Pertronix vs. Compufire...?

[YellowSquare]

Not a real big contribution, but I like my compufire, Ive only had it about a week. But my car started on the second crank after sitting for two years. plus it looks pretty cool

[slalombuggy]

I have the same system on my buggy, love it. Been using it for 4 years now.

brad

[808OvalGreasemonkey]

I used to think Pertronix sucked after it crapped out and went Compufire,then my Compufire crapped out after 16K miles and all the shop had was Pertronix,and now the pertronix is working just fine.
I did order a couple Compufires and now they are onboard as spares in both of my aircooleds. However I now realise that they are pretty much the same.
I think they are equal...................in the randomness of failure!

[modok]

That's a fact! some last 10 years and others 10 days, never can tell when the magic smoke is gonna leak out of an ignition module. Compufire has less scatter than petronix, the bigger magnet wheel seems to be more accurate, unless they made it wrong. Always check timing on all cylinders with these things!

[Geothon]

I used Compufire to run the Volvo B21 motor for more than 100K miles with no problems. (It uses Bosch distributor so it was as easy to convert as on VW)

[FreeBug]

Ok, the general rule works out thusly:

-run points with a spare condenser: nothing can happen that you can't sort out with a screwdriver.

-run points conversion: you could break down anywhere.

-run points conversion with a spare module: pretty safe, but still something could blow.

-run points conversion with a spare module in the glovebox and a spare distributor, already indexed with the clamp, all set to go, in the trunk: it's guaranteed your points conversion will never burn out or fail, making you feel stupid for lugging around a spare dizzy everywhere you go...

Best I've had was a Bosch Hall effect module I found i a Volvo 245. It acted as a points conversion, really clean, precise spark from the slotted hall wheel mounted on the rotor, Bosch red coil, and the type of heat sink and controller you find in 80's golfs, vanagons, etc. Kept a spare one of those, never needed it. Asked at Bosch, but they haven't made it in 20yrs. Bummer.

Next engine, I'm hoping to use a Black Box, so can use a locked-out vanagon distributor with the nice Hall effect stuf. As clean as I'm going to get without going to crank ignition.

[Zack1978]

Based on a google search, Compufire and Pertronix are the same company, right?
_________________
1972 Coupe

[Dale M.]

[[email protected]]

[Howard 111]

I ran the Pertronix for years, never a problem.

I have a Compufire in an 050, never been run. I got it to upgrade an 050 I used in a drag only Ghia, from points.
_________________
1973 Karmann Ghia
Turbocharged, Fuel Injected
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=531270

[jjf2468]

Old post, but install says avoid horizontal mounting due to overheating coil fyi :~)