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crvc Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2004 Posts: 1308
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:06 am Post subject: Compu-fire electronic ignition |
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While searching I see there's been a lot of discussions about electronic ignition. Some like them, others hate them. I like the idea of not needing to set points or dwell angle since I don't have a meter.
The rotor doesn't fit deep enough to engage the notch. Also it doesn't fit deep enough to clip the cap on. From what I've read, if I grind off the bottom quarter inch, this thing should work?
I'm at the end of a 1967 body-off restoration. A while ago while putting in a new wiring harness I had problems with the fact that the wiring harness was for a 10-fuse car and my '67 had just eight fuses. I ended up popping the fusable link a dozen times. I assume it fried my points sometime during that period.
I have replacement points and coil but I'm curious if the compufire will do a decent job.
crvc |
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interex87 Samba Member
Joined: December 06, 2006 Posts: 94 Location: orlando fl
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:00 am Post subject: |
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yes just cut it but i have to tell you i had the same compu fire and it was not that great...........it was awesome at idle but any thing over 3000rpm
and it would run like crap.
and you dont have to set points any more but you are going to have to cut every rotor from now on is it really a time saver? |
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oldskoolbug Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2008 Posts: 434 Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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interex87 wrote: |
yes just cut it but i have to tell you i had the same compu fire and it was not that great...........it was awesome at idle but any thing over 3000rpm
and it would run like crap.
and you dont have to set points any more but you are going to have to cut every rotor from now on is it really a time saver? |
I purchased a Pertronix Ignitor II module and Coil, and not only was the install easy and straight forward, but it's been working great thus far! |
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VW Habit Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2010 Posts: 146 Location: San Clemente, CA
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:08 am Post subject: |
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Does anybody know what the symptoms are when the Compu-Fire ignitions go bad or start to go bad?
The car went from running crappy, to running good to now not starting. |
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Hammarlund Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2009 Posts: 1539 Location: Central Texas
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:22 am Post subject: |
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This has been done to death, but a recap may be in order at this point. The advantage of an electonic ignition is that you do not have to do as much maintainance.
The disadvantage is that electronic ignitions generally have to be treated like a "black box" during troubleshooting. That is, the only test is often substituion, and the only repair is generally to replace.
Many experienced VW mechanics who run electronic ignitions keep a set of points handy. When their car starts running rough, They substitute in the points. Problem goes away? Replace the ignition module. Problem stays? Look elsewhere.
This is much cheaper than keeping a spare electronic ignition module on hand for substitution. _________________ Trying to diagnose electrical problems without paying attention to what the red light is telling you is like trying to play the piano without using your hands. |
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slalombuggy Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010 Posts: 9147 Location: Canada
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:06 pm Post subject: |
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It funny how VW guys put so little faith in electronic ignitions, yet every summer I drop Pertronix kits into all sorts of muscle cars and none of them carry around points and condensors to get them home "if" they fail. Haven't had a car come back on a hook ever. Not starting a fight, just making a statement.
I will say the cheap copies that a couple of buddies tried are pieces of shite, but we've never had a problem with Pertronix or in VW's Comp-u-fire.
brad |
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modockid Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2002 Posts: 168 Location: saint helens oregon
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:38 am Post subject: |
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slalombuggy wrote: |
It funny how VW guys put so little faith in electronic ignitions, yet every summer I drop Pertronix kits into all sorts of muscle cars and none of them carry around points and condensors to get them home "if" they fail. Haven't had a car come back on a hook ever. Not starting a fight, just making a statement.
I will say the cheap copies that a couple of buddies tried are pieces of shite, but we've never had a problem with Pertronix or in VW's Comp-u-fire.
brad |
gee i'm glad you've had good results so far with electronic ignitions ,
i'm a biker and a vw fan (my kid brother has an old bay bus )
all the harley guys i run around with say use the ol style points, easy to fix , simple to use ect ect , .. i always ran /run points on my vws , kid brother just had an engine built (cause he didn't have the time , and he was to far away from me ) so he had this guy "install" petronix ignition that was about 100 $ so they replace the fuel pump push rod cause the bus would die and just not run did all kinds of diinaustics on it , new ignition swith ect ect , well kid brother lives with me now , went to school last week (college) bus died 10 blocks away from my house , crap here we go again ,got it home he took tahoe to school for the day , I finally realize it was electronic ignition , i dont like em at all not on harleys not on vws and not on chevys no way no how , so i ask him if he bought compufire and he said no , he had done research and specificlly asked for petronix caus compufire is crap, needless to say he went back to points and condincor ( he carries 2 of each plus 2 fuel filters clutch cable throttle ect ect (cause he learned frome me , "carry at least one of everything with you (except brake drums and big stuff like that ) and have at least one but preferible 2 at home ,and there are about 5 different style vw dizzys out there so make sure condincor is the right one for the year |
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modockid Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2002 Posts: 168 Location: saint helens oregon
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:41 am Post subject: |
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oh at it cost me a rotor and a fuel pump push rod and gasket ,for some one elses bs and pulling a fast one on my brother ! |
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bugninva Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2004 Posts: 8858 Location: sound it out.
