Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor?

Posted By: ProSport

Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/11/15 10:53 PM

I bought a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor with built-in rev limiter for my BB 400 low deck block. I have Edelbrock RPM heads and the distributor is hitting the head enough that it won't go into the block straight enough to get into the oil pump drive-shaft.

Nothing ever fits no matter how much ya spend.

I'd probably make a mess grinding the head.

And I really can't grind on this distributor in case I need to return it for some reason so I guess I need to decide on which one to grind. The distributor has a pretty beefy aluminum ring around it that's hitting the head. I may be able to grind it there, but it'd be a large area as I'm sure I'll have to turn it to adjust the timing.

I bought this for the rev limiter, it looks nice, and it's a simple 2 wire hook up that gets rid of quite a few wires, ECU, and ballast. I have the Ignitor3 coil also.

Just wondering if anyone is running this setup. Does it fit with stock heads?

Posted By: markz528

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/11/15 11:13 PM

Years ago I bought a MP distributor made by Accel. I had to significantly grind the 906 head for it to fit. So this does not surprise me.............

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/11/15 11:28 PM

I wonder how thick the Eddy head is right in the area where the dist hits? The heads are max wedge cnc ported if that matters.
I don't think it would take much sanding or grinding but I certainly don't want to take any chances.

Posted By: B3422W5

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/12/15 03:23 AM

Quote:

I wonder how thick the Eddy head is right in the area where the dist hits? The heads are max wedge cnc ported if that matters.
I don't think it would take much sanding or grinding but I certainly don't want to take any chances.

Just a thought..... But you could put a small block in it

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/12/15 03:38 AM

Don, I read that the Ignitor3 hits the firewall on a small Block so that would not work.

I'd love to buy something someday that actually fits!

Posted By: Sport440

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/12/15 04:13 AM

Quote:

I wonder how thick the Eddy head is right in the area where the dist hits? The heads are max wedge cnc ported if that matters.
I don't think it would take much sanding or grinding but I certainly don't want to take any chances.

Where I think you will need to grind seems like it has Plenty of meat there based on looking at my Eddies mounted on my engine. If you don't need much clearance to make the Dist fit, you should be fine.

If the clearance problem is at the heads front bolt bosses, there is Plenty of meat there. If the clearance problem is at the heads curvature behind the heads bolt bosses, there appears to be some thickness there as well. Would prefer to see the head off to view any water ports in that area if any for a better perspective.

If as you say, you don't need much to get clearance I think you would be fine on grinding the head.

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/12/15 12:05 PM

Thanks Mike, I'm gonna call Pertronix today just to see if they've been down this road yet, then tonite after work I'll take a better look at it and try to see EXACTLY where it needs ground. I'd really rather massage the cylinder head in that area than to make the distributor non-returnable or un-sellable, although the plan is to keep it.

Posted By: an8sec70cuda

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/12/15 02:56 PM

Bob...I'd grind the head. That way you'll always have clearance no matter how much you have to adjust the distributor. Should be plenty of meat to grind away to get enough room...doesn't need much.

It's been a while, but I think I had to grind clearance on my Indy valve cover for the MSD billet distributor on my SR headed 440.

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/12/15 05:19 PM

Chip, that's what Pertronix said to do, he said they touch against some of the stock heads too. Now I'm gonna have to figure out how to do this w/o getting aluminum dust all over this waxer car!

Posted By: DusterDave

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/12/15 08:32 PM

Quote:

Chip, that's what Pertronix said to do, he said they touch against some of the stock heads too. Now I'm gonna have to figure out how to do this w/o getting aluminum dust all over this waxer car!

Hey, I know waxers!

Just buy a 9' X 12' plastic sheet from Lowe's or Home Depot. You'll find it in the paint department. Drape it over the engine bay, cut out a small hole, and tape the edges of the hole around the area you'll be grinding on.

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/12/15 10:20 PM

I knew you'd show up at the word waxer Dave!!

That's a great idea, I'm gonna go do that right now and get this new ignition installed.

Posted By: Lefty

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/12/15 10:22 PM

I've ground two different 440s to get the Pertronix to fit, no problems. Cut a little and check, repeat till it fits. You may have to clearance the valve covers depending on which brand you use.

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/13/15 03:29 AM

Hopefully someone that ports Eddy RPM heads will chime in here and let me know how much meat is in the distributor area of these heads. I really removed alot of material today and it still was nowhere near fitting. I called Pertronix and he said they've seen guys grind an area of the distributor, they will still warranty the electrocics inside, just won't warranty the housing. So I ground on the distributor housing and it will now slide down and seat on the block but it won't turn to adjust timing, so I'm gonna have to grind on the head more, just need someone to make me feel better by saying that area of the head is super thick.

This setup is nice, billet aluminum, 2-wire hookup(and one power wire), adjustable rev limiter, good reliability.
But the fitment is a pain! And if I ever want to carry a spare it will have to be ground down also.

Valve covers seem to be fine so far.

Posted By: Sport440

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/13/15 04:27 AM

Can you show us a pic of the head where you needed to grind the most.

Whats better yet is you need to find a bud who has a Eddie head that you can look at from the under side into that closest water jacket.

But from comparing my mounted Eddie to a 906 the eddie has a Huge overhang towards the distributer.
My bet is you have Tons of room in that heads overhang to make that dist, fit.

If no one local has a eddie head to look at and compare, maybe a trip to Summit. Not sure if they have a Eddie head displayed or not.

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/13/15 02:34 PM

Mike just drill a hole in your Eddy head, measure material thickness, Weld hole up, post results here. Thanks!

Posted By: fourgearsavoy

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/13/15 04:15 PM

Firecore fits perfect with no grinding

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/13/15 04:34 PM

Hi Gus, I went with Pertronix just cuz it's simple, eliminates wiring, and has a built-in Rev limiter which I really needed. I didn't think I'd need a Rev limiter for this street car but this 500" max wedge Zings like a ticked-off small Block so I'm always afraid to play with the loud pedal.

Posted By: sunroofgtx

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/14/15 04:24 PM

That's ok, Bob, I forgive you. But we do have a rev-limiter for our ready to run. No biggie. It kills me that manufacturers don't design parts so you don't have to grind on thousands of dollar parts..

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/14/15 04:40 PM

Rick do you have a link to your RTR with a rev limiter? When I went to your website there was no mention of a rev limiter for that distributor. That's the only reason I went with Pertronix. And yes it sucks to have to grind on a billet aluminum housing, it looks like crap but will be hidden against the head and I will polish it up.

Muscle Motors told me there's quite a bit of beef in that area of the head so I'm gonna take a little more off there too.

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/14/15 04:43 PM

Here it is but I still don't see a rev limiter mentioned.

https://www.customwiresets.com/product.php?productid=16287&cat=308&page=1

Posted By: sunroofgtx

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/14/15 06:24 PM

Sorry, Bob. It's not ready yet. Maybe by the winter. Our 6AL type Ignition Box has the rev-limiter, but there is wiring.

Posted By: CTD5.9

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/14/15 07:44 PM

Quote:

Sorry, Bob. It's not ready yet. Maybe by the winter. Our 6AL type Ignition Box has the rev-limiter, but there is wiring.

Do you have the ignition box on your website? I am looking for one and after installing your ready to run on an engine this morning I would find it hard not to buy an ignition box

Posted By: Willie68coronet

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/14/15 10:18 PM

Mancini has them. firecore 6 series

Posted By: sunroofgtx

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/16/15 04:28 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Sorry, Bob. It's not ready yet. Maybe by the winter. Our 6AL type Ignition Box has the rev-limiter, but there is wiring.

Do you have the ignition box on your website? I am looking for one and after installing your ready to run on an engine this morning I would find it hard not to buy an ignition box

The Ready to Run has an ultra-hot ignition box inside. Just not a rev-limiter, yet. keith Dunnick dyno tested them and the RTR distributor was actually better at the higher rpm's.

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/18/15 01:31 PM

Do not buy a pertronix distributor if you have Edelbrock heads! I had to remove a ton of material for 2 days, still had to grind the distributor and the cap. The whole time praying I didn't go too far, I bet I removed at least 3/8 of an inch into the cylinder head. I'll try to get pics tonite.

Posted By: max_maniac

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/18/15 03:33 PM

Look at it this way Bob ------ LESS weight

Russ

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/18/15 03:53 PM

Quote:

Look at it this way Bob ------ LESS weight

Russ

Hadn't thought of it that way yet!

Posted By: DoubleD

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/18/15 04:03 PM

3/8 of an inch is a lot of meat - if it leeks you will find out pretty quick once it gets hot and under pressure! I think I would have just found something else that fits better. Had the same issue with the 440 source dizzy - I went with summit dizzy (same as firecore) fits fine - but I have a MSD 6 digital ignition - neatly stowed away under my dash

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/18/15 06:47 PM

Yea it would have been much easier to go another route. I called Muscle Motors though and he assured me there's alot of meat in that area. On the head it actually sticks out there in a rounded shape almost like it was done for cosmetics. So it hits a large distributor there. I really needed a Rev limiter, wanted to get rid of wiring, and I got a great deal on it new so I'm gonna make it work.

Posted By: Matt Erich

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/24/15 03:34 AM

Did you get the 400 Dist or order the 440 and cut the shaft?

Posted By: ProSport

Re: Anyone run a Pertronix Ignitor3 billet distributor? - 03/24/15 04:06 PM

Quote:

Did you get the 400 Dist or order the 440 and cut the shaft?

400 Distributor.

It is up and running, I really like the easy access to the advance Springs, right under the rotor. The Rev limiter I need to play around with, the tiny adjuster seems to jump all over the place rpm wise, and it seemed to kick in early. I will get it figured out and I might just buy their external Rev limiter box as it would be easier to set and to do quick low rpm settings just to make sure the Rev limiter is working.