I'm the first to admit that I'm not very good at diagnosing intermittent problems. Don't have the test equipment or the experience to troubleshoot. I'm fairly sure this problem is electrically (ignition) related and I don't want to keep throwing new parts at it trying to fix it(expensive, frustrating, time consuming). Have an all-original 35,000 mile '64 Malibu SS, 283 4 BBL with 4 speed. Only modification is Pertronix Pointless Distributor conversion (using original stock coil) done 3 years ago. All of a sudden last few times out with car it INTERMITTENTLY bucks, backfires, and cuts out VERY BADLY when accelerating, also SOMETIMES cuts out completely when highway cruising and you lift off the gas (almost like you turned off the key!). Will backfire loudly if I don't quickly turn off ignition when it stalls at speed (losing ignition, loading exhaust system with fuel, then regaining ignition?) Starts right back up after stalling and runs fine for awhile before acting up again.
Probably easier to find problem if it just quit completely, but I don't what to get stuck in the boonie's far away and end up on somebody's flatbed.
Anybody know of any Pertronix Kit failures ? Thought they were bulletproof. I've been told: Try an old points distributor (don't have one), replace the coil, replace the ignition switch, bad wire somewhere, etc., etc.
Please, any help anyone can give me will be greatly appreciated. Big car show 50 miles away next weekend, afraid to go and get stuck !!!!!!!!
Bob Mikesh
Longmeadow, MA

This sounds like a faulty connection somewhere in the ignition system. I've seen this same problem occur when the ignition switch has gone bad. I'd check the wires on the coil and make sure they're not loose. Then make sure the wiring on the backside of the ignition switch is good and tight. The only reason I'd switch to a points distributor in this case would be for troubleshooting purposes. If you switch the distributor and the problem persists, I'd replace the ignition switch. Personally, I'd replace the switch first, but since you don't want to throw money into parts that may or may not work, it would be best to try another distributor first.

Randy,
Thanks for the help. Located a used points distributor and installed. Drove car about 20 miles, all conditions, seems fine now.
I presume the Pertronix Electronic set up gave up for some reason.
Anybody else out there had any trouble with Pertronix? Don't know if I should get another kit ("Igniter II"?) from them or leave points set up in car. Certainly more convenient not to have to change points, etc. Advise ???????
Thanks again,
Bob Mikesh
Massachusetts

Are you running the Pertronix on a full 12 volts or off the coil resistor wire? Pertronix says 12 volts is best.

Most of the people here who use the Pertronix ignitors have reported very few problems with them. But I would run the early version, not the one that uses the distributor cam to fire the ignitor. The early version has given the best results, but it often requires a distributor rebuild to remove all the up and down freeplay from the shaft. I had to shim mine at both the gear and under the advance mechanism.

John/Randy,
Was running Pertronix on full 12 volts.
Distributor was fully rebuilt and properly shimmed when unit was installed. Ran great for about three years.
I think I'm going to stay with points for now.
Thanks again for the help.

It sounds like it was giving up the ghost! When I used to work in the ground support equipment shop, we had a bunch of older bag tugs that had been converted to Pertronix ignitors. (These were old Chrysler flat head inline sixes). We had to keep extra ingitors in stock because yes, they will go out from time to time.

[This message has been edited by Randy Mosier (edited 09-03-2002).]