratio tranny and, well, it's been very forgiving to date, but did you ever see what an exploding clutch does to a Corvette? Of course you have, and I'm sure you'll agree, it ain't pretty! Then there's the feet, or what's left of them-

Stu Fox

Stu,
I don't pwr shift the 56 as much as I used to, but I never miss an opportunity if it arrises. At 66yrs, I don't know how much longer I'll get to have these opportunities. If I throw a rod, I'll just build another SB400. If the clutch comes apart, I'll put in another one. If the Muncie says "I quit", I have plenty of replacements. If the rear (3.08 posi) goes south on me, I also have a couple of spares. So if it breaks, I'll just fix it. No, I do not enjoy replacing broke parts, but I also don't enjoy reducing the fun factor. By the way, with a 3.08 gear, a 1-2 pwr shift occurs about 60-70mph, and then the 56 is gone!

[Joe C.]

Re: Breakerless Dist KIT

Guess I really should add a fourth reason I don't power shift much anymore, and this is the most important;

4) My clutch is the original diaphragm unit that came with the car 45+ years ago. I've been slipping that sucker trying to get under way for 45 years with a 3.36 rear end and close ratio tranny and, well, it's been very forgiving to date, but did you ever see what an exploding clutch does to a Corvette? Of course you have, and I'm sure you'll agree, it ain't pretty! Then there's the feet, or what's left of them-

Stu Fox

That's called: "the agony of DE-feet"
Sorry.......I couldn't resist.
God bless you Jim McKay.......wherever you are.
May you always have the sun on your face and the wind at your back.