electronic conversion

[SHickey]

Hello,

I have what I believe is a dead coil in my '74 StarCraft American 20 that has an almost vintage 165 Mercrusier straight six motor with a MC-1 outdrive. The boat had run fine all season so far and today it began stuttering while I was slowly cruising in the NYS Barge Canal. I got her back to the ramp and when I got her home she ran well in the driveway and just petered out like she was out of fuel. I pulled a sparkplug and noticed after a couple of cranks the spark was hardly noticeable and then no spark at all after a few more cranks.

I'm thinking of replacing the coil and points with an electronic system instead and was wondering what brand would be suitable for this type of application. I'm not a genius when it comes electronics and electrical systems but I do have a very knowledgeable neighbor that could help me if I get stuck. I believe a marine coil would run me @ $75 and the electronic ignition would cost me more but it would eliminate the need for point adjustment and trouble shooting if my motor isn't running right.

Any thoughts and advice would be most welcome and vendor recommendations would help too.

Thanks and safe boating!!

 

[achris]

My belief, and experience, is that changing points to electronic is one of the simplest and best ways to improve any engine. When I have my 165, I built my own CDI system. The engine started and ran so much better....

So, I'm not expecting you'll build your own, so the one that seems to get the best press here is Petronix... The module (I believe is a 91163A) replaces the points, and using their 3ohm coil compliments it... There is a bit of a wiring mod to do on the engine, you need to supply full 12 volts to the coil +, which means finding a switched 12v source. The existing wires on the coil + are, one from the starter motor (can be removed completely), and the coil end of the 'resistor wire'. It looks just like a normal wire, but it's not...

Cheers,

Chris...........

 

[Bt Doctur]

ign coils do not cost that much .I disagree with achris on the electronics. electronics are a "on=off" system . They work or they dont.
points and condensor sometimes will give you a warning that something is up and no system will protect you against a coil going south

 

[Rick Stephens]

I went with the little bit higher tech full electronic Delco Voyager EST ignition when my spendy Thunderbolt IV gave up the ghost. I couldn't be happier. The replacement control module for the end of life Thunderbolt IV costs more than the EST. So I counted it penny wise. Several years later, it has been trouble free - in fact, attention free. I never even think about it or need to work on it.

 

[achris]

... vintage 165 Mercrusier straight six ...

... Delco Voyager EST ignition when my spendy Thunderbolt IV gave up the ghost.....

I've never seen a Delco EST available for 165 in-line 6 engines.... Not an option...

Cheers,

Chris....

 

[SHickey]

Thank you all for your responses, I believe I will go with the Petronix system Achris recommended and see what happens It will probably be a selling point when I decide to sell my boat sometime in the future and will take most of the guesswork out of ignitions irregularities or complete failures. If that makes sense??

 

[Scott Danforth]

sounds like the condenser is going out.

service the points/condenser, go boating.

 

[Rick Stephens]

I've never seen a Delco EST available for 165 in-line 6 engines.... Not an option...

Cheers,

Chris....

Thanks. For some reason my brain said this was a 140, regardless of what the poster wrote :^)