TOPIC: Electronic ignition for a 165 mercruiser

Ike got me to thinking about electronic ignitions and I spotted this on ebay. Anyone know of any pros or cons on this set up?? Will I have to have new wires,coil ?

I've never heard of that brand before Jim, but know of numerous folks who swear by the Pertronix conversion kits;

I am not familiar with that brand either but I am familiar with the Petronix. I have talked to a lot of people and it is very popular, and I even bought the kit. But then I changed my mind and swapped it for a new distributor with the electronic ignition built in. It cost more but I don't have to worry about the installation. You just pull out the old one and put in the new one and connected it to the coil.

PS: That looks exactly like the kit I had. If it works in a GM 250 (the merc 165) I suppose it would be ok. But, like you, I'd like to talk to someone who used it first.

I successfully used a GM HEI distributor from a 6 6yl chevy truck on my mercruiser 165.

Daveswaves wrote:

I successfully used a GM HEI distributor from a 6 6yl chevy truck on my mercruiser 165.

Dave,those gm hei ignitions are bullet proof. That might be the ticket. Should be able to find one of those at the Automotive Dismantling and Recycling Center (junkyard) . Thanks

Thats what I did Jim. Don,t forget that the coil wire has a resistor in it so you cannot use it for 12V to the HEI. I don,t like extra wires laying around so I used the coil wire to energise a 12V relay that switches a good battery 12v to the hei. Also lets you shut down the engine completely with the ignition switch.

Dave, did you find a dist without a vacuum advance? I used to have a '72 chevy c 10 with a 350 and points dist I swapped the hei unit in for. Easy swap and well worth it.

I removed the vacuum advance and fixed(screwed) the advance plate down. Removed the centrifugal advance weights and springs too.