PerTronix D7160700 Flame-Thrower Ignitor III Distributor AMC V8, Black

PerTronix's D7160700 Flame-Thrower distributor with Ignitor III electronics is a billet unit for AMC V8 engines, finished with a black cap, and built around a digital ignition module rather than a points or basic electronic trigger.

What the Ignitor III module does

The built-in module fires multiple sparks across the entire rpm range and adjusts dwell and spark timing on its own to maintain peak coil energy, which PerTronix says reduces misfires and heats up the system less than designs that hold current longer than needed. A digital rev limiter with LED feedback is built in, and its settings are stored in memory so they are not lost or accidentally changed. The module also senses startup and increases spark energy briefly for easier cold starts, and it includes reverse-polarity and over-current protection that shuts the system down rather than letting a wiring mistake damage components. It is not compatible with CD or multi-spark ignition boxes.

Construction and compliance

The housing is CNC-machined billet, with a tempered steel shaft riding on an upper ball bearing and a long oil-impregnated bronze lower bushing. This unit carries a CARB executive order number and is legal in all 50 states and Canada; PerTronix notes that non-vacuum-advance versions of this distributor lack that number and are not legal for pollution-controlled vehicles. It carries a 30-month warranty on electronics and a one-year limited mechanical warranty.