Air filters and ignition systems

[Bruce B]

Do K&N make an air filter to fit a 1965 BJ8 ? If not, can anyone recommend a suitable, good replacement ? Also (sorry for 2 questions in one shot !), can anyone recommend any of the electronic ignition systems on the market please ?

I have a great BJ8 that I'd like to make a little more reliable so I can drive it to work without too much anxiety !!

Thanks. Bruce.

 

[bradal]

Bruce: What is behind the change to K&N filters? Do you have the stock ones? If so, they can be cleaned fairly easily using kerosene or alcohol and swishing that around and then dumping. Repeat a few times, then spray them down with WD-40 or use some other good lubricant inside them before reinstalling. They will work fine that way.
I understand that if you change to Pertronic or other solid state ignition system, you shoud also use their coil rather than a standard one for reliability. AL Bradley

 

[66 fhc]

Hi Bruce welcome to the forum.
I'm pretty sure I,ve seen K+N filters on Ebay that fit SUs. Lumenex and Petronix both make electronic ignition systems and both have been given good reviews on this forum. I had Lumenex on my XKE for over a year and have had no problems . I purchased it at XKs Unlimited. We'd sure like to see a picture of your Healey.

 

[jha2297255]

pertronix 2 controls dwell time to take up wear in distributor. a little more $$$. -Josh

 

[Randy Harris]

There is a photo-essay in Moss Motor's latest advertorial magazine "British Motoring" on both K&N filters and Pertronix ignitions. The photos show the K&N installation on an MG with SU carbs. It also shows a step by step Pertronix installation.

Not that anyone asked my opinion on this, but I feel that unless you are noticing a decrease in engine performance that can be directly attributed to poor engine breathing, there isn't a need for these "high performance" air cleaners. First, I'd properly clean my existing air cleaners. The electronic ignition is a nice upgrade - if you need it. Some day I may switch if my distribuutor's performance diminishes.

I think that often these go-fast, "high performance" aftermarket parts are nothing more than clever marketing hype, meant to separate you from your wallet. Buyer beware I suppose.
Randy '66 BJ8

 

[vette]

Hi Bruce, I must tell you that I agree with Randy on the need to change from the original equipment. Unless you are looking for some particular performance gain in some specific driving format your Healey is a well engineered and constructed automobile in its stock configuration. Points systems are very reliable for all street and even mild race situations as demonstrated in all cars on the roads well up into middle seventies. My BJ7 Healey is still running the same points that were put in it 15 years ago before it was stored for fifteen years and I have now been running it for 2 summers with just a regap and general cleaning up of the distributor. And even though K&N filters should theoretically flow more air than the stock ones, For convenience and cost just go buy yourself a brand new set of original specification filters bolt them on and leave them there for about 2 or 3 years. Most of us NOREASTER enthusiates only put about 3000 miles a year on the Healey anyway. The only thing that will mess up your air filters much is if the back carb is sucking alot of fumes/oil out of the valve cover breather hose. If that is happening your just going to have to keep that air filter/carb cleaned up more. Or fix the part of the engine that is letting all the oil get to the breather in the first place. My old corvette with a high performance 350, and 160k miles has never had a points failure. These are just my 2 cents worth. I hope you enjoy it any way you like it.
Dave,

 

[kcolas]

Bruce,
I just went through both of these questions myself with my 66 BJ8. The rear air filter was filled with oil courtesy of a bad rocker arm bushing, so I thought it would be a nice time to replace what looked like steel wool trapped in a can with a nice K&N. I didn't find anyone that sold them for the HD carbs, since they are 2". After wrestling the orignial ones out and some creative tool making, I called David Knock and asked about performance gains, performance etc. "The stock ones do keep the rocks out," he assured me. Longflow and other VB and Moss replacements were reported as cheesy, so foam cleanable one was out. I cleaned my stock ones in petrol, (used some K&N oil, though because I know the stuff is sticky) and they're fine. (No rocks so far).
As to the electronic ignition, when I was recently trying to find the source of poor running, I took a recomendation of a local Jag guy who told me he had better luck with the Crane X700. It wasn't until I also changed the coil (and cap, rotor, and wires while I was at it) and insured it was wired correctly for a neg ground car that I solved the weak ignition problem. If I had it to do over I would take the time to learn to gap, adjust, dwell, etc. Then I would put the EE in .

Good luck
Kirby
66 BJ8
{nice photo here when I figure out how to sig.}

 

[stever]

I, too, searched for a "better" air cleaner system for my '65 BJ8 as "you gotta be kidding me that the steel wool in a can can really clean road dust from the air". However, I could not find anything that fit well and looked good, too - seems like the manufacturers don't make anything for the 2" SUs! Finally decided that the stock worked fine and even though they are a real royal pain in the behind to take off and on whenever you want to clean them, etc. they are fine. Concerning the electronic ignition: I used the Pertronix and it is working fine. I gave my car a "bottom-up" tune up this winter and it is running really great again - very strong! [adjusted valves, fixed choke operation, replaced intake manifold gaskets as I had a vacuum leak where the black blocks connect to the intake manifold, adjusted carbs, used an advance adjustable timing light (Valentine's day gift from wife!) to get the timing right, etc....) Anyway, I have had good luck with the Pertronix once I got it installed correctly and the first one that died within ten minutes was replaced..... Good luck!

 

[vette]

Steve, sounds like the super tune up is the way to go. Most of us don't take the time to do a complete job. Congratulations on doing that. You made a good point about the Pertronix, most points systems don't died on you ten minutes after you install them. And even if the points system failed out on the open road you can usually get it going again. What do you do when the Pertronix shorts out on the road.

Dave

 

[Bruce B]

Thank to all for the wealth of replies - I really appreciate your help (and this forum). After careful review, I will keep the original air filters and simply give them a good clean. However, many folks have had such good experience with Pertronics, I think I'll make the investment.

Cheers. Bruce.

 

[Dave Russell]

I recently installed a Pertronix ignition module & their recommended three ohm coil on my 100-4. Won't go into the circus involved in installing the module in my distributor. The DM-2 distributors appear to have three possible & different modules available.

There was really nothing wrong with my old points & coil, just wanted to see if the change made any difference. As far as I know, only the older Pertronix had reliability problems. Time will tell.

The final result was great. After I gapped the plugs to .045" as suggested, the first thing that I noticed was much quicker starting & a smoother idle.

Glad not to have to mess with points any longer.

D