ProTec Ignition Conversion

I am considering having my 1992 5.8 Pro Boss with ProTec converted to the distributor based ignition system.

I am now thinking my problems this past summer where my engine would hiccup or "short out" intermittently later in the day may be related to age and subsequent failure of this system.

When we fired it up this past weekend during the winterizing process, the boat took quite a while to get warmed up and didn't seem to be firing properly on all cylinders. When we pulled the plugs, 2 of them showed evidence of not burning completely clean.

I called PCM and they have confirmed that the ProTec system can eventually fail after considerable age, and that my symptoms sound typical of this problem. The solution is to convert to a Mallory based distributor system since the ProTec is no longer available.

I am interested in feedback from others who have done this, lessons learned, and hoe the performance was after the conversion.

Thanks guys.

The Pro-Tech in my 93' began its demise in 03'-04' @ about 200hrs, changed it out with the same kit and it ran better then when it was new.

did the convertion this winter..my protec would run fine but had problems at wot..it would miss and top 4200 rpm..
After the change..it runs 4800-4900 rpm..also I note a good fuel effeciency improvement....i have an average of 4.5-5 gph...

Sebastian, is that wakeboarding with ballast or barefooting?   I've always thought that the Pro Tec was reposible for my gph. The hydrofoils put little to no drag on the boat, and we usually run the PP in RPM mode. The Pro Tec is capable of adjusting the timing and I figure that's where the gph comes from, its never been more than 5gph and Its been down as below 3 gph a few times. If it can get any better I'll yank the thing out this winter even though it seems to work fine after 800hrs.

skier12 wrote: Is this kit for the protec engines with EFI or just carb?

as far as I know its only for carb...

When I talked with the gentlemen at PCM last week (803-345-1337), he told me that EFI boats with ProTec issues would need to convert to a carburetor.

That struck me as odd and was certainly contradictory to the other information I had read that stated they (PCM) were hoarding the ProTec parts for EFI boats only.

Yes, I have a Pro Boss/carb 351.

The more I think about this, I am considering starting out by just replacing the plug wires. They are several years old and I want to rule that out prior to the complete conversion.

That said, is it merely a matter of time before the ProTec goes?

What would it cost to convert an EFI away from the Protec system? The boat runs fine "knock on wood" but I'm just curious what potential cost may be looming out there for us.

Also what performance differences would there be?

skier12 wrote: What would it cost to convert an EFI away from the Protec system? The boat runs fine "knock on wood" but I'm just curious what potential cost may be looming out there for us. Also what performance differences would there be?

you need to revert the efi engine back to carb..so there goes around 500 for the carb..maybe a new intake is needed..as I don´t know if the efi one can be reused for the carb..there goes another 100-200, and the ingnition kit also around 500...so total in parts 1200...

Chad,
Here's JP's write up on his Pro Tec conversion. There are more threads on it but JP's is a good one with plenty of pictures too. Also, here's Skidim's kit for converting the Pro Tec ignition if you want a "packaged" kit.

No one (Pete) has mentioned DUI -Probably because this is a 7-year-old thread.... LOL

The DUI is cheaper and easier than the kit.... with better performance. I did mine in a 454... it was sweet and easy for this fella with baby-soft hands.   

Nothing against the Skidim.com kit, but the do-it-yourself plan with a DUI distributor is very simple -- and better (in my opinion).

Assuming that you have a Standard Rotation 351W engine, you need the following:

Part Number: M35820RD
Try searching on SummitRacing.com

This is for a Davis Unified Ignition ("DUI") distributor. The is the HEI design, so it has an internal coil and no external coil is needed.

JQ

KENO wrote: You need one of the PCM secret decoder rings to decipher your tag. It would tell you the following Or you could look in a PCM owners or maintenance manual Your tag and your firing order say it's a LH (normal rotation engine P- Pleasurecraft L- Left hand rotation engine P- 351 Ford High Output P- PCM transmission R- Reverse or reduction gear (this one's a little confusing because it says "reverse or reduction gear" but it means you have a straight inboard transmission R- Right Hand propeller 12-it's a 1.23 to 1 transmission

By the way

JQ seems to like red distributor caps, the part number he gave you is for the right distributor with a red cap, you can also get blue, black, yellow, clear.

It's the same part number with the exception of the last two letters which change depending on color. Black would be BK, Blue would be BL Yellow would be YL and clear would be CL.

You can go to the performance distributors website in the link below and get all the info you need.

You want the 7000 rpm normal rotation distributor like JQ gave you the number for

link

Appreciate your help thanks!