points and dwell question

[Ray Morley]

Hi Guys:

I checked my dwell on my 1.9 and it was steady at 40. Now the car seems to run fine but I thought I would gap the points at 018 as a starting datum and work from that point.

The points looked a little pitted so I removed them and carefully dressed them and tried to re-install.

1) What is the silver wire with the round connector for? The reason I am asking as all of my tech manuals do not show it or make mention of it.

2) When you re-install the points does this silver wire go under or on top of the points?

3) When I tried to re-install the small screw and snug it down it will not snug down tight. Is this common? Could the screw be too short? What are my options?

Thanks for the help.......... Ray

[opelwasp]

It is a ground wire for the plates to the housing. I would also recommend installing a Pertronix (about $60) and forget about points and point gap. You just have to set the dwell and it is maintenence free. Never have to adjust again. Looks stock too.

[Killer Texas GT]

The original ground wire for your distributor plate to distributor body is missing. The wire you are asking about will go between your screw head and the points. In the picture it looks as if the threads have been stripped out, the screw needs to stay tight to prevent your points from moving once set or even with the Pertronix. Go with a little larger screw if possible. If not you will need to replace the plate.

[Ray Morley]

I am pleased with the help everyone is offering me. This Pertronix system sounds interesting. Is it difficult to install? I have been reading up on the removal and installation of the distrib system and the fuel pump gets involved with the procedure.

Please tell me more about the Pertronix and whats involved and will my little screw problem dissapear...........

Ray Morley

[opelwasp]

To install a Pertronix you remove the points and condencer. Screw in Pertronix in its place. Plug red wire to (+) and black wire to (-). Then slip on magnet ring on dist shaft. Use included gap setter to set space between ring and Pertronix pickup and tighten screws. Put on cap and "VROOM". No need to remove dist at all.

You could probly drill a hole into the mounting plate to the Pertronix and use a very shallow machine screw to secure it to the plate and that would give you the contact you would need.

[Ray Morley]

Does this system not use the Condenser at all? And.......since it does not use points does my little un-snugable screw problem vanish?

Sorry to ask so many questions but I am on a steep learning curve here and I hope that what I learn I can pass on to others in the future.

[opelwasp]

You could probly drill a hole into the mounting plate to the Pertronix and use a very shallow machine screw to secure it to the plate and that would give you the contact you would need.

And no it does not use the condenser at all.

[Ray Morley]

I have done some reading online and its all starting to make sense.

1) Where will my silver ground wire hook up to? I assume in the same spot the module screws into.

2) This is the current coil I am using. (attached pic) Is this one okay?

3) How do you determine which ones are the neg and pos leads on the coil? I had the car running fine with the connections as pictured.

[Ray Morley]

Bosch high energy coil

[opelwasp]

-You might be able to ground it at the mounting hole.

-Yes that coil will be fine.

-The coil will have a (+) and (-) next to the posts on each side of the plug wire. Can't see them with it upsidedown in the car.

[tekenaar]

-You might be able to ground it at the mounting hole.

-Yes that coil will be fine.

-The coil will have a (+) and (-) next to the posts on each side of the plug wire. Can't see them with it upsidedown in the car.

Green wire from distributor (points) is always on minus side of coil, dual wires on other side are plus (+) connection. Voltage here is +12V during starting of engine, but drops to ~9V (resistance wire) once engine starts or with just ignition key in "ON" position.

Maybe this will help . . .

[opelwasp]

i have run Pertronix (+) and (-) directly off the coil for years without a problem. Is there a reason one shouldnt? And where do you plug it into then?

[hrcollinsjr]

i have run Pertronix (+) and (-) directly off the coil for years without a problem.

I don't doubt that it ran okay. You will get a hotter spark wired correctly though. On a race car run at high RPM's with no alternator I noticed a miss and finally figured out that we had an undercharged battery when we started the race. It took awhile before we figured out what the problem was. It ran fine at street level RPM's.

Harold

[tekenaar]

i have run Pertronix (+) and (-) directly off the coil for years without a problem. Is there a reason one shouldnt? And where do you plug it into then?

Pertronix is designed for full 12V operation, their statement and in their installation instructions with specific caution for external resistance coils like our Opels. You don't believe them???

Do search on Pertronix, I posted 12-step "method for dummies" (Motor Mouth quote) in the Tips and Tricks section several years ago . . . don't understand why people have such an aversion to using Search! . . . easier to just ask the question, I guess . . .

[opelwasp]

Thanks for the reply I will hook them up the right way now.

Heres the proper way to install a Pertronix.

[Ray Morley]

This is awesome! Thanks for all of the tips. I will also be using the 'search' method more as I discovered how much archived info there is.

[Ray Morley]

Ballast Resistor:

Would my 1.9 have one of these and if it does how do I find it?

[BQS4]

Ray;
It shouldn't have, but, if it did it would be near the coil if it was.

[tekenaar]

Ray;
It shouldn't have, but, if it did it would be near the coil if it was.

All stock Opel post '68 ignitions DO!!! . . . resistance wire, remember! . . . it's external resistance too, just different implementation.

[tekenaar]

All stock Opel post '68 ignitions DO!!! . . . resistance wire, remember! . . . it's external resistance too, just different implementation.

Maybe it's clearer with link update . . .