I just installed a volt meter in place of an amp meter on my 60 292 and noticed I have a 2 1/2 volt drop when the starter is is used. Is this normal ? This may esplain why may attempts at installing a pertronix ignition failed.

Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks, Mark

Assuming 12.5 volts dropping to 10. You more than likely need a better battery.

I'm not sure what you mean by a " better battery". It has a 720cca in it now.

9-volts minimum at battery during cranking is one "accepted" standard that I know of; at 10 volts, you're probably doing just fine.

Regards,   JLB

55 Ford Crown Victoria Steel Top

Mark, For what it's worth my '06 F-150 Screw drops to 9.8v when cranking.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

10 volts is the minimum I use. I guess first I should have asked you if there was a problem or if it's just something you noticed.

I thought a small drop was normal on start up.  The only way to really check a batteries condition is to go by an Auto electrician and have the battery load tested.



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

The engine starts as it should. I had just never thought about there being such a drop in voltage when the starter is engaged.

I went through 3 Pertronix ignition installs and couldn't get any of them to fire. Could it be that with the voltage drop the Pertronix didn't get enough voltage to fire ? Pertronix says it needs a full 12v to work.

     Thanks, Mark

Probably not. No car will have a full 12v at startup. An easy way to test it, though, is to temporarily add a second battery to power only the ignition. This way starting the car will have no affect with the ignition voltage.


Lawrenceville, GA

It just dawned on me that if the voltage drop is normal then nobodys Pertronix would work, I'm a little slower than normal today

The things that come to you while your out feeding the chickens, LOL.