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:48 am Post subject: |
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slalombuggy wrote: |
It funny how VW guys put so little faith in electronic ignitions, yet every summer I drop Pertronix kits into all sorts of muscle cars and none of them carry around points and condensors to get them home "if" they fail. Haven't had a car come back on a hook ever. Not starting a fight, just making a statement.
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you got it, Brad.... Pertronix makes points replacement modules for damn near anything that came with points, and you don't hear of the rampant dying of them anywhere but here... I used to convert my old BMW's with pertronix long before I ever knew they were available for vw's... I admit, when I first converted my vw I carried extra points and condensor because they were already in the car... later on I carried a setup distributor so swap out would be easy... I haven't carried one for years... I attribute some of the failures in the vw world to the fact that vw's are owned by lots of stereotypical "vw people"... that and the old wiring systems full of poor connections and the owner's resistence to fix things on their cars, like poor wiring... _________________
[email protected] wrote: |
With a show of hands, who has built over 1000 engines in the last 25 years? Anyone? |
GEX has. Just sayin |
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OLD VW NUT Samba Member
Joined: February 23, 2011 Posts: 2776 Location: High Desert of Washington 98823
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:21 am Post subject: |
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modockid wrote: |
slalombuggy wrote: |
It funny how VW guys put so little faith in electronic ignitions, yet every summer I drop Pertronix kits into all sorts of muscle cars and none of them carry around points and condensors to get them home "if" they fail. Haven't had a car come back on a hook ever. Not starting a fight, just making a statement.
I will say the cheap copies that a couple of buddies tried are pieces of shite, but we've never had a problem with Pertronix or in VW's Comp-u-fire.
brad |
gee i'm glad you've had good results so far with electronic ignitions ,
i'm a biker and a vw fan (my kid brother has an old bay bus )
all the harley guys i run around with say use the ol style points, easy to fix , simple to use ect ect , .. i always ran /run points on my vws , kid brother just had an engine built (cause he didn't have the time , and he was to far away from me ) so he had this guy "install" petronix ignition that was about 100 $ so they replace the fuel pump push rod cause the bus would die and just not run did all kinds of diinaustics on it , new ignition swith ect ect , well kid brother lives with me now , went to school last week (college) bus died 10 blocks away from my house , crap here we go again ,got it home he took tahoe to school for the day , I finally realize it was electronic ignition , i dont like em at all not on harleys not on vws and not on chevys no way no how , so i ask him if he bought compufire and he said no , he had done research and specificlly asked for petronix caus compufire is crap, needless to say he went back to points and condincor ( he carries 2 of each plus 2 fuel filters clutch cable throttle ect ect (cause he learned frome me , "carry at least one of everything with you (except brake drums and big stuff like that ) and have at least one but preferible 2 at home ,and there are about 5 different style vw dizzys out there so make sure condincor is the right one for the year |
You must be running around with guys with very old Harleys since Harley hasn't put points ignition on a stock Harley since the late 70s Shovelheads. FWIW I'm on my third Harley spanning 20 years and all have had electronic ignition and I've never had a problem and never been stranded because of it. And Chevy (all of GM in fact) all have come with at least the Hall Effect dist since the mid 70s - the Pertronix utilizes the Hall Effect. _________________ 71 Ghia Coupe - stock body - no rust! Powered by a 2110 W/Dual HPMX 44's - Rancho Pro Street Transaxle - A/C by Gilmore
Other car - 2013 VW Golf TDI |
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modockid Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2002 Posts: 168 Location: saint helens oregon
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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OLD VW NUT wrote: |
modockid wrote: |
slalombuggy wrote: |
It funny how VW guys put so little faith in electronic ignitions, yet every summer I drop Pertronix kits into all sorts of muscle cars and none of them carry around points and condensors to get them home "if" they fail. Haven't had a car come back on a hook ever. Not starting a fight, just making a statement.
I will say the cheap copies that a couple of buddies tried are pieces of shite, but we've never had a problem with Pertronix or in VW's Comp-u-fire.
