'40s drop-in Pertronix electronic ignition conversion kits

gearboy · 2003-07-26T03:14:52.000Z

Has anyone experience with the drop-in Pertronix electronic ignition conversion kits furnished through Packards International (a PI club project) and also sold through the Packard Club (PAC) for the 1940-50 356-ci Super/Custom 8s, as well as the 1940-on 120, and 1948-54 288, 327 8s? (1940-47 Packard 356s, and custom-bodied '40-on 120s are CCCA Classics.) The Packard Super-8 356 owners i've heard from thus far are delighted, but now that the kits have been out awhile, would like to hear from others. My car starts and runs swell, so there are no problems. We know a healthy distributor and well-adjusted points can give the sparkling performance Packard intended. But electronic ignition should give a hotter, more consistent spark, since points have only a window of optimum service. So this is only in the interest of any improvement, no matter how mild. And, of course, not having to fool with points and the attendant back pain is nice. Cord friends using such Pertronix kits (Cord uses a similar Auto-Lite distributor) are thus far happy. Please, no generalizations about electronic ignition or theory, or your '77 Monte Carlo dying suddenly. Would like to hear from any of you using the Petronix kit in your 1940-47 356 Super-8s or other Packards. Meanwhile, we know that with electronic ignition you can be stranded, whereas with points you can always limp home. And, please, no complaints from the correct hose clamp/pinstripe brigade about the "extra wire," or how we're committing sacrilege. It's not like the cars are being butchered or can't be put back to dead stock in half an hour. Some of us enjoy driving these cars now and then, and like to see what they can really do in today's parallel universe. [color:"black"]

Jul 26, 2003 (edited)1.1K views

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