advantage of electronic ignition on 3.0l mercruiser

[snake91876]

i see these kits made by pertonix and different ones to change my 87 3.0l mercruiser alpha one to a electronic ignition. what would be the advantage. it says if i use the high fire coil i can run a wider plug gap for more power. is any of this true or worth the money

 

[Don S]

Re: advantage of electronic ignition on 3.0l mercruiser

It means you won't have to change points and condenser anymore. You won't notice any difference in how it starts or runs from a boat with good points and condenser. Unless you talk yourself into it before hand. Then you can notice anything you want.
How many sets of points and condensers can you buy for the price of the Pertronix.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: advantage of electronic ignition on 3.0l mercruiser

Magnetic pickups will always beat out the old points...hands down!

Once you set the timing...you can put your timing light up for auction on eBay (only kidding). There are no contact areas to wear, and change your setup. Not having to service the distributor every season, is worth the investment.

As for the hopped up coil...I wouldn't go there. The 3.0 is already pretty much taken to it's limits...it is, what it is. KISS (keep it simple, *****) seems to work the best in the marine environment. Just my approach...don't amount to a hill of used points!

 

[Fishermark]

Re: advantage of electronic ignition on 3.0l mercruiser

I agree the main advantage is consistency - not performance gain. It works just like a new set of points. With points, the reason you replace them is they get glazed over, pitted, etc. It isn't like they simply stop working typically. But the performance of the engine with points gradually can start going downhill without you noticing it... till you put new points, etc in and you say "Wow, it runs better now!" With the electronic conversion you don't have to worry about that anymore.

But yes, forget feeling or noticing a big gain in performance.

 

[DJ]

Re: advantage of electronic ignition on 3.0l mercruiser

Unless you talk yourself into it before hand. Then you can notice anything you want.
.

Truer words have never been spoken. Gotta love it.

It's really more of a convenience thing. I have nothing against either system. Would I do it-probably. But, I'm just the kind of person that's willing to try anything.

With that said, I understand that a Petronix is not meant to FIX anything it's just something to prolong a maintenance item.

 

[Bondo]

Re: advantage of electronic ignition on 3.0l mercruiser

to change my 87 3.0l mercruiser alpha one to a electronic ignition.

Ayuh,...

Wasn't the T-Bolt IV already in use by 1987,..??

 

[chiefalen]

Re: advantage of electronic ignition on 3.0l mercruiser

No the donor motor i have is a 87 and points.

 

[Don S]

Re: advantage of electronic ignition on 3.0l mercruiser

Ayuh,...

Wasn't the T-Bolt IV already in use by 1987,..??

Thunderbolt ignition was never used on the 3.0L engines, only the V6 and V8 engines. Some of the late 80's 3.0L engines had the DDIS system. Then in 1990, they started using the Delco EST distributor in the 3.0L to replace the conventionsal points distributor.