Date:         Sat, 13 May 2000 16:01:53 EDT
Reply-To:     THX0980@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Beckett Cantrell <THX0980@AOL.COM>
Subject:      New Tech. in Old Applications.
Comments: To: doktortim@rockisland.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hey Doc! I agree with what you've said, but am now wondering if  we have all
missed some important facts regarding the change over from a Kettering ing.
sys.(ie. points, condenser) to a Hall Effect sys(ie. Pertronix) I've got a
stock  2.0L FI eng. in my Federal ' 80 Westy, with a manual trans. I've added
a Pertronix Ignitor, Tiger 581 CDI ignition module and platnium plugs. In
regards to the various postings to the list as per the subject of dwell: I
was under the understanding that dwell only applys to a Kettering style ign.
sys. When you switch to a Hall Effect, dwell no longer can be used as a spec.
because the Hall sender is switched on or off for the exact same period of
time, independant of eng. rpm.( This was taught to me when I took the test
for, and passed, the OMC and Mercruser Stern Drive and Inboard Master
Technition certification, at both of their respective factories, when the
subject of changing over to a Hall Effect ign. sys. was broached ) I was told
that switching out a Kettering sys. for a Hall Effect sys., in older app.'s,
was not detrimental, and in fact a worthy upgrade. As for a CDI sys.,
anything that can deliver a constant 30kv to my plugs ( confirmed with a
Snap-On kv meter) at all eng. speeds,from cranking to 5000rpm, can only be a
good thing.( remember, that with points, firing voltage dramatically drops as
rpm increase) As for the platinum plugs, well, I'll give you that one, they
just made me feel better!  All of the above equiptment was been installed on
this particular eng. for over 50k miles, without problems, and documented
gains in mpg and driveability(p-mail me Doc, and I'll send it off to ya').
Remember, new technology is not always bad technology. Or are you one of the
folks who still think that adding sand seals to the VW eng. was a bad idea?
Yours,
Beckett