Electronic Ignition for 9 2N's

Ron

May I suggest that we each call Pertronix occasionally (phone number 1-800-827-3758) and inquire about a kit for the 9N? You never know, they may decide to build one if we're persistent.

JerryU

Link

Because of the unusual design of the distributor, especially the points plate, there's not much in the way of space to put in an adequate magnetic rotor. As you will see, the distributor shaft assembly had to come apart and have the points cam lobes ground off, and the magnetic rotor modified, to make it all fit. Phasing the thing is obviously a difficulty, since the experimenter had to modify the points plate to allow for an error in phasing. And so on.

I understand why vendors haven't offered this. Add the cost of a new distributor shaft assembly to the cost of, say, a present 8N conversion kit, and you're over $200. The static timing approach of the front-mount distributor adds another level of complexity, and more issues to confuse and frustrate the customer.

That's not to say that some bright spark can't/won't come up with a drop-in solution, and if it would work with a 6-volt system and the current coil, I think it would be a winner. But I don't think it can be readily achieved with the current Pertronix parts at a price (in money and complexity) that would make it profitable.

JMHO

llater,

llamas

1.) Why couldn't the mag. coil be made slightly larger to fit over the existing cam lobes? There seems to be plenty of room in the existing cavity.

2.) The bottom plate could be supplied (as it is in the 8N kit) with the remounted ignitor and the provision for timing/phasing adjustment.

3.) The editors of N-News stated that the coil problem could be cured with an additional resistor for those unwilling to change from the existing one.

I realize that there are more problems inherent in the 9N/2N system, but when the job can be done by someone with access to a milling machine/lathe, I have trouble believing that the problems couldn't be solved more easily by the manufacturer (maybe I'm just naive?!)

Ron

You point about running the stock coil with a ballast resistor is true enough, but to do so is to add another compromise to the system. To get the full benefit of the electronic switching, you'd want to run a full-power, modern-design coil, which means significant changes to the distributor and to the overall appearance of the machine. The shortcomings of the stock coil could be addressed by a specially-designed magnet rotor which significantly increases the dwell angle - no need for a ballast resistor then - but it would still be a compromise.

As another person has linked above, of course all this can be done, and someone is doing it, but they are charging over $200 a pop. There isn't a mass market at that price, I don't think. If there were, I'm sure our friends at Genesee would be on the problem like a Dobermann on a ham sammich. For right now, a transistor "points helper" may be the best that can be done.

JMHO

llater,

llamas

There seems to be a whole lot more difficulties with the front mount distributors then with the side mount units. So of Genesee were to come up with an esthetically acceptable drop in system that works, I think they would have a solid, albet small, market. Might even be a bigger market then the side mount one is.