All,
I am thinking of having electronic ignition installed in my 68E-type Series 1.5. Lately, I have had a hard time getting the car to turn over usually 5-6 try in the past few weeks. I am not a mechanic nor do I have the resources to undertake this project. My question to those who installed one, is there any pro's and con's to having one installed. Trying to start the jag after 6 times, brings the sick feeling in your gut when your miles away from home that something is just not right--I welcome all comments and suggestions-Thanks in advance
Cheers,
Gordon

Submitted by edjagm@comcast.net on Sun, 07/27/2014 - 19:00

OK Fellas; Here is my input on the matter.I have a series 1 1964 E coupe, it has a generator, I decided to install the Petronix a complete distributor against advice from a good source. the car DID NOT RUN WELL AT ALL . I removed the Petronix and in the meantime had my original 50 year old distributor rebuilt by Advanced Distributor and recalibrated. The car performs like new and starts on the first push of the starter.
Cars that have a alternator are compatible with the Petronix and work well. The electronic voltage pattern is different.
I do however suggest if your distributor has not been rebuilt in years have it done.. good luck
Ed Messikian
Jaguar Club of Southern New England

Submitted by gjoczik@hotmail.com on Sun, 07/27/2014 - 17:47

ALL,
Thanks for the advice! I do have a mechanic(that owns his own British Car Shop business) that does all the work on the Jag for me. I will run it by him. I drive it on the weekends weather permitting and while not a concours, it's not a trailer queen but a good and solid driver condition. I am more concerned with reliability than any thing associated with concours. Thanks for the input as I see what has to be done.
Cheers
-Gordon

Submitted by gjoczik@hotmail.com on Sun, 07/27/2014 - 17:47

ALL,
Thanks for the advice! I do have a mechanic(that owns his own British Car Shop business) that does all the work on the Jag for me. I will run it by him. I drive it on the weekends weather permitting and while not a concours, it's not a trailer queen but a good and solid driver condition. I am more concerned with reliability than any thing associated with concours. Thanks for the input as I see what has to be done.
Cheers
-Gordon

Submitted by DavidBarnes71@… on Sun, 07/27/2014 - 17:20

Gordon I put the Pertronix system on my E-Type and early 70's Chevrolets 10+ years ago and all have worked flawlessly since. It all fits inside the distributor so with the exception of two wires coming out of the distributor instead of one you cannot tell a difference from the outside. Is easy to install. Remove the points mounting plate, install the one in the kit , install the sensor on the plate and pole piece on the distributor cam, adjust the gap between them with the feeler gauge in the kit, hook up the red wire to the positive side of the coil and black wire to negative side of coil and you are done. They all fire right up easily as long as there is fuel in the carb bowl. It can all easily go back to stock if you do not like it. I keep the old points and mount plate in the car in case anything goes wrong but seems like the only thing that could would be the pick up sensor going bad or the pole piece some how losing its magnetism. An added bonus for me was that it allowed me to splice in a ignition system kill switch without altering any of the original wiring.

David Barnes
68 E-Type FHC

Submitted by hilstonsmg@aol.com on Sun, 07/27/2014 - 17:02

Gordon, while I do have a Petronx dist and 45000 V coil on my 66' E with 8mm plug wires, I only went to this solution after changing the plugs and doing all carbs. The new ingnition works better with more power and easyer starting (checked on a dino) but it will not help if the other bits aren't right. Remember that at a concours you might get dinged for these changes although in driven class it's OK. I like to use a heavy foot and enjoy the power but when I pop the bonnett the engine, while lovely, is not at all stock which might offend the fathfull. Your problem sounds more like a simple tuneing and maybe a carb cleaning, the points could be dirty or sticking and the cap might be cracked or bad roater. If you do change to electronic ingnition you will like it but it won't help a baddly tuned engine. Good luck, Don Hilston
PS, might be as simple as bad gas but I don't know how much the car is driven.........D

Submitted by bfahnest@gmail.com on Sun, 07/27/2014 - 16:35

Gordon, is it good to assume that by turning over you mean firing off not just rotating of the crank shaft.
2 have you check to see if you have spark at your plugs.
IF not do so and if you do not have spark, before you put in an electronic ignition system you should get the car going with the original.
If you do not have spark, check and set your points, replace your condenser These are the usual culprits. You say you are not a mechanic so if you can't do the above, find a mechanic before you do anything other thank checking your spark.

If you have spark, check to see if you have fuel, can you hear the pump. if you hear the pump, get a coffee can and remove the hose where it goes into the carburetor . have some one turn on the ingnition and see if you are getting fuel.

If you are getting fuel and spark and car still is not starting see a mechanic.

Bruce