TECHNICAL INFORMATION

GENERATION 1 IGNITION MODULE

First Gen. 1969 thru 1978

HISTORY

The First Gen was manufactured as a performance ignition upgrade part for race cars before becoming known by the Perma-Tune name. The part became popular with street car drivers because it had the side effect of electrically reducing wear and tear on the breaker points. It was like the car was permanently tuned up, hence the name Perma-Tune. Since then the Perma-Tune product name has remained in continuous production exclusively in America.

The ignition module pictured is the first to carry the Perma-Tune name. The original ignition looked very similar to this one except that the cooling fins were longer. It was invented by Dr. Theodore Sturm, a German immigrant, and was licensed to Aero Design Products of Newport Beach, CA for manufacturing.

The electrical design of the First Gen Perma-Tune is what is known as a push – pull capacitive discharge ignition. The electrical output was bipolar with one terminal of the ignition coil primary circuit receiving + 200 Volts while the other receives a simultaneous – 200 Volts. The improvement over Kettering ignition was dramatic in terms of combustion efficiency and engine performance.

In the 1970s’ the US Federal Government passed emissions and safety laws for new cars, including imports. In order to meet the new emissions standards, the First Gen Perma-Tunes were installed on all new Ferrari cars entering the US through the port of Los Angeles.

TECHNICAL DATA

Not much information on the technical details of the First Gen Perma-Tune have survived the years. The test harness for the First Gen is long gone but what we do know is the color code of the wiring harness. We can still test these ignitions so if you want us to test your Perma-Tune, please provide us the wiring harness with the module.

Red = 12 Volt battery power
Violet = 12 Volt key power
Yellow = breaker points
Green = coil + terminal
Black = coil – terminal
White = tachometer
Black wire screwed to the bottom of the part = ground

GENERATION 2 IGNITION MODULE

Gen 2 – 1972 thru 1989

HISTORY

The Gen 2 Perma-Tune is the Blue Box of Porsche 911 fame. This design was a collaboration between the original inventor, Theodore Sturm and Ferdinand Porsche. Porsche was most interested in the permanent tune up properties of the original ignition design for the six cylinder 911 car that would follow the success of the four cylinder 911 cars.

The Gen 2 Perma-Tune was created as a mass production friendly version of the First Generation. It featured a single capacitive discharge of – 400 Volts and a more modern electrical connector. The small round terminal connectors were changed to a robust and water resistant 3 terminal connector. The blue color of the First Gen Perma-Tune was carried over to the Second Generation.

The Gen 2 Perma-Tune production output at the Newport Beach, California factory was split between America and the Porsche factory in Germany. The Blue Boxes made for the US had the silver Perma-Tune name plate and were usually sold with the accompanying ignition coil and harness. The Blue Boxes made for the 911 had a yellow sticker on the top and a silver sticker on the opposite end of the connector.

GENERATION 3 IGNITION MODULE

Gen 3 1989 thru 2004

HISTORY

The Gen 3 Perma-Tune was an evolutionary design that took pace with the fast moving transistor technology of the time. New components made new features possible and Perma-Tune led the way in high performance ignition. The older – 400 Volt output design was replaced by a newer, + 400 Volt design that was far more adaptable to new cars. There were many versions of the Gen 3 Perma-Tune, the favorites are listed here.

Three Pin Perma-Tune

The three pin Gen 3 is a replacement part for the Porsche 911 Blue Box ignition module.

Eight Pin Perma-Tune

This part used a universal kind of connector that could accommodate different variations of the Gen 3 design. Electrical pin and harness configurations of the 8 pin connector indicate which cars it was intended for use with.

When only six of the possible eight connector pins was populated, then the module was configured for breaker points distributor operation. This was the most commonly used Perma-Tune to upgrade the 4 and 6 cylinder early Porsche engines including the twin cam 356 motor. It was also used on many VW and BMW race car engines of the day.

When only seven of the possible eight connector pins was populated, then the module was configured for magnetic pulse distributor operation. This configuration was used with Porsche 911SC and Porsche 928 race cars. It was also used for Mercedes Benz Roadsters and Sedans as a repair replacement part.

When all eight connector pins were populated, then the module was configured for turbo operation. This was used mainly on Porsche Turbo conversion race cars and also on some open wheel 4 cylinder race cars.

When only four of the eight pins was populated, then the module was configured for use as an industrial igniter. Most of these igniters were used in oil field equipment to replace engine driven magnetos.

911SC Perma-Tune

This was a seven pin Perma-Tune equipped with a conversion harness that would allow it to be plugged into the 6 pin harness of the Porsche 911SC cars. It was a bolt up, plug in, performance replacement for the Porsche 911SC OE ignition module.

GENERATION 4 IGNITION MODULE

Gen 4 2004 thru 2012

HISTORY

The Gen 4 Perma-Tune was a hybrid surface mount and through hole technology design. It still used an analog power system and used both digital technology and surface mount manufacturing techniques. At the time, surface mount power technology was not fully developed so the power section of the design was still through hole transistor technology. New technology allowed for the Gen 4 design to provide a much shorter duration capacitive discharge output. It was still + 400 Volts output but the wave form of the output was different from the Gen 3.

The finned housing was replaced with a smooth housing since heat dissipation was no longer an issue. Several different connectors were fitted to the flying lead to accommodate different cars.

Gen 4 with Flying Lead Connector

The flying leads were available in 3 pin, 6 pin Porsche 911SC, 6 pin universal and 8 pin connectors.

GENERATION 5 IGNITION MODULE

Gen 5 2012 thru 2021

HISTORY

The Gen 5 Perma-Tune was a complete departure from previous generations in both design and theory of operation. This is a fully digital design utilizing advanced surface mount components, embedded systems, hi reliability processors and wireless technology. The theory of operation changed from a capacitive discharge system to a nanosecond discharge system.

The Gen 5 is a direct plug and play installation, is acceptable in most concourse judging. The housing is an aluminum casting made to look like the factory Porsche ignition module of the 1980s. This is the same ignition module housing used by many other car makers at the time, Perma-Tune has replicated them all.

Modern communications features are hidden under the aluminum housing.

To keep the Perma-Tune looking exactly original to the car, the digital electronics features are hidden on the underside of the part. The operating instructions are printed right on the ID plate making it easy to use. The Gen 5 are equipped with a communications port for diagnostics and for customizing the operating program. Most of them also have diagnostic LEDs to help mechanics check the ignition functions of the car without the need for special diagnostics tools. Sensors are able to signal if there are conditions in the vehicle that can lead to a breakdown in the near future. The underside of the part is permanently sealed against vibration, heat, oil and water with a thick polymer coating. The housing is corrosion resistant and all hardware used in the construction of the Gen 5 is stainless steel.

911903

The 911903 three pin is the replacement for the original Blue Box used on the six cylinder Porsche 911.

911SC903

The 911SC903 six pin ignition module is used on all Porsche 911SC cars and on some US specification Porsche 930 Turbo cars. This part was also used when converting the earlier 911 car to the larger 911SC engine.

930903

The 930903 eight pin ignition module is used on European specification Porsche 930 Turbo cars. It is also used on many other European performance cars and dedicated track cars. The 911SC style housing with the 8 pin connector is available as a new replacement part with no core required. The 930 style housing with the 8 pin connector is a core exchange part. Original look alike cores are available.

GENERATION 6 IGNITION MODULE

GEN 6, 2021 TO PRESENT

The Gen 6 product line has expanded to include basic ignition modules, premium modules, coils and distributors for more vintage cars than ever before.

IGNITION MODULES

The sixth generation Perma-Tune ignition module is a refinement of the Gen 5 module in technology in both functionality and appearance. The sand cast aluminum housing of the previous generation is replaced with a smooth, die cast housing that is more consistent with the smooth look of the original housing. Technologically, the circuit board has updated hardware and firmware that makes it forward compatible with plasma spark plugs. Functionally, the diagnostic LEDs have been moved to the connector so that they can be viewed using a mirror without having to dismount the module from the relay panel. The overload protectors have been moved to the back side of the connector where they are more accessible yet hidden from view when the module is installed on the car.

The most significant new feature of the Gen 6 Perma-Tune module is its compatibility with cold plasma spark plugs which are destined to become commercially available. These spark plugs are also known as non-resistive plasma spark plugs, transient discharge spark plugs or non-thermal nano pulse discharge spark plugs. All Gen 6 Premium ignition modules have the capability to function with either conventional spark plugs or plasma spark plugs. The plasma function can be turned on with a software setting using the Perma-Tune USB Smart Wire, Bluetooth Smart Wire or by sending your module to the factory for a free software setting change. Until plasma spark plugs become commercially available, we recommend using the stock spark plugs for your particular engine. We do not recommend using platinum spark plugs with the Perma-Tune module. High performance engines show the most horsepower gains using the stock Porsche Turbo multiple ground spark plugs.

The advantages of non-thermal nano second discharge plasma ignition have been well documented in many scientific papers including those written by the inventor of the Gen 6 Perma-Tune. Much of the horsepower gains of this technology are due to the ability to retard ignition timing as the result of faster flame front propagation. The ability to retard ignition timing reclaims horsepower that would otherwise be absorbed by pumping losses and reduces the formation of NOx at the same time. Engines equipped with nano pulse discharge ignition can tolerate leaner fuel mixtures and a wider range of fuel formulations.

Most significantly for vintage car enthusiasts, nano pulse discharge ignition will allow your car to remain street legal far into the future while continuing to deliver the thrill of a high performance engine.