Is the PerTronix Ignitor any good? I've seen the article where they tested it with the MSD 6AL and showed 15+ horsepower gain when used together. Has anyone had any problems with this unit. I already have the MSD 6AL and want to get rid of the points.

The MSD was responsible for the power gain, not the Ignitor. MSD can be triggered by either magnetic pickup, aftermarket ignition (Ignitor, Unilite, etc) or stock points, and all work same-same as a trigger, so the increase came from the MSD unit, nothing else.

So the only advantage is that the timing stays more accurate and you don't have to change the points during the tune up. Is the Pertronix reliable?

The PerTronix setup does eliminate the maintenance of points, but does not boost spark output over a point set when the points are new, not even with their, or anyone else' performance coil. The driver output, that makes the spark level, simply will not drive the coil any higher than the coil needs to make a spark across the plug gap, and won't go over the output levels of a good point system. Plug gaps should remain .035, no larger.

As far as reliability, some have had good luck with them, most have average reliability. Some more than a few others have serious problems with the units, especially when they listen to the tech people at PerTronix who tell them to run the things on non-resisted full battery voltage, as is NOT recommended by the same manufacturer where the techs work.

I have changed over 220 of the PerTronix units out of my customer's distributors in the last year and three quarters, for everything from simple failure of a component inside it, to being blown into pieces from too much input voltage.

You may never have a problem with one, but, then again, you just might. 50/50 chance. There are better systems out there to be had, most cost more, what a good system costs.

So what resistor should I use to keep the voltage down? I got the Pertronics Ignitor for free from a friend who sold his car.

Do I need the resistor if I use the MDS 6AL and the Blaster 2 coil from MSD? What is the proper way to install the Ignitor with the 6AL box?

Use the a ballast resistor, and make sure the dist. is shimmed properly. I do not have the shimm info so I will not even begin to tell you how much it will need. You have to shim it to keep the reluctor from hiting the ingitor unit. I have used them in many cars over theyears and have never had a problem with them. I know alot of people that use them and they have never had problems with the ones they have. I currently have one in my daily driver. The only gain you might see and it's not performance related is a smoother idle. I noticed this right away on my 67 Camaro. I did nothing else but change it and reset the timing, and have not touched it in about 4,000 miles. The last one I had in a 69 Chevelle I put 60,000 miles on. When I sold the car the new owner came by the house a about one year later wondering where I bought it at. He wanted one for another car. I pesonally have never heard of problems with them. I think since I-MAn is in the business he gets to talk to alot of people and I would say he heard his share of bad luck stories about them. Just like any other part it's only as good as the person installing it.

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