78' Scout II 345 Prestolite electronic dizzy. burning big problems I thnk ....

[paradox78]

I have a prestolite electronic distributor on my 78 sv 345 I was doing a routine plug change today and noticed a burnt smell when I took the cap and rotor off (it was the holly cap but the correct rotor) anyway when I decided to go ahead and pull the dizzy so I disconnected the battery before staring the removal of distributor, when I removed the positive cable from the battery I heard a sparking sound in the distributor so I reconnected it and again I heard a spark somewhere in the distributor so I removed the dizzy and dissembled it to find a burnt looking component (possibly a resistor ?)anyway I have attached 2 pictures of the module with the burnt piece so maybe someone might be able to let me know what is going on and how to fix it.

Some background : it was running fine and had I not been changing plugs and disconnected the battery cable I May have never known it was happening , or maybe it is something that has just happened and it was going to fail anytime I dunno but I need all the help I can get and if a replacement dizzy is in order I have an older holly dizzy from a 71 Scout II but dont know how to set it up as far as resistor wire and such goes, or if I need a whole new distributor what is the cost effective way to tackle this problem..

 

[Michael Mayben]

What you see damaged is the entire prestolite distributor electronic module. The upper plate which carries the trigger and the "potted in epoxy" module is available at any parts house as a new replacement unit.

However, I personally would not spend that kind of money for the assembly, but substitute a pertronix replacement trigger system that does not use the electronic module at all. It will work with the correct distributor cap and rotor, along with the oem ignition coil.

Part number for all versions of the prestolite except the code number idn4007 version of the pertronix is1483a. The pertronix p/n for the idn4007 distributor is 1485a.

You must run a true prestolite-pattern distributor cap on that unit along with the correct prestolite rotor.

 

[paradox78]

It ran fine just a few hours ago , do you think if I were to go to napa and get the right cap rotor and wires for this dizzy it would salvage it ? It hasn't burnt all the way yet it just got hot . If not what do I need to do to install the holly points dizzy
thank you so much I really need this thing running by morning

 

[Michael Mayben]

With correct replacement tune-up parts, it might run...for awhile. We have no way of knowing that.

Tune-up parts will not repair that issue, only replacing the module system or installing a pertronix will do that.

 

[paradox78]

Mr. Mayben well I am living in coos bay now and was wondering what you would charge me to rebuild my prestolite electronic unit, the one I was asking about in this thread I have been running the holly points since last May and now I would like to have the prestolite rebuilt by someone that knows how to do it right.

 

[Scoutboy74]

Just fyi...mm has been on sabbatical from this forum and from wrenching for hire for an extended period of time. I do not know when or even if his present status will change.