datsun-roadsters
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Pertronix & Radio Noise

To: Tom Hendricksen <tom@fransfancies.com>, bob_wilson@agilent.com,
Subject: Re: Pertronix & Radio Noise
From: "David R. Conrad" <conrad1@gte.net>
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2003 06:12:19 -1000
(I forgot to "edit" this reply this reply and it failed to make it to "The 
List")

"David R. Conrad" wrote:

> Tom:
>
> I appreciated your informed discussion of this problem!!
>
> Having an "ME" background, I took a somewhat "cruder" approach when plagued 
>with
> this problem upon moving to the Big Island. The AM stations I want to listen 
>to,
> are on Oahu, more than 200 miles from me.  I had not had a problem with AM
> reception with the car in Maryland or when I was on Oahu, both places with
> "robust" signal strength.
>
> I tried everything I could think of here, from various plug wires, NGK 
>resistor
> plugs, and several "suppressers"; nothing seemed to help much.  I even went 
>to a
> near "2x" antenna length, with a coat hanger supplement, after my stock 
>antenna
> had been vandalized.  That did help noticeably.
>
> I bought a "near to stock" replacement antenna from one of our vendors, which 
>I
> was quite happy with except that it was even shorter than the original stock
> antenna.  I installed it anyhow, fearing that my reception quality would be 
>less
> than what I was obtaining from my "coathanger" extended height antenna.
>
> Having questioned the quality of the ground through the mounting to the 
>console,
> then to the chassis, I decided on a "brute force" ME  approach, and ran a line
> of stranded "lamp cord" directly from the chassis of the Pioneer receiver, to
> the negative pole of the battery.
>
> I was delighted with the result!!  The reception far surpassed what I had been
> getting even with the longer antenna.  Even a dumb ME, can sometimes get lucky
> :-).
>
> Dave
> '68 1600
> Kailua-Kona
>
> Tom Hendricksen wrote:
>
> > Bob,
> >
> > I have not tried the Pertronix, but I have to ask if you had that problem
> > before the Pertronix ignition was installed, or have you just installed the
> > radio?
> >
> > Poor grounding of the body to the engine can contribute to engine noise.
> > Make sure the engine to frame and frame/engine to body grounds are in good
> > condition.  I use 1 1/2" braid straps around both motor mounts to insure a
> > good engine to frame ground.
> >
> > What about the condition and type of plugs and wires?  Are they resistance
> > plugs and wires, or solid wire, which contributes to a better spark at the
> > plug and increased ignition noise.  Is your distributor cap clean inside?
> > If some of the dizzy cap contacts are rough and black it could indicate wire
> > or plug problems.  Make sure your coil body is making good ground contact
> > through the bracket to the firewall.  Make sure your points and condenser
> > are in good condition.
> >
> > Is your radio well grounded to the car?  There is usually a ground lug on
> > the mount, or the radio, which should have a good (1/2" flat braid if
> > possible) connection to the car body.
> >
> > You keep seeing braided wire in my notes above.  That is because you are
> > dealing with radio frequencies and those frequencies only travel on the
> > outside surface of the wire.  Small wires provide very poor RF conductivity,
> > and can add to your problems.  Braided wires have a lot of surface on all of
> > the individual wires, providing a good RF ground.
> >
> > Tom
> > 69 2000 "Mr. Hyde"
> > Portland, OR

///  datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net mailing list
///  Archives at http://www.team.net/archive


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>