SeriesShorty

Hello all, I have recently converted over to civilian ignition components using a voltage dropper and decided to go with a new 45D style electronic distributor from SimonBBC. I installed it and the truck started right up and ran for 5 minutes then shut off. Started right back up no problems, didn't take for a test drive yet cause I ran out of time. Next day truck started right up again and I hopped in and went for a spin. I got 2 miles down the road and the truck shut off. Started up after several attempts and I drove to the side of the road where it promptly shut off again. Now it won't restart and had to be towed back home. From what I can tell, given that I am no electronics genius, I'm getting 14.v to the coil and the same voltage is going to the electronic module on the distributor. However, I'm getting no spark out of the distributor to the plugs. So it sounds like the electronic module is dead. Has anyone experienced this using this distributor? I'm thinking I must be getting some resistance somewhere in my setup that caused it to burn up. My setup: 24v truck. Voltage dropper wired from hot ignition lead, 24v in and 14.3v out and into a fuse block. From the fuse block I have the 14.3v going through a ballast resistor (off a Cadillac or something, I think it has 1.6ohms resistance). From the ballast resistor it is wired to an Accell Super Coil (which is non-ballasted and has a primary resistance of 1.3ohms, readily available in the U.S.). From the + side of the coil to the red wire on the electronic module of the distributor, from the - side of the coil to the black wire on the distributor. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!

Cool, thanks for confirming that Sean. The electronic distributor system is what I am wanting to install. Since I'm keeping the rest of the system 24v, I'm going to install the dropper as well so that I can easily add accessories like fog lights and a cb radio. I am very excited about this part of the project!

Do you have to change these items out if you are only doing a partial conversion consisting of the those few ignition system items? It seems that the rest of the truck will still be 24v as you would be keeping the generator, starter, etc.

Craddocks was a winner! Should have the new lens any day now. Thanks for the help guys!

Hey all, I'm in need of a replacement glass stop lamp lens, the military kind with the 4 prongs. My butterfingers dropped it while changing the bulb. And superglue just isn't gonna work. It's for a IIa FFR 24 volt if that makes a difference. Anyone got one you wanna sell or know a military breaker that would have one? Thanks! Jen

So in essence, I would only need to swap my distributor, coil and plugs/wires from the shielded style that it currently has to the standard civilian counterparts? In the US, it is very expensive to source these shielded tune-up parts so it would be great to be able to run civilian bits while still keeping the 90amp generator. Is this correct?

Wow I dug up a good old thread here. Gotta love the search feature. A few weeks ago I bought a 66 IIa ex-MoD so it's got a 24 volt system. I love Mark's converter box set up and am planning on doing the same to mine. However, I also noticed your statement regarding using the civilian spec distributor, coil, plugs and assume wires too...how did you swing that still keeping the 24 system generator and starter??? Any specifics are greatly appreciated. Jen