Permatune/ignition woes

[GBStu]

This is the final straw. I was driving home today and the car, a 79SC, just cut out again, this happened three times in the space of 5 miles (today’s temp was about 75F).

I called Permatune last week about the issue, I went through all their recommended checks (a bad ground, bad signal from the distributor etc), I couldn't find any problems. Called again today; this time they told me the alternator rectifier could be bad, I think I’m just getting the run around.

I have two Permatune CD ignitions which both display the same problem. Do you think this failure is caused by other components or is it just a @^*! ignition box design? (the units I have were manufactured in 2000 and 2003 – not very old!).

Other questions:

How do you check the rectifier in the alternator?
I'm not going to buy another Permatune, what are your thoughts on the MSD box?
Can you use the Bosch blue coil with the MSD?

Thanks

[no substitute]

"Deja vu all over again." It's anybody's fault but Permatune's. Get the correct Bosch unit for your year 911. It will probably only last twenty years or more, but you can certainly handle that. I believe there are rebuilt units available.
My Permatune lasted from Xmas to Summer. The Bosch unit in my '80 is the original, and still zappin' strong.

[Craig 930 RS]

I've heard these same Permatune (apparently quite true) stories for the last 7 years on internet forums -

[john walker's workshop]

i must be the only one who has good luck with permatunes. you don't say that you lost spark. did you check, or just assume? there are plenty of things that will make the engine cut out.