Pertronix Vs. Crane XR

[Nicad]

I'm going to be ditching the points on my car and am wondering if the Crane XR 700 or 3000 (hotter spark model) is superior to the Pertronix? I spoke to a gent at Mesa Performance who suggested the Pertronix did not fit properly in the 6 cyl distributor. I had a Crane on my Bavaria back when it was Branded as an Allison product. Seemed to work well enough, but finding a spot for the box makes the Pertronix seem like the cleaner install. Anyone tried both or had reliability issues with either?

Tia.

 

[CSteve]

I have had Petronix in my coupe for 10+ years. During that time I been at a dozen high performance driver's schools and covered many other miles. The petronix has NEVER hiccupped. Never a pause, a hard start, or hesitation.

I will wear out before my Petronix.

Steve

 

[Stevehose]

+1 on pertronix - put mine in a year and a half ago and it works flawlessly (and it's invisible).

 

[jmackro]

I had a Crane on my Bavaria back when it was Branded as an Allison product. Seemed to work well enough, but finding a spot for the box makes the Pertronix seem like the cleaner install. Anyone tried both or had reliability issues with either?

I too vote for the Pertronix.

My take is that the Crane/Allison -style ignitions are older technology. Back in the 1980's - 1990's you needed an external box to house all the stuff. Putting one of those into your coupe in 2011 looks kind of retro - which may be a look you want - I have to admit to smiling every time I see one of those old gold boxes marked "Delta Mark II Capacitive Discharge" from the 1970's.

But for 2011 technology, Pertronix has the solution. They are reliable, and the spark is plenty hot for street and amateur track use. Unless you have an all-out competition car, and need something like a MSD, the Pertronix is great.

Can't explain the Mesa Performance comment that Pertronix don't fit properly. I got mine from LaJolla Independent, and it dropped right in. LaJolla Independent knows which model of Pertronix is correct for which e9 distributor. There is some trick with "backward facing points vs. forward facing" - see http://www.bimmerdoc.com/parts-finder/bmw/pertronix-electronic-ignition-kit/

 

[waynesie]

I have had both, the both work fine. Way better than points... unless the optical pickup fails on the the Crane. Had this happen on a race car.

My current '02 race set up is a Crane HI-6R CD with a Pertronix pickup in the distributor.

I would do a Pertronix on a street car. Everything fits under the cap and looks stock. Crane XR 700 has an external box that needs to be mounted, wires routed, etc.

Wayne.

 

[steve in reno]

I had a crane in my VW bus for 250k miles and it worked flawlessly.
Have had a crane in my coupe for 15 years and same.
Box mounts on radiator wall next to vent and wiring is non-issue.
Have never had an issue with optical emitter, even though I was skeptical and always had a spare that never got used.
I am cheap and the crane fit the bill for my use!
steve