Electronic Contact ignition ID please?

[andrewh]

I have a 3.8 distributor fitted with an electronic magnetic field points replacement. It does not look like a Pertronix, at least any that I have seen, and has three wires coming from the distributor. into a small three pin plug. I wonder whether anyone can identify the unit and kindly tell me how the wires should be wired up to the coil? I imagine that one is earth, but have not seen a set up with two wires going into the actual module in the distributor. will post a photo shortly.

[Heuer]

Could be a Magnetronic or Lumenition (LED) made by Lumention. If there are two wires both should go to the coil:

To confirm it is magnet operated pot on ohm meter across the two wires and rotate the disc - it should work like a set of points (it contains a reed switch). If it has three wires it will be a LED version so you need to search on 'Lumenition' although they usually have s separate control box. e.g.


The interrupter slits in the disc suggest it is LED version. Magnetic inductance versions do not have a disc, they use a lobed piece which passes close to the reed switch assembly.

[abowie]

Optical, not Hall effect.

[andrewh]

thank you chaps. very helpful. I will do some more googling and see what I can find. I am trying to get the car started with minimal effort! The optical element is because it has slots in the rotor plate?

[Heuer]

Yes. But if it is optical there must be a control box somewhere. Probably be alloy ribbed box. If you want minimal effort put in a set of points!

[Moeregaard]

I could be mistaken, but that looks suspiciously like the old Allison electronic ignition that was a popular retrofit on this side of the pond, for cars with worn distributors. It cost around $100 U.S., so it was a relatively cheap cure for those dizzies that would no longer hold a dwell setting. I believe they were taken over by another company, Crane, but I haven't seen them offered for years. The amplifier unit measured perhaps 4" X 5" and had an integral heat sink on top, with a large transistor in the middle.

I had one on my '65 for many years and it never gave me any trouble. The only thing I didn't care for was the lack of any sort of strain relief for those little wires where they enter that connector. I once returned from a 120-mile trip to Palm Springs, and when giving the car the once-over the next day I found that there were only a couple of strands left on one wire.

[Heuer]

The second diagram above is an Allison/Crane system XR3000. The XR700 is for ballasted systems.

[Moeregaard]

The second diagram above is an Allison/Crane system XR3000. The XR700 is for ballasted systems.

OOPS! Missed that one in my pre-coffee morning fog! I hadn't seen an Allison/Crane unit over here in many years, so I assumed that they were no longer in production.

[andrewh]

thank you guys. I think David probably has the easiest option which is to fit a set of points. I have already given up, as this is an ex California car that was running about 2 years ago, but the wiring is a right mess. Someone has removed the voltage regulator and solenoid and the remains of the electronic igniton. I never bothered as I intend on doing a full rebuild on the car, but was thinking it would be nice to start it. For some reason best known to the PO he has fitted a solenoid under the carburettors, with a wire to the starter and the other connected to the battery terminal . There are no started button wires! All of the wires that go to the regulator have no colour on them so would be time consuming to identify, and one of them has been shorted and has burnt the insulation off! it also has one of the little Kubota alternators fitted but even the wires for that have been cut off! I thought I would hot wire it fire it up, but its just too much aggravation I have decided. Best pull it apart instead! thanks though

[Tbob]

I have a Pertronix kit on a Pontiac that looks just like that.