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Tech Tips
As credited
I'd like to share a "techtip" that I learned the hard and expensive way with the GGLC membership. I installed a Pertronix Ignitor electronic ignition about a year ago on my twincam that, in effect, replaced the condenser and points. The engine idle improved very noticeably, and the engine's high speed performance, also, seemed to improve somewhat. The Smiths tachometer, however, was an exercise in frustration, and I finally just gave up on it - replacing it with an "a-pillar" mounted modern unit that functions infinitely better.
My unfortunate experience with the Ignitor occurred a couple months ago on a country road miles from home. All was well with the world. The weather was clear - albeit quite warm, the roads nearly deserted and twisty and the Elan was working well. That is, until the motor stopped. Ignition failure. Open the hood, and there's the problem clear as day - the coil wire (the big one) had come disconnected at the coil end. Just plug it back in and go again. Right? Wrong! Turned the key and nothing. No amount of fixing, fiddling, fretting and fussing (the car guy's 4-Fs) would make the twincam spark.
Jumping way ahead and sparing you all the unpleasant details of getting the car back home again which involved a long walk (it was actually very hot and I was wearing bad walking/good driving shoes), a bad meal and a flatbed AAA truck (oh, there's another good tip - buy the AAA-Plus service for $125) - the problem was fixed by installing a new Ignitor. The way we figured it was this: the "plug" wire when disconnected from the coil came into close proximity with a "good ground" and shorted the electronic ignition's little "brain." There are many "good grounds" near the coil of my Elan - engine, chassis - take your pick!
So this is the tip: If you have a Pertronix Ignitor installed,  make certain that it does not short circuit. There's actually a note in the instructions that warns against switching the wires of the coil around. For my case, I siliconed the bejesus out of the coil/plug wire boot going into the coil…

Mel Boss

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This one is more of a forehead-slapper than a true "tech tip" but nevertheless I think it will be helpful as I sure wish I had thought of it beforehand.
My sole semi-motorhead neighbor once bestowed upon me a tube of Hylomar Aero Grade Gasket & Jointing compound to assist with sealing the Jensen-Healey's valve covers. Now faced with replacing the cheese-ball chrome valve covers on Truckzilla I dug 

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