Ignition retrofit

[Indymike]

I am completely refitting a mercruiser 1980 260. serial#5569077.
Distributor is in poor shape and I am replacing entire system.
Updating to vortec heads as well.


Looking for prefered ignition replacement...

Delco EST. Mallory, pertronix...or other?

Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Ignition retrofit

Ayuh,........

The package I'm putting together will have a used Mercruiser T-Bolt IV system on it.......

Found all the pieces on ebay,............ Cheap.........

 

[Don S]

Re: Ignition retrofit

A Thunderbolt 4 system, don't go with a Thunderbolt 5, to many other things you would have to deal with.
Other than that, I would go the Delco EST.

 

[Indymike]

Re: Ignition retrofit

Thanks men.
I was leaning towards the delco.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Ignition retrofit

I am with DonS.
unless I found one whale of a deal on a ThunderboltIV then parts for the Delco EST are just to readily avalible. in fact the complete kit new is usually less than 250 dollars.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Ignition retrofit

A Thunderbolt 4 system, don't go with a Thunderbolt 5, to many other things you would have to deal with.

Ayuh,........ I Agree,...... I Think........

Where'd the refernce to the T-Bolt V come from.......

He's wanting to Up-grade from the old points system on his 1980 260......

A used T-Bolt IV is a drop-in, Plug & Play swap...............

 

[Don S]

Re: Ignition retrofit

Where'd the refernce to the T-Bolt V come from.......

I made that reference in case he found one while searching. He may not realize there is a big $$ difference between the two.

 

[Indymike]

Re: Ignition retrofit

Any advantages to the T-bolt IV over the delco?

 

[Don S]

Re: Ignition retrofit

If you were to get both systems and installed for exactly the same price, the TB4 will be easier to set the timing with as you don't have to put it into base timing mode. Not a big deal if you have the $10 plug to do that on the EST.
Other than that they work about the same,and both have electronic advance.
However, maintenance will be more expensive with the TB.
Here are some Mercruiser prices to compare.

Thunderbolt IV
Ign. Module 220
Dist sensor 56
Cap 43
Rotor 11
Coil 56

Delco EST (also Mercruiser prices)
Distributor sensor 106 (This is all the EST has, no seperate ignition module like the TB)
Coil 128
Cap 31
Rotor 12

 

[Bondo]

Re: Ignition retrofit

Any advantages to the T-bolt IV over the delco?

Ayuh,........

Other than they've been around for nearly 20 years,.......
There's Millions of them on the Used market,........
They Usually never go Bad,.......
The Modules are totally interchangable,+ with different Advance rates possible with different Modules,.....
And,....
They can be found between Reasonably priced to flat out Cheap,........

Nope,......... Probably Not..............