Pertronix

[shawn_and_his_kaiser]

How do I determine what part I need for my car? 1951 Kaiser Special, original motor.
Website seems confusing.

[Fid]

I just looked the other night as I was thinking about getting one for my '51 Special.

You can find out here

http://www.pertronix.com/support/ignitor-kit/

The '51 Kaiser distributor is Delco 1110224.  Type that in and click submit.
It shows Pertronix 2161P6 for 6 volt positive ground version.

[Terry T]

How much of a difference in performance are you expecting?

[shawn_and_his_kaiser]

Not really looking for additional performance, but I just want it to start better and to avoid the points.

[Corsairdeluxe]

Sent them the model #of your distributor and they will tell you their appropriate kit#. I would have modest expectations.

[joefrazer]

A word of warning...unless your distributor has good bushings, do not expect satisfactory results. We installed a Pertronix kit on a friends 49F and had many problems with erratic behavior. We came to find that even the slightest wobble in the distributor's main shaft would cause the kit to cut out, causing a serious misfire.

A good set of points, correctly set will yield results as good as anything.

[shawn_and_his_kaiser]

Honestly... For some reason, points seem way over my head. In my brain it's easier to eliminate them.

[Corsairdeluxe]

My big self and clumsy hands always had a challenge changing points until I learned how to remove the distributor and change'm on the work bench.

[Corsairdeluxe]

I also static time it.With a light bulb across the points and the engine on the timing mark ,I turn the distributor until the light just stats to glow.I use the light to check the advance. Works well for me.

[Terry T]

Point systems have worked for decades--simple is most always better.

[njpatera]

Had problems with them in my y-blocks too:-/

[Doc]

It is not the points now days but the inferior quality condensers. Have had several failures in the Kaiser and the Studebaker. Access on the Studebaker not as easy as the Kaiser, so it is troublesome. Cannot say about 6 Volt, but after a continued problem in a '66 Ambassador, we did install the Pertronix (12 Volts of course) and eliminated the problem. Have seen mixed reviews. But for certain, condensers are not made to original quality specifications or they would not be so notorious for failure.

[Fid]

I actually did a "search" on this forum for "Pertronix."  They've been discussed a number of times on here since 2008 and the negative comments outweigh the positive by a considerable ratio.  I was thinking about putting one in my Kaiser  Special, even researched them as I mentioned earlier in this thread but after reading all the negative comments (pun intended) I'm sticking with points.  They always work, on the old flathead they're easy to change and adjust and I also always remember a saying I learned years ago "If it works, don't fix it."