Had pertronics for 15 years now Mobo, very happy with it. Never did figure out points, condensor, and dwell.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
I chickened out on putting a Pertronix in years back with one of my cars. I know you only get the negative feedback online but I saw a number of guys who had them fail when they were relatively new, and I've just never had trouble with points and condenser so I sold the unit new in the box and went old school.
I know of guys who have posted here that they've run Pertronix trouble free for years though too.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
The only car I swapped a Pertronix into was the 78 Triumph Spitfire I owned. It was a huge improvement- quicker starts and the engine even sounded different at idle. Of course anything might have been better than the factory Lucas ignition!
Had pertronics for 15 years now Mobo, very happy with it. Never did figure out points, condensor, and dwell.
Well.....if you're ever in the area.....I'd be happy to give you the seminar....
If I can understand it........You'll have no problem.....
Just make sure your Triple A membership is current.....for when that module expires...
I bought a 61 last August from a buddy......with a Pertronics distributor.
He had it in the shop in the spring.....for some work......and the dist. module was replaced....and it didn't last 1500 miles before it died on me...(well,wouln't start)...
I had already found a nice clean original Delco points distributor .....which I just happened to have with me in the trunk...
We changed it out at the side of the road.......and it starts like a champ now...everytime...
I am exploring a bit more inside the car, and am finding it even more solid than expected. I found one small hole in the floor pans, right behind the drivers seat. It really is a pity that the last ten years the car was left in a humid environment because it must have been in superb shape before that. Found a couple of pics of the car before it was neglected.
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1959 Pontiac Parisienne 2 door hardtop Sport Coupe
1956 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Catalina 4 door hardtop
I am exploring a bit more inside the car, and am finding it even more solid than expected. I found one small hole in the floor pans, right behind the drivers seat. It really is a pity that the last ten years the car was left in a humid environment because it must have been in superb shape before that. Found a couple of pics of the car before it was neglected.
At that rate, you are planning some minor repairs and use it as is?
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Same deal....with the lower parts of frame rails.........especially the rears......
You will be amazed at all the crap that comes out...
I flushed-out my spare X-frame with garden hose/spray nozzle ... you should have seen the amount of silt/sand that came out! There are many factory holes in the frame you can use to flush it out.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I am really tempted to make the car driveable, and enjoy it as is for a while.
I think that decision makes a lot of sense and you will be real happy with the car if you do it that way. Often the cars most enjoyed are the ones that you don't spend a pile of money on.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
If it were mine I'd be tempted to do just that. Toss in the 283, repair any structural/safety/mechanical items that need to be addressed and drive it as is while you make a plan for restoration. It'll give you some time to sort the car out and maybe help decide what you want to do/not do once you get into the restoration. Also, it'll give you some happy memories to draw from when the car is blown apart in your garage when you are in the middle of the restoration (if that's what you plan to do).
Either way, it's a gorgeous, historically significant car, and I'll put it on the record that I'm extremely jealous!!
The front floor braces (under front seat).....are prone to rust out on these cars.
You are absolutely right. From under the car, those areas are the only ones where I can see rot and damage.
I am really tempted to make the car driveable, and enjoy it as is for a while.
JMO......Do NOT take this car apart......
It deserves to fixed...and driven.....
The cars shows and cruise-ins are PACKED with over restored.....and or modified ones that are all painted up....like Easter eggs and jelly beans...
A 59 Parisienne HT...in survivor/driver condition....will be a HIT.......It doesn't have to be perfect.......Patina is in style right now...
Put in your stock looking 283.....with a factory style dual exhaust......with some glass packs......fix the brakes....and DRIVE it.......You'll have a BLAST.....guaranteed
Finally got the keys from the former owner, so I could explore the trunk. There is a bit of rot in the trunk floor, a little more than I expected, but not too bad overall. On the plus side, everything original to the car is there: spare, spare tire cover, trunk mat, side lining, jack, jacking instructions, etc.. Thats amazing!
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1959 Pontiac Parisienne 2 door hardtop Sport Coupe
1956 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Catalina 4 door hardtop
Finally got the keys from the former owner, so I could explore the trunk. There is a bit of rot in the trunk floor, a little more than I expected, but not too bad overall. On the plus side, everything original to the car is there: spare, spare tire cover, trunk mat, side lining, jack, jacking instructions, etc.. Thats amazing!
Some pics of the trunk archeology:
-- Edited by 59paris on Saturday 20th of January 2018 08:02:27 AM
Original keys, (looks like original spare), and unfortunately, original rot caused by the trunk mat.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.