Permatune question

[sfoster13]

The PO installed a Permatune box but kept the factory ignition coil. Should I upgrade to a Bosch blue or is it okay with the stock coil?

Thanks,
Sean

[Joe Bob]

The nickname is Permacrap...they live up to their name.

Three wire or six? Probably six....

[sfoster13]

six pin, haven't had any problems yet (said while knocking on wood). I read somewhere that you need to replace the ignition coil as well. Did a search, but you could spend a lifetime reading posts on this topic. I know there's a big debate between MSD, Bosch and others. Not looking to make a change just yet, just want to be sure that what I've got is put together correctly.

[RANDY P]

it's fine. You can also substitute a bosch blue coil - incidentally works fine with a factory Bosch box too...

rjp

[sfoster13]

I should be a fortune teller. A couple of days after I asked about the Perma Tune here's what happened.

Unfortunately, this happened on the way to a car control clinic at Skip Barber which I missed. MSD going in this week.

Sean

[targa911S]

don't EVEN get me started on Permajunk!

[Joe Bob]

NBD Racing has rebuilt Bosch boxes.....we can sell them w/o a core.

[JBO]

I've heard the old Perma Tunes are OK (silver box?). I saw an add in Pano that says Perma Tune is under new ownership and has a new box. Maybe they are fixing the problems with the last version. Time will tell.

[Early_S_Man]

NO on the silver ... it was the BLUE-annodized Perma-Tune boxes that were reliable!!! Some silver Permatunes have problems in high temperatures -- intermittent!

I have an '81 vintage Blue 3-pin Perma-Tune unit that has been tested with factory OEM Bosch 0.221.121.001 and 0.221.121.006 coils, as well as Bosch Blue and Red coils, MSD High-Vibration epoxy-filled coil, and a '70s Sears epoxy-filled coil. All worked fine for an extended period ... more than 5 days/24 hours per day! Likewise, same results on a test with Bosch 3-pin CDI!

[targa911S]

yes blue...good. silver.....bad

[sfoster13]

Guess which color I have

[Early_S_Man]

Sean,

I have suggested for about five years, ever since the reports of failures at high temperatures started happening ... that if the silver Permatune units were relocated to inside the cabin, say above the tunnel access cover ... the reliability problem would go away! I am not aware of anyone trying this remedy. Returning to Bosch, or installing an MSD seems to be the choices taken.

All it would take to relocate is a 6' - 8' 'extension cable' of two 14 ga [power and ground] and two 16 ga ['TD' & 'A' signals] wires, and a coax cable, all with male 0.25" Fastons on the engine compartment end and female 0.25" Fastons on the cabin end.

[targa911S]

All Permaturds are unreliable in my book, but Grady is God, and I would believe him before me. I have "heard" that the blue ones Ok.