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I'm glad to hear that you're up and running again.If I read it correctly you have 2 different dizzys, one with the Crane and the other with points. Assuming that the ignition timing is the same they should perform equally well but after fitting an electronic system owners usually say the car starts better and it runs smoother. Maybe it allows a bit more dwell which allows the coil to deliver a fatter spark. You can also put the spark plug gap to about 32 thou to take advantage of that. Pertronix can be fit and forget for most people. The ignition usually has to be tweaked a bit after fitting as it's often a few degrees different from the points set up. This is only because of the position of the magnet. This might "switch" the spark at a slightly different position than the points. The variability in your case might be down to the condition of the 2 dizzys. If there is a vacuum unit fitted this must work smoothly. The advance/retard weights and springs must not be rusty or sticky and again must work smoothly. They've ben rattling around for many miles and the springs can become weak and the pivot holes in the weights can become oval. They rarely get changed so the advance curve is often nowhere near what it should be. Basic first test is to see if the the rotor moves against the springs easily and snaps back as you let it go. You should be able to move it about 12-15º which is 24-30º of advance. A good clean and lube is good with some extra oil dripped into the shaft to keep the felt pad wet. This oils the bushes in the dizzy.
Pertronix easy to fit with the separate coil you have and it's probably close enough to the dizzy for you to use the standard leads. As I said, DON'T fit the leads the wrong way round and don't leave the ignition on when the engine isn't running. The module will overheat and burn out. It's easy to find yourself with the ignition on if the car stalls and you leave it that way while you continue fiddle about with the engine, carbs, what have you. If you need to have the ignition on while you check lightimg circuits, pull the Pertronix leads from the coil first. These leads are colour coded so a couple of blobs of paint on the coil connections can stop you making a mistake.
I stick by my advice to take the jets up a few flats and also to increase the tick over revs. This should allow you to get the choke in much quicker and have the engine run better on your way to the highway. Looks like it's going to get increasingly colder there over the next few days, so for your 5.30 starts I'd be tempted to put some cooking foil over your grilles for the run into work.
http://www.wunderground.com/US/MO/Saint_Louis.html
Fingers crossed!
Derek
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