Upgrade from prestolite to pertronix or replace dist. with delco voyager

[banderberg]

Possibly a dumb question - I have a prestolite points distributor on my 3.0L. I can upgrade it to use pertronix ignitor and replace the coil with a flame thrower, or I can spend about $70 more and replace the entire distributor with a delco voyager unit.

3.0L/181ci GM Delco Voyager EST Distributor Kit 18-5512

3.0L & 2.5L Delco EST marine electronic distributor kit. For 1967-2011 3.0L & 2.5L Engines.

marineenginedepot.com

 

[itsathepete]

Or you can replace the points and condenser every couple years for 10 bucks and it will continue to work just fine. Possibly a dumb answer

 

[banderberg]

Or you can replace the points and condenser every couple years for 10 bucks and it will continue to work just fine. Possibly a dumb answer

yeah that's a possibility..

 

[Earl Cordova]

I hate points, and would go for a new distributor.

 

[achris]

I hate points, and would go for a new distributor.

I'm not a great fan of points either. Unreliable, always needing maintenance or replacing, inefficient... 'Nough said....

 

[jimmbo]

Yet usually fixable, easy to troubleshoot, without Tens of Thousands of Dollars in Test Equipment

 

[achris]

Yet usually fixable, easy to troubleshoot, without Tens of Thousands of Dollars in Test Equipment

Doesn't require 'tens of thousands of dollars in test requirement'. Not even close. Apart from the same standard tools you need for any engine, add the software diagnostics ($700 if you spring for the 'top of the line' fancy one) and a fuel pressure test set (under $100). That's it, Period! And most likely you'll never even need them. Injected is orders of magnitude more reliable than points and carbs.

Most people who say that points are 'easy to fix and troubleshoot' can only say that as they have been doing it regularly all their lives (because points NEED regular maintenance and fixing). I've had 1, easy to fix, fault in 16 years on my injected engine (and I didn't even need the software to find it). 1 fault in 16 years! I call that plenty more reliable than ANY points engine...

Chris...

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you are dead set on replacing the mechanical switch (points) with an electronic switch for your coil. I would skip the pertronix and go straight to the voyager. In both cases that I went pertronix, they failed and had to go with points.

However the points lasted about 10-15 years with a simple file /dwell set/timing set ever spring when the boat was pulled out.

 

[banderberg]

If you are dead set on replacing the mechanical switch (points) with an electronic switch for your coil. I would skip the pertronix and go straight to the voyager. In both cases that I went pertronix, they failed and had to go with points.

However the points lasted about 10-15 years with a simple file /dwell set/timing set ever spring when the boat was pulled out.

I think in the interest of not spending more money I'm going to stick with points at least until next year - my question for you is about setting dwell. I bought a dwell meter. Can I set dwell and do timing on muffs?

 

[jimmbo]

Well the Dwell will have to be set with the Cap off the Distributor, but it is checked with the engine running, and once it is correct, the Timing can be checked and adjusted

 

[achris]

.... Can I set dwell and do timing on muffs?

Yes.