Installed Pertronix Ignitor, now idle is really high!

[HellaStang67]

Hey guys, I'm a total newbie when it comes to my 67 200 Mustang. I was tried to start restoring it a couple years ago but then life happened and it sat for a while. I finally found some time to start working on it again and one of the things I've read is an easy upgrade is electronic ignition. I put in Pertronix Ignitor I and the Flamethrower Coil after realizing the my starter solenoid was shot. After the install the car fires right up but the idle is ridiculously high, like I would be afraid to shift it into gear it's so high. I hadn't touched anything else except for checking the plugs, putting some Marvel Mystery oil in each cylinder (because it had been sitting a while), and doing an oil change. What could be causing it to idle so high? And where should I start with trying to get it down to a reasonable RPM? Please remember that I am a total newbie and a lot of really common things that seem reasonable to a seasoned car guy would be totally over my head. Thanks!

P.S. I searched for this topic and only found responses for rough idle after install. So sorry if this topic has been covered before.

 

[RagHead]

When I installed the ignitor I in my 66 Mustang with a 200 I6 a couple of years ago I had to reset the idle and timing. I've have a timing light and dwell/rpm meter so it was no problem. Idle setting for the 67 200 should be 550 for auto trans and 575 for man. I also increased the spark plug gap for .034 to .040. To lower the rpm back off the idle adjustment screw located on the side of the carb. If you don't have a shop manual for your car that should be your next purchase.

 

[ludwig]

Conventional ignition has up to 15% misfires. That means that somewhere around 10% or more of your gas is not ignited so the bump in idle speed is normal when you change over. Electronic ignition reduces this to near zero, so right there you have more gas getting fire. You have to dial the idle speed back and lean out the idle fuel/air mix.

 

[HellaStang67]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies! I will definitely check the idle since that is something I think I can easily do. The timing change sounds a little more involved from what I've been reading. So to start with the idle mixture, I looked at my carb and I could only find one mixture screw... I found out through some online research that my carb is a Holley 1940 1bbl. Is there something I'm missing?

 

[Econoline]

Check your idle cam

 

[HellaStang67]

Without sounding like a complete idiot, how would I go about doing that? Is that a screw that I can adjust? Or something else. I'm sorry that I'm so car illiterate, but that's why I'm here to try and learn. Thanks!

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, The idle cam is for the high idle on warmup. You can push the choke open or let the motor warm up to run on regular idle. Sometimes that choke linkage needs WD-40 if it is sticking. All adjustments are made on a warm engine with the choke wide open. You should check your distributor timing with a timing light, advanced timing = high idle, check for vacuum hoses maybe left off, vacuum leak = high idle. Here is what you can do without a timing light: lower the idle and go for a drive. If your timing is way advanced it will ping and knock like crazy when you drive it, especialy up a hill in second gear. You can retard the timing by ear until it stops knocking. If it doesn't knock at all, advance the timing until it just starts to knock, this willl raise the idle. If it knocks a little, than back off a little bit until the knocking stops. Last, set your idle. Maybe a car buddy could help you through this, it is a little intimidating until you do it a few times, but if you changed your distributor you can do this. Flow chart: 1 All hoses and wires hooked up. 2 Set timing. 3 Set idle. Good luck

 

[chad]

Without sounding like a complete idiot, how would I go about doing that? Is that a screw that I can adjust? Or something else. I'm sorry that I'm so car illiterate, but that's why I'm here to try and learn. Thanks!

I don't have ur carb & am on ur level w/vehicles. Having said that:
there is alot of linkage on the outside of the carb. The idle cam is often a step-like plate in that linkage. A lill finger sits on it. When U open the hood, punch the acelerator from there, U will C this aperatus operate. It will give U info to match w/what these guys R sayin - cam…

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, I was thinking faster than I was typing. The timing is usually set 2 ways. 1) When using a timing light you must disconnect the vacuum at the distributor and plug the hose. 2nd way by ear, during a drive, listen for pinging, vacuum connected.

 

[HellaStang67]

Thanks for the info guys! I will check out your suggestions this weekend and let you know how it goes!