Conversion to point-less ingnition

[schwarb2]

I ordered all of the Crane goodies from Pelican and am getting ready to install the point-less conversion in my 914-6.

It has the factory CD box and a Bosch distributor.

Any special tricks to getting this to work?

Thanks.

Barry

[chrisreale]

Install it correctly

[schwarb2]

Chris:

That's the reason for my post. The directions that are included with the Crane packages are fairly vague and I figured someone out there had done this very same thing before.

[scg]

Uh...XR-700 series? That's what I used. Pretty straight forward with the Bosch distributor/Permatune (yeah, yeah) system in my car: I just took out the points (yea!), figured out which shutter fit, screwed the optical trigger in using the hole provided for points, ran the wiring out the hole in the side, checked for binding/rubbing (very important!), wired it up to my permatune and the rest of the electrical system as shown in figure 31 in my Crane manual, followed the procedure for initially setting the timing, started the car and set the timing and I was done. It runs like a champ.

A nice weekend project with lots of time for "drivability testing"

[nutzforporsche]

Ditto what Scott said.... Watch for rubbing from the shutter, its going to be tight in there....

[schwarb2]

Scott & Steve:

Thanks for your insight!

The thing that sounds strange in the directions is the part about lining up the rotor to hit cylinder #1 before you do anything.

To me, since the dwell is set electronically, all you should have to do is pick the right shutter and mount the rest of the parts inside the distributor.

As long as you don't move the distributor, if the timing was set correctly, it should still be OK.

Unless I'm missing something, other than having octopus arms to reach the distributor and making sure not to drop screws inside the distributor, and making sure the plug wires are still connected to the right terminals on the distributor, it looks like this should be a 60-90 minute job.

Barry

[nutzforporsche]

Barry,
Here is how I done mine. I pulled the dizzy and then installed the kit. You are correct on that strange part of lining up number one in the directions. Well ya know what? It becomes automatic, because of the way the shutter is shaped /indexes to the shaft. The key is making sure that you are just on the edge of the shutter at TDC on number one cyl. If you set number one up and pull the dizzy and not move the car, then you can simply do the dizzy piece and then just drop it back in. The bracket once tweaked will allow you to get it on the edge of the shutter opening once installed.

Oh and something else, and very important
The little brass tube that comes with the kit, to help remove the three wires from the plug" if need be". You don't want to loose this!.....No brass tube, no getting the wires back out of plug or out of the dizzy. Ask me how I know?.....

ok back to the story:

I had to grind a little off the bracket that holds the eyes block, to get enough adjustment /clearence to fit it in without the shutter hitting it and cutting a groove. "You would grind off the butt of the bracket", closest to the mounting of it to the body of the dizzy. This allows a little more movement because the rear of the bracket, may end up jammed against the dizzy wall. Hopefully you are not confused yet?....

The instructions make it sound like a easy install,...well for me it wasn't. I suspect you will have to do what I did to make it fit and still be able to adjust it. When you do get it, you will love the instant start and no mo points to adjust. I think the car runs much smoother and the response is spot on. If you need help let me know and I'll be glad to assist with detailed pictures and all.

[schwarb2]

Steve:

Thanks for your note. I wasn't planning to pull the distributor out of the car, but it sounds like life will be much easier if I do.

Glad to hear from someone from my former state. I was in Cincinnati for 47 years before I escaped to Miami almost 5 years ago.

I actually picked up my 914-6 in Cincinnati from a friend of a friend. The car is much happier down here than it was in Cincinnati since it gets driven more regularly down here.

I am looking forward to throwing away the points and making the six run that much better.

Thanks again.

Barry

[nutzforporsche]

Hummm I'm jealous now,...Florida ahhhh yes (going into dream state here),..sunshine, sunshine more drive time. I would love to escape this part of the hemisphere for a warmer climate. "I'm allergic to snow flakes" LOL

I think you will believe you are driving a different car with the crane unit. Response is very noticeable, idle like a sewing machine. Yes a worthwhile upgrade for certain.

