How To Install A PerTronix Flamethrower Billet Distributor

Distributor installation is rarely easy with a Ford V-8. Your goal should be rotor indexing at No. 1 on the distributor cap. You must also have No. 1 piston at top dead center with both valves closed (compression stroke). Getting the distributor to seat is the rough part. Index the rotor just ahead of No. 1 and wiggle the distributor into place. If it won't seat, gently bump the starter or hand turn the crank. The distributor should fall into place. Crank the engine around to No. 1 compression stroke again and make sure the rotor is at No. 1. Remember, No. 1 can be just about anywhere you'd like it as long as you have the correct firing order.

Distributor cap installation is easy with the PerTronix billet. No stubborn clips-just push down and turn. Because the GM-style cap is larger than Ford caps, some installations may require some gentle grinding on the intake for clearance.

The factory ignition system gets its power from the ignition switch via a pink resistor wire. The PerTronix Flamethrower ignition coil must have a non-resistor switched power source. All you have to do is go behind your instrument panel and get power straight from the ignition switch by disconnecting the pink resistor wire, then plug right into the ignition source.

Early small-block Fords, such as this '66 289 High Performance V-8, have a cast-in timing pointer or a bolt-on pointer on the left-hand side. Get the balancer at TDC or "0" for top dead center with both valves closed for the No. 1 cylinder. Late-model 5.0L small-blocks have the timing pointer on the right-hand side.

You can mount the ignition coil in the stock location or on the shock tower. Power from the ignition switch and to the PerTronix Ignitor module (red) are tied to the positive (+) side. Black from the Ignitor goes to the negative side (-).

PerTronix proves that dynamite comes in small packages with the new Ignitor III ignition system. It does things no other Ignitor has done to date, like offering five times more spark energy than conventional point-triggered ignition systems, multi-spark performance throughout the rpm ranges, and a user-selected rev-limiter. It's available as an Autolite/Motorcraft retrofit or in the new Flamethrower billet distributor.