Optical trigger to replace points on a 68?

[dotorg]

Whats involved with this? Any recommendations for the right unit to use?

Is there any way to get a car once converted to work with the stock tach, or am I looking at the cost of a new tach on top of the cost of the other equipment?

[ValveFloat]

There is a system like this on my L. It was intalled when I bought the car so I can't comment on the installation, but it is a pretty simple looking system. I have gone through the whole set-up process, and that is pretty straight forward also. As far as I can tell there is no special stuff for the tach signal since the stock coil is maintained.

[jluetjen]

Dotorg;
That's the same system that I've got on my car too.

[dotorg]

Hmmmm. Pelican says you need a new tach. Maybe I'll order it and see what happens. I already have two coils and assorted spaghetti pile of wiring to get the tach working, how much worse can it get? ;-)

[rick2]

I'm using/installed a CRANE XR700 optical on both my cars.
See Ya points! not at all hard to do just bring the crank to TDC (Top Dead Center)
follow the rest of instructions. I have heard the infarred eye can dirty.
Never had the problem. As for the Tach, if you hook it up, it will register
spurattic. I would think Pelican sells the Crane Tach adapter as well.
With the adapter no proplems.

[ein 6er]

i've got the xr700 on a 67 engine, in a 70 914-6.

pretty easy install, i had no problems with my tach, no adapter. i'm using the xr700 to trigger the bosch cdi, if that makes any difference.

doug waters

[Rufblackbird]

I've also got the XR700 on mine; it was installed a few years ago, and I've had no problems yet with orignal tach. Fairly easy to do, though I had a little bit of trouble fitting the round shutter on. Say goodbye to points and a jumping tach!

[TimT]

Pelican says you need a new tach

Nope...

just a tach adapter....

you could of course buy a new tach if you wanted too..

I know of a car that has had an Allison..nee Crane optical trigger in it.. it has been in use for almost 20 yrs.. its set and forget. It can be used to trigger the Bosch CD, or a more modern MSD or Crane ignition box..

The setup was installed by me in my car in the early 80's

I sold the ignition to a fellow a few yers ago when I jumped to crankfire....

[targa911S]

I have the Crane on my 70 S also. Use it to trigger a Bosch CDI. I love it. I have not even looked inside my dizzy for a year. One of the best "upgrades " I have installed. You will love yours too I bet.

[ValveFloat]

So after reading all the posts above, it sounds like a tach adapter is necessary. My tach jumps around a bit at idle and a lot during shifts. So to those that have the tach adapter, what is it, is it a Crane unit?

Thanks

[Early_S_Man]

T-bird & others ...

The felt under the rotor still needs to be lubricated at EVERY oil change!!! The weights and cam still need lubrication ... whether points are there or not ... if you want the advance mechanism to continue to function!

[targa911S]

Good tip. Thanks. Guess I'll look in there this weekend.

[Steve P]

I just removed the Crane XR700 from my '75 911 and replaced the original points after experiencing intermittent ignition failure. The car would run fine then cut off for a moment, backfire and then run fine. Occasionally it would come to a complete stop and restart after a few minutes. After replacing cracked wiring, Bosch CDI and coil to no avail, I replaced the Crane unit. Problem solved.
Having said this I have the same units on a 75 VW Bus (over 10 years) and a 74 BMW 2002 (5 years) with no problem.
No tach adaptor was needed for any of these cars.