[schwarb2]

"Idle like a sewing machine" That will be nice. When I picked the car up the biggest problem I had was getting all of the Cincinnati gunk out of the idle jets in the Webers so it would run.

Not too much snow down here - it was 90 degrees in March and we took the six down to Key West - great fun - got broiled like a lobster on one side. But the six ran like a champ - and in spite of the heat the engine stayed pretty cool.

Thanks again for your support. It should be a fun weekend project.

Barry

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Originally posted by schwarb2
As long as you don't move the distributor, if the timing was set correctly, it should still be OK.

Even if you don't move the distributor, you are moving the parts inside the distributor that determine when the spark is initiated. Meaning, the points or the stuff that is doing the same job. So the timing will change, no matter what.

--DD

[schwarb2]

Dave:

Thanks for the info.

So then how exactly does the dwell get set correctly?

[chrisreale]

Barry, I was just giving you a hard time. I cannot comment on the products you intend to use, because I have no experience with them. However, when I put a pertronix into my car, the timing changed drastically, to the point where it started, and sounded like a horse galloping. I bought a timing light and re-timed it, now its perfect.

[schwarb2]

Chris:

No problem with pulling my chain.

Sometimes it helps to keep thing from getting too serious on the board.

And truthfully I enjoy some of the more interesting answers to some of the really dumb questions that people post.

I'm going to give the thing a try this weekend.

Barry

[scg]

Unless I'm missing something, other than having octopus arms to reach the distributor and making sure not to drop screws inside the distributor, and making sure the plug wires are still connected to the right terminals on the distributor, it looks like this should be a 60-90 minute job.

Heh-heh-heh Installation is really easy when the whole engine isn't in the car yet

You are going to like the results (after retiming)...

[dharder]

If you're installing a spanky new coil with the 700 ign system- remember that you have to install the ballast resistor that comes with the kit. I installed the 700 series in my 4cyl '14er with a high performance Crane coil. I can't remember the exact threshold for ohms that they said made the ballast resistor necessary, but when I measured the ohms in the Crane coil, it made the resistor mandatory.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Originally posted by schwarb2
So then how exactly does the dwell get set correctly?

The dwell is the amount of time that the coil has to charge. That, in one of these setups, is determined by the electronics in the gizmo you are installing. It has nothing to do with anything else in the distributor. When you had points, it was determined by the proportion of the time that the points were open. Points gone, dwell is no longer changeable.

Or relevant, depending on who you listen to.

--DD

[schwarb2]

Dave:

Like your answer - it makes a lot of sense to me. If Porsche could put the CD box in the car, why didn't they finish the job and get rid of the points at the same time??

Scott - would love to do this with the engine out of the car - but I am stuck with doing it installed. Guess that makes long arms and a lot of light a necessity.

Thanks to all of you for your moral support. I'll let you know how it goes.

Barry

[ein 6er]

barry,

sorry, i'm getting in on this a little late.

i have the xr700 in mine. i can't add much more that what has already been said. DD and others helped me on my install.

i think it would be next to impossible to install it without removing the dizzy. you really need to see that the wheel is centered between the trigger. it's a little tricky with the dizzy out. it's no big deal to pull the dizzy out, just line up your tdc #1/z1 marks, only remove the mounting nut, you don't need to loosen the timing adjustment and pull it out and it will slip right back in.

i initially tried to use the wrong shutter wheel, i removed the points mounting post, then realized i had the wrong wheel. DOH!!

i ran the xr module through the stock cd box. a guy on the 911 board said he was only using the crane xr module but i couldn't figure out how to do it.

you can use the stock -6 coil.


good luck!!

doug waters

[schwarb2]

Doug:

Thanks for the support.

I didn't get a chance to pull the distributor - way too nice weather down here - was out in Corvette most of the day with the top down.

Based on the input from everyone I will definately pull the distributor and work on it out of the car.

I'll post the results when I'm through.

Thanks to everyone!

Barry