brad |
gee i'm glad you've had good results so far with electronic ignitions ,
i'm a biker and a vw fan (my kid brother has an old bay bus )
all the harley guys i run around with say use the ol style points, easy to fix , simple to use ect ect , .. i always ran /run points on my vws , kid brother just had an engine built (cause he didn't have the time , and he was to far away from me ) so he had this guy "install" petronix ignition that was about 100 $ so they replace the fuel pump push rod cause the bus would die and just not run did all kinds of diinaustics on it , new ignition swith ect ect , well kid brother lives with me now , went to school last week (college) bus died 10 blocks away from my house , crap here we go again ,got it home he took tahoe to school for the day , I finally realize it was electronic ignition , i dont like em at all not on harleys not on vws and not on chevys no way no how , so i ask him if he bought compufire and he said no , he had done research and specificlly asked for petronix caus compufire is crap, needless to say he went back to points and condincor ( he carries 2 of each plus 2 fuel filters clutch cable throttle ect ect (cause he learned frome me , "carry at least one of everything with you (except brake drums and big stuff like that ) and have at least one but preferible 2 at home ,and there are about 5 different style vw dizzys out there so make sure condincor is the right one for the year |
You must be running around with guys with very old Harleys since Harley hasn't put points ignition on a stock Harley since the late 70s Shovelheads. FWIW I'm on my third Harley spanning 20 years and all have had electronic ignition and I've never had a problem and never been stranded because of it. And Chevy (all of GM in fact) all have come with at least the Hall Effect dist since the mid 70s - the Pertronix utilizes the Hall Effect. |
nope just older guys with newer bikes trusty ol points for me thank you ! especially after my kid brothers shuck and give by a "professonal enigne builder " who put "petronix " in the dizzy .it really pisses me off that her ordered one thing and got compucrap i mean 60 dollar differance and it says compufire on the little thing that goes in the dizzy ... i mean if an engine builder cant read or better yet "is gonna have the last chuckle " whats this world coming too??? cheating and theiving on paying customers come on!!!!!! i'll stick to points on everything ! |
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Lettuce Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2009 Posts: 749 Location: Socal
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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I have a compufire module that is at least 15 years old in my car, it works fine...
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modockid Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2002 Posts: 168 Location: saint helens oregon
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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Lettuce wrote: |
I have a compufire module that is at least 15 years old in my car, it works fine...
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tell that to my brother who ordered petronix and got compufire . |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76948 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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modockid wrote: |
Lettuce wrote: |
I have a compufire module that is at least 15 years old in my car, it works fine...
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tell that to my brother who ordered petronix and got compufire . |
What's your point?
Complain to your "professional engine builder" about it.
BTW... i've seen a few Pertronix fail in the past few years. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
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modockid Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2002 Posts: 168 Location: saint helens oregon
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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Glenn wrote: |
modockid wrote: |
Lettuce wrote: |
I have a compufire module that is at least 15 years old in my car, it works fine...
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tell that to my brother who ordered petronix and got compufire . |
What's your point?
Complain to your "professional engine builder" about it.
BTW... i've seen a few Pertronix fail in the past few years. |
well for one the research dictates that compufire not so good , spent alot of time on dionaustic work and come to find out it was an inferior part to begin with . i've been involved with the vw aftermarket for 2 decades , i am a home engine builder and i can tell you this , i know my stuff , and i know i dont like compufire .from all the people i have talked they dont like it either ! junk |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76948 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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They're not as popular as Pertronix but i've seen my share of them and not heard of any problems.
BTW... I use points, never a problem with them. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
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dugsgms Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2010 Posts: 135 Location: Cherry Valley, CA
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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Points work fine, electronic conversions work slightly better. My major problem with then is that you cant go buy parts for them at major auto parts store. Unit dies on Saturday night and you cant get replacement parts till at least Monday. Carrying extra points and condensor in the car seems like a good idea though.
I recently got a complete aftermarket distributor for a big block Oldsmobile from MSD, uses popular Ford parts for the pick-up and ignition module that every auto parts store stocks so best of both worlds. |
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modockid Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2002 Posts: 168 Location: saint helens oregon
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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dugsgms wrote: |
Points work fine, electronic conversions work slightly better. My major problem with then is that you cant go buy parts for them at major auto parts store. Unit dies on Saturday night and you cant get replacement parts till at least Monday. Carrying extra points and condensor in the car seems like a good idea though.
I recently got a complete aftermarket distributor for a big block Oldsmobile from MSD, uses popular Ford parts for the pick-up and ignition module that every auto parts store stocks so best of both worlds. |
its getting fishier from there , the points were/are working fine now , brother just called and said the engine overheated and its acting like it blew a spark plug , he had ovals motorsports build the motor first thing that suposedly went wrong was a bad fuel pump pushrod , second was the compufire and now something else, i haven had the opertunity to look at it yet , but now this and the engine is still under warrenty . i'm wondering if the bus is haunted or if the builder didn't build it right /pad parts ?????????????? this engine is six months old ! _________________ flexyourright.org
nevergetbusted.com
I love the constitution and my bill of rights !
Knowledge is power , and i have alot of knowledge!
"you can't buy cool ,you gotta build it !"
cut wled grind, make it work , dont let it work you ! |
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mcelhaney14 Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2010 Posts: 93 Location: Phelan, California
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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I wonder if the hotter temperatures of the air cooled engine have anything to do with the failure of the electronic ignitions. |
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modockid Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2002 Posts: 168 Location: saint helens oregon
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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mcelhaney14 wrote: |
I wonder if the hotter temperatures of the air cooled engine have anything to do with the failure of the electronic ignitions. |
i don't know , the BIG problem is why did a new motor (6 month's old with about 3,000 miles on it ) over heat in 50 degree weather ?
had plenty of oil , was properly broke in and all adjustments and maintence done by the shop that built it . over heat and is probly trash now _________________ flexyourright.org
nevergetbusted.com
I love the constitution and my bill of rights !
Knowledge is power , and i have alot of knowledge!
"you can't buy cool ,you gotta build it !"
cut wled grind, make it work , dont let it work you ! |
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