Pertronix with a MSD - best option?
 

I was planning on using a Pertronix Ignitor with my MSD 6AL and MSD Blaster coil. From perusing the threads it seems like there is a lot of confusion and possibly performance issues. Can someone advise me on whether the Pertronix unit has issues working with the MSD units? This is for a '77 911. If it does work, is Pertronix better than the Crane version? I also not that Pelican does not sell the Pertronix Ignitors any more - anything behind that?

pertronix is a hall effect
crane is an optical trigger
both replicate the square wave of the points without concern for points bounce or a little wobble in the distributor shaft.
why not just use the pertronix with their high-current coil? seems retrograde to use a high-amperage solid state switch to trigger a current of less than 500mA. That way you avoid the short spark duration of the MSD.

I've put Pertronix in to every car I've owned. Right now, one of my Porsches has an MSD with Pertronix and a high voltage coil. My other has the stock CDI with the Pertronix and high voltage coil. Both run better than they ever did with points.

I ran exactly that 6A-Pertronix setup plus a msd timing control on my 2.7 for 15 yrs with nary a problem - :)

engine is gone, but still have the msd in a box & thinking about running it on my 3.2

did have a problem running Nology wires with that setup - turns out the 2 technologies oppose each other - switched to Magnecor & all was well :D

Steve and Larry -

Thank you. Are either of you running the Pertronix Ignitor II ? I noticed the Pertonix site states you have to run shielded spark plug wires. Curious about your experiences. Is that the issue you were referring to regarding Nology/Magnecor Larry?

I've been running the MSD 6AL-2, Pertronix and Magnecore wires for years without a single problem. MFI likes to run rich which tends to foul the plugs. I don't have any problems with this setup.

I am a fan of MSD units with points. The MSD corrects all of the problem with points....so they last forever basically.
Points pit due to weak spark not a hot spark...I've used an MSD with points and they've lasted 12k miles and look perfect...I only changed them out because the spring 'might' be a little weak by then.
Dwell is no longer an issue either as the MSD spark over a wide angle eliminates a dwell setting...as long as they open/close you'll have good spark.
Why put another electronic piece in place that can fail.....points won't fail or wear out with an MSD unit.
I've used them in Mercedes, Triumphs etc. and they worked perfectly and without issue.

Chuck,

I have run Pertronix and MSD on several cars for over 15 years with no problems and excellent results. The original Ignitors were polarity sensitive and correct installation was key. If your distributor is over a week old, there is an immediate improvement in spark stability at high rpm.