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Author
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Topic: Crane XR-i Points To Electronic Ignition conversion
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 43933
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 07-06-2005 08:16 PM
   
Is anyone using this setup willing to tell me what they think about it? It seems like a nice unit, and it sure would be cool to use the original distributor. Petronix units are out for me.
I'm having a tough time deciding which distributor to use on my Mach, I have several stock ones I could rebuild and convert to electronic, I have a Duraspark unit I'm leaning towards, but I'm tempted to get an MSD ready-to-run unit because I like how easy you can set the curve on them, but they kind of have too much of a hot rod look to them {billet housing and flaming red cap} and the $285 price is quite a turnoff. I think I may just use the Duraspark and fire it off with a MSD 6AL unit. I considered hiding the 6AL under the dash and running wires, but boy is it tight under the dash of a '70! I'm not to crazy about drilling four new holes on my new aprons, either.
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'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
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senzstang
Gearhead Posts: 282
From: perry, oh, usa
Registered: May 2002
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posted 07-07-2005 08:45 AM
Steve,I ran that unit a few months and here is my tale. I put the unit in and it started right up. Drove 3 feet and car died. Called Crane tech line and they were very helpfull walking me thru all diagnosis until bad ground was found. Fixed it and it ran great. My only complaint is no 800 number for tech line. About 4 month later, I was out for a ride and car started sputtering and would only idle. I left the points and a screwdriver in my car as a precaution so, I popped them back in and the car ran great. When I got home I put the Crane unit back in, checked it all with the voltmeter and it still would only idle. Got frustrated, put the points back in and they are still there 1 year later. If I change my distributor in the future, I will go with an MSD/Mallory aftermarket unit. Just my experience. Nothing bad to say about the Crane people. They were more than happy to help me work out my problem. The unit just quit working and I got tired of messing around with it and wondering if I was going to get home on every drive. Phil
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mellowyellow
Gearhead Posts: 6848
From: So. Fl.
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-07-2005 01:48 PM
What's wrong with the regular Pertronix? The II has had probs but liked the regular one.
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68 Coop
Gearhead Posts: 1920
From: Mesquite, NV. 89024
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 07-07-2005 01:58 PM
I've had nothing but good luck with the Ignitor also, but from the sounds of it, around here some people hate them??? I also find it hard to let go of 300 for a dist, but I know I am going to soon, probably by years end. Sorry for no answer Steve, I guess I'm nosey as to why you don't like Pertronix either???------------------
William
68 Coupe
289
Edelbrock 600
Performer Intake
Headers/X-pipe/Flowmaster 30's
C4
8"rear/2:79gears
"Restomod in Progress"
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69 Sportsroof
Gearhead Posts: 2001
From: Valley, Alabama, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 07-07-2005 02:58 PM
I know you didn't ask about this but I'm using Accell's points eliminator. No problems at all, install was very easy. The only thing I dont like about it is that you cant use the wide space distributor cap since it comes with a shutter wheel rotor.
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Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 19740
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 07-07-2005 04:43 PM
Steve, your Mustang is a hotrod already 
Go with the ready to run or the dura spark with the MSD box.
It would be nice if MSD made their products in Black or Blue why RED?
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oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs65 coupe 351w C4 Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8" 3.40 TracLoc. My Pics [This message has been edited by Fastymz (edited 07-07-2005).]
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Bob429
Gearhead Posts: 410
From: Watervliet,MI,USA
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 07-07-2005 05:03 PM
I also had problems with the XR-I. One of the things I noticed about the unit is that it mounts on the passenger side of the distributor.(The pertronix mounts more to the driver's side.) As the distributor advances at least in my case, The vaccuum pulled the unit right into the distributor cam instead of around the cam and the unit became toast.I think a chevy guy designed it. Just my .02------------------
Bob
Member#39
71 J code
429 SCJ-R Sportsroof
C6 4:11
http://www.my429scj.50megs.com
http://www.mustangsandmore.50megs.com/MembersPics/Bob429.html
2004 Pure stock muscle car Drags pics now on my page. [This message has been edited by Bob429 (edited 07-07-2005).]
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fastford34
Gearhead Posts: 885
From: penna
Registered: May 2002
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posted 07-08-2005 09:53 AM
i know 2 local rodders that finally got tired of the points & bought the crane units. both were ticked after a months use & the crane unit died. maybe it`s still to new,need some bugs worked out?
the Pertronix stuff have a bad reputation with the hot rodders around my area. from all the talk, i would say about 70 % of the people that used the pertronix had problems.
MSD is the way to go as far as ease of use & very few problems. just my .02RON, i too wish MSD would offer color correct caps!!!  ------------------
34 coupe powered by 351 c 4v
keith
it`s nice to be important but more IMPORTANT to be nice.
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sigtauenus
Gearhead Posts: 2496
From: Va Beach
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 07-08-2005 10:01 AM
problem I had with mine is the regular ignitor unit failed on me. I guess theoretically anything can go bad on you, but with pertronix, if it goes out, you have absolutely no warning, and you can't just go to the local Pep Boys and get another one. At least with points it starts running rough before it dies and you can keep a spare set on hand for 5 bucks, or with duraspark you can go to any parts store and be ready to rock again in 10 minutes (except Autozone, make it 30 minutes - they are always understaffed).
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indyphil
Gearhead Posts: 2568
From: Senoia, G.A. USA
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 07-08-2005 12:34 PM
I blew two or three pertronix units before I gave up on themGot an XRi and have been happy ever since.
BUT
The crane unit had a mechanical flaw that the guy on the tech line didnt seem too interested in. They supply their own breaker plate, which is a great idea (compared with pertronix) because it allows you to keep your points completely assembled (although I havnt needed to swap back like I did when I was running pertonix) But this breaker plate they supplied and the little spacer provided didnt fit properly. there was all kinds of slop and I could tell things wouldnt work right. It looks like Bob429 had the same problem. Anyway I had a friend with a metal lathe make me a spacer to fit perfectly. Since then Its been trouble free motoring. the rev limiter is handy too (something that pertronix doesnt offer on the ignitor) Having said all this the next engine im building will probably have a billet distributer from MSD or similar. My "original" distributor doesnt look very original since I have a big cap conversion (made a HUGE difference having the bigger cap) and the motorsport wires. ------------------
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