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Pertronix Flame Thrower Electronic Distributor

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Scotsman

Scotsman

Jedi Hopeful
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The vacuum advance on my TR3 distributor has failed and it has been recommended to me that I should replace the entire distributor with a Pertronix Flame Thrower Electronic Distributor ($229 as sold at Moss), rather than buy a $90 vacuum advance. Earlier this year I added a Pertronix ignition coil and replaced the points with electronic ones.
The argument was that for relatively little more money I would get a better performing distributor, and that other components of the distributor may also start to go bad.
Does anyone have experience with the above unit. I would keep the old one in case I wanted to restore back to factory specs.
 
Another option, if you have a local independent auto parts house, you might try asking them if they can send your advance unit out to be rebuilt. It has been some years ago, but I had my local shop send mine out. The price was about 1/2 the cost of (incorrect reproduction) new, and it came back looking like new. And it has worked fine ever since.
 
Elliot,
I have reached out to Jeff and will let you know what he says. According to Moss, they now have "new" VA units that are made to original factory specs and look identical. The picture on their web page suggests this is true.
 
Jeff rebuilt my advance unit, along with the rest of diz -- all of which needed it. 15,000 miles later, no regrets.
 
I haven't used these guys (yet) but it appears they rebuild any Lucas vacuum unit for 50 bucks...

Boost It -- British Vacuum Unit

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I tried that dizzy on my TR4 and, quite frankly, felt a power loss. I went back to the stock unit with the Pertronix conversion. When I did it the dizzy offered was "one size fits all" for 4 cylinder cars and the advance curve might have been a compromise.
Bob
 
Just send it off to Jeff at advanced, and it will come back perfect (MUCH better than new), set up to match your engine as it is today (you need to supply some basic info) properly timed for modern fuel.
I sent him a scrungy nasty looking worn out dizzy and it came back looking like new, the damaged ring where it is held in place was replaced with a steel ring so it fits properly. I put it in and it works perfectly.
Not really much to debate.
 
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