Folks Of Interest What’s wrong with points and other “upgrades”

This was just mentioned in another post about someone having issues with electronic ignition and not wanting to go backwards.

Had a buddy this week end ask why I was doing a tune up
And points on my 64 merc and why not “upgrade” to electronic ignition?
I told him have you seen a ford electronic distributor? They look like shit! ( to me anyways) and I like my wee little points cap !!


When I bought my 53 Chrysler I wanted to “ upgrade” to
12v and electronic ignition , alternator etc. My boss asks my
Why?
I says “ to make it more reliable”
He looks at me straight face and goes “ so this thing has lived for 50 years just like this...... and your going to make it MORE RELIABLE?!?

yeah, so it stayed stock and I drove that car all over hells half acre with 0 issues in the 3 years I owned it!


Anyways rant over.

 

I worked at a tune-up shop for a few years in my 20's and I don't ever want to see another set of points. I don't want to go backwards either. OK, rant over...

 

Book of matches and a test light. Non compatible for electronics.

 

You do know that you can use the points-type cap and rotor on the Duraspark distributors, right?.... That's the only external difference....

 

I'm off topic under the cap...not that anyone would know...its the original distributor and cap...coils in a finned cup and regulator is still there...so far no issues and I never, ever belittle those that prefer OEM...no rant...

Almost Vert Weather @VANDENPLAS...

 

The late model oversized distributors, and accompanying caps are ugly without doubt.
Another way to go electronic of course is to utilize the stock distributor with a Pertonics conversion.
I grew up with point type distributors, and was okay with them..todays off shore ignition components are simply not of the same quality they once were though.

 

C'mon guys, there's really only one (well kind'a) "traditonal" upgrade for points distributors, and that's a Vertex Mag. Still points tho...

 

I used a Pentronix electronic ignition on the Ranch Wagon when I was building the car, reason being a hotter spark and a more reliable ignition system, I have used these in the past and had nothing but praise for the setup, until it let me down in a turn lane on a busy intersection at rush hour on Friday afternoon when the car just died, no warning!

I have re-evaluated my thoughts and installed points and haven't worried about sitting on the side of the road, with points you can fix them on the side of the road or limp home, with the electronic ignition they are working or not, period! HRP

 

...That's why the Hokey Ass Forum is open for inspired shit that looks Traditional but isn't as some stuff you can't see is not traditional but we can still play. I'm okay with that...I respect the traditional crowd...and for the most part meet the criteria minus a few issues. I feel no less a Hamber for my few inspired items.

As alluded a breakdown on ignition will be a tilt n' load.

 

All kidding aside, SIMPLICITY, in my eyes, is what makes Hot Rodding fun!
No need to reinvent the wheel

 

Ponder this. Electronics "Hotter Spark!!!" just to be killed with resistored wires and plugs.

 

And that is why I "UPGRADED".

Ben

 

Those that can't adjust, clean or understand how points work{so simple a caveman,LOL} ya,they need them high $ smokebox things,when the smoke get out call a towtruck deals ! Not fixible,it's junk,but points can be made to work an get home.
Thanks,I've towed a few buddy's home with my points in my Y-block Ford. T-bird powered "A" is fine pretty much as designed. Did go to alt. for bat sake.

 

I upgraded my points ignition with an early '60's transistor module. Still uses points.

Sent from my SM-T350 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I agree 100%. I have worried over the exact same thing and I am ready to go “backwards” just for simplicity as my trips get longer and the miles pile up. If my OT distributor even hiccups the original one will go back in. Randy


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

What did you UPGRADE to?

 

Where's the best place to get a set of Chevy points now?

 

Fingers crossed not that I really worry about it...if it happens I get out of harm's way...my components may be offshore...don't know.

 

Dana do you have a business card...

It's been 3 plus years now...and I expect another few months of fun, fun, fun.

 

Accel
A good condenser is a different story...

 

"going backwards" (in time & function) is what the hamb was supposed to be about.

The points, condenser, cap & rotor in my Olds Rocket powered 32 are likely from the early 