My son and I just replaced the points with an Igniter II, and the stock coil with a Flamethrower on our '69 302 project.
It's been driven 3 times since. All three times it has run way hot. Idling in the garage, or around the neighborhood isn't a problem. When we get it up to 55-65 for any length of time it heats up and can't recover.

I want to believe it's the thermostat, but the problem didn't start until after the pertronix swap.

Anybody have any insight on this?

 

Any chance the distributor is a little loose...and you accidentally advanced it after replacing the points with the pertronix? I know...its a long shot, but I'm thinking its just a coincidence. I didn't notice anything different on my swap. I suppose you could always check the timing with a light.

Good luck with the heat issues.

 

Could be. I'll check/reset the timing tonight when I get home. I planned to do that anyway since it idles so much better now.

Thanks.

 

Definitely check the timing. Retarded timing will cause the motor to run hot.

Also, did you bypass the stock ignition resistor wire? The Ignitor II unit wants a full 12V to function correctly, instead of the stock 8V it would normally get.

 

"Retarted timing will cause the motor to run hot"

maybe with my young age i am still a bit immature..but although, i know its not being used as a rude slang term for someone with a mental deficit..that made me laugh..

 

aye +1 on the timing. you _have_ to check on ignition timing when you install ignitor module.
Reason for this is that in 99% of all cars the gap on the points is not set right. That's what usually drives most people to ignitor module.
So when the ignition is set and the points are misadjusted and you replace points by ignitor your dwell will be perfect, but your timing way off.
Put it that way: the worse your points were before you swapped the more your ignition will be off after the change (in case the ignition timing was correct before the swap ;-)


Kalli

 

Hey Starfury - I've never experienced a retarded timing event to cause overheating but I once diagnosed my overheating issue due to an overly advanced timing.

Do I have it backwards? Or can both situations cause cooling problems?

 

i'm not sure on oin which causes to run hot, but I would say retarded as well: here's my theory
points never adjusted, points burn, gap gets bigger > causes ignition to be advanced (the points open earlier, so the ignition spark comes earlier)
then adjusted ignition (turned distributor direction late) because the car ran like crap without setting the points
then changed to pertronix which run a proper dwell with the distributor still in 'late' position->result retarted ignition

what's your opinion Dr. Watson ? :-)

 

Well, normally, a retarted situation wouldn't cause overheating. This isusually caused by the timing being too advanced.

 

i hope this man comes back soon and says: I adjusted my ignition. It runs fine now. I have no idea if it was too advanced or too retarded :-D