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Points ignition……

J

JohnC

Veteran Member
Senior Member
I assume everyone here runs electronic ignition but maybe I’m wrong. My 67 had a fully functional points distributor initially but my Dad long ago convinced me to swap in a bone yard HEI back when they were plentiful and cheap in the boneyards. It’s been fine but I want to go back to at least the look of a points distributor (smaller cap and external coil) mainly for aesthetics. Engine in a warmed over 350, nothing crazy.

Is points too much of a hassle? I guess there is some maintenance that is needed and people question the quality of currently available points.
I hear mixed reviews of Pertronix but I guess that is the alternative. Any experience?

Any alternatives? I see eBay/ Amazon have some cheap, knock off electronic ignitions that try to fool you that they are Pertronix, but doesn’t seem worth the risk except maybe as a backup to have in the glovebox.

Anyone have a picture of what the “correct” appearing coil and ballast resistor mount would look like?

Is there any reason to get anything more than the generic Rockauto coils? I assume the mega voltage coils are unnecessary.

Thanks.
 
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I use points on several cars, I find them simple and dependable. I search for blue streak points but I've used others. I rip into the old dizzies, clean, and shim the gear to around 12 thousands end play and verify the vacuum advance. I keep a spare set of points in the glove box on frequent drivers. The factory hei dizzies are usually good to 5500 rpm, while the points in good shape can go well beyond 6k.
 
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And I've got a perttonix in the 66 but the quality of that reluctor wheel scares me. It's a plastic piece with metal tabs and is nowhere near true. Mine probably varies .080 in rotation but they say that's acceptable and the pick-up seems to not mind. Still scary.
 
The PerTronix electronic upgrade in a points dist seems to be a good upgrade, I don’t have one but do have a Pert HEI, only problem I really remember having with point dist was faulty factory coils and that, IIRC was with Fords and Harleys, changed my Shovelhead to electronic too
 
I don't know if this crabby guy is still building distributors.

DAVE's small-body HEI's

Conversion service for HEI Electronic Ignition Systems for Point Type Automotive Distributors
www.davessmallbodyheis.com www.davessmallbodyheis.com
 
Thanks. There probably doesn’t seem to be a good reason why I should convert the distributor to electronic. I’ll clean up what I’ve got and replace what isn’t up to snuff.

Finishing up the new AAW wiring harness install which is part of the reason I needed to make a decision on this (so I can decide if the harness is set up for points or HEI).
 
JohnC said:
Thanks. There probably doesn’t seem to be a good reason why I should convert the distributor to electronic. I’ll clean up what I’ve got and replace what isn’t up to snuff.

Finishing up the new AAW wiring harness install which is part of the reason I needed to make a decision on this (so I can decide if the harness is set up for points or HEI).
Click to expand...
I like old school after working on newer, electronic stuff.
 
I have never done a pertronix conversion. I've done the HEI conversion, but sometimes run into the issues of it hitting the firewall. If points ran for 100k+ miles in the car with regular tune ups, there really isn't any reason to change them. Adjusting points with a dwell is so damn easy. I'd check the dwell once a month, and only took like 3 to 5 minutes. Kept the car running smooth.
 
I loved setting the timing with points & condenser! My current ‘67 came with an HEI setup and I’m 🤞it keeps working! 🤣

I did buy a numbers correct dizzy just in case, but it would need a rebuild! It has an old Pertronix unit on it.

Still looking for a correct Rochester Quadrajet carb though, but have the ‘69 350 Roch Quad Carb running pretty well, but still not perfect!

I know one thing, I’m 100% sick of this loooong cold Winter to get the hell outta here! Just really unfair for car guys! 😟
 
Nothing wrong with points, my Firebird has points in it, and my 409 Biscayne may go back to points as they just seem to run better IMO.
 
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