308 points conversion

The pertronix mr-182 kit is for the twin distributor system. I have it installed and it works great. Needed a timing adjustment but otherwise was plug and play.

 

If you want a full electronic ignition system to replace the points and distributor then the one manufactured by Black Stallion Motors is superb. I fitted it to my 76 308 last year and it transformed the engine and got rid of all the problems with misfiring, plug fouling, low torque at low revs, etc.

It included a replacement distributor which is cast aluminimum along with the ignition module and all wiring. The unit is a neat fit and apart from the distributor casting you can't tell it is installed. It is also programmable so they can also tweak it to suit your year/model if needed.

You can buy it directly from them (see http://www.blackstallionmotors.com.au/bsm_ignitions.html) and it's also sold through Superformance in the UK (see http://www.superformance.co.uk/a-308/ignition.htm and scroll down the page to BSM). Not cheap but they've sold several hundred I believe and it's specifically setup for the 308, not just a generic system.

 

Pertronix just made a kit to install both modules in one distributor. They should have a new kit out in a matter of a couple more weeks. They were just making a run of all the parts needed last time I checked. I'll post the part number up when they say it's ready.

I installed it in my car and it was working great until I had fuel issues crop up. I will have all that fixed in the next couple days though. My initial impression was that all the misses, coughs, and even most of the popping on decel cleared up nicely on the short drive I had it out on.

The other systems look great but I don't really see the need for a fully programmable system on a carb car with no computers and no fuel injection. Set the timing and tune the carbs and you should be good to go.

 

Got one too and I love it!!!

Not sure if it is because of the BSM system, but my Dino was dyno'd at 257 crank hp. Only mods I've done are
* X-OST muffler
* K&N air filter
* BSM ignition, running on OEM timing curve

Can't help thinking that the ignition should be responsible for a few hp there...

Hans

 

Yes I agree, not had mine dyno'd but it definitely felt stronger, more responsive and smoother through the rev range. Tim & Denis at BSM told me I'd be pleasantly surprised and I was! My engine is "tired" too.

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=138297225&postcount=5

Have Don King fix it up for you. He not only installs everything into one dizzy. he rebuilds the unit and verifies the advanced curve is corret. Best $550 I've spent on my car so far.

 

i have the pertronix system that puts the timing in one distributor, but retains the other to distribute spark. I like this system bc it retains the OEM look with improve maintenance and reliability

 

+1 great system.

 

+1 Pertronix is indeed awesome, BUT do not leave the ignition key in the 'on' or 'running' position for too long if the engine is not running. Those Pertronix units fry if in that position longer then absolutely necessary. In my Lotus days I constantly heard about fried Pertronix units.

For this reason, I went with the slightly more complicated Crane XR700 boxes which are in-turn firing two other high energy ignition boxes. The XR700s are a little more difficult to install as the optical wheel and optical triggers are a bit of a PIA to get fitted and dialed in correctly, but I have had mine 2+ trouble free years now.

 

The programmable BS ones are dyno tunable, even with carbs, plug in your lap top and set timing on the chassis dyno, back off 2 degrees from max torque and your motor timing is optimized, even if your AFR isn't.

I would estimate that the programmable one is worth as much 20-30 ft-lb of torque, at low to midrange RPM, depending on how well the current mechanical advance point setup is working.

i.e, if your mech advance is properly set up,and per factory specs, on a properly running car, you may only see a few to perhaps 10 ft-lb improvement at most, if your mech advance is dirty, sticky,and out of spec, you will see gobs more.

No more springs and weights and sticky advance mechanisms.

Doug

 

John
It might be worth having a word with http://www.h-h-ignitionsolutions.co.uk/ - they did mine on the recommendation of Steve Moody at SMDG. Very pleased with the results and significantly cheaper than the full BSM setup, which I have no doubt is also an excellent solution.

 

Actually the newer Pertronix ignitors did away with this problem. These were the ones I had them set up in my distributor that the kit will be available for pretty soon.

 

I have installed both Pertronix/MSD setups as well as BSMpdis in several cars, the Pertronix/MSD setup works great and is quite robust but relies on the original mechanical advance with two weigths (and limited advance curve control) of the distributor. The BSMpdi system sits inbetween a distributor setup and a crankshaft triggered 3D ECU, it allows you to freely tune the advance curve yet looks quite original.

The difference between a mechanical advance and a programmable system such as the BSMpdi setup is quite noticeable. Compared to the factory curve you can get up to 5% more peak BHP and torque and the torque spread is much better in the lower revs. Most distributor curves/advance setups are not in ideal shape though, so you might see a 5-10% improvement as you can get closer to what the engine can ideally delivery. This can also easily be seen when comparing the power and torque curve on a rolling road. (The default BSMpdi curves are already quite good so you don't really need to do an additional rolling road session if your engine has a standard compression/pistons).

The engine runs more evenly, you also get rid of power drops inbetween 2K-3K RPM and popping while overrunning. With the better adapted advance curve the engine will also rev up eagerly and react more instantly on opening the throttle, this is why people say that their engine feels 'fresh' and revived with such a setup.

 

Hey Jdubbya, Do you have a ballpark price on the new Pertronix MR183 setup? Also, where are most people ordering this system from? Directly from Pertronix or a distributor?

Thanks
Charlie

 

They are an order directly from Pertronix at the moment. $250 for the vanilla version and $300 for the Ignitor II version

 

Hey John,
Is this a whole new Flame-Thrower dizzy or just the inside guts to go under an existing cap? Do you remove the 2nd dizzy and install a blanking plate or what? Does anyone have any pics of the new Pertronix setup?

Thanks
Charlie

 

No no no. Here's how it works. Gut your best distributor and install the Pertronix plate which has TWO pickups mounted 135 degrees apart so one fires every 45 degrees. Wire the Pertronix pickups one for each coil. The other distributor remains as a slave only to distribute spark while all the ignition advance is controlled by the other distributor with the pickups. Having the advance in one distributor is the perk of a setup like this. Super easy

 

John,
Would you reuse the existing coils (Bosch I think) or would you go with their Flame-Thrower coil?
Also, do you know if the MR183 is the Pertronix I or II or III?

Thanks
Charlie

 

They can do it with Pertronix I ($250) or Pertronix II ($300). The Flame Thrower coils will add more punch to things but are not necessary. Existing stock coils are Marelli

 

wow, great timing, literally. I bought a 208 euro Dino with the single Dizzy, and i plan to swap in a new ignition ASAP, so this may be the ticket. Car is a euro 1977, , so the dizzy should be Marelli S127G or a or a S159C.

ill know once the car arrives.

 

Which Pertronix unit fits a 78 308 GTS with twin distributors (US model)?

 

My mechanic just installed the petronix ignitor II with 9MR -183 , he follow the pic came with the ignitor. after installation , the misfire is everywhere. What steps does he have to do after installation ? He installed the ignitor in the distributor nearer to the taillight . Anyone has other drawing other than what's provided in the 9MR-182 box ?

 

When I had mine done there was no kit from Pertronix's. I sent my dizzy to a person call Don King in Ca. He did the dizzy rebuild and installation of an early pertronix unit. I was nervous sending out the dizzy but everything worked out well. The whole process took about a week. Did this about 15 years ago and after reinstalling the dizzy and timing it I had never touched it again. I also install 2 Bosch Blue coils and eliminated the ceramic resistors. The car ran great all the way up to 8K without a hiccup. You would never know they were in the dizzy as you didn't need any extra boxes. Worked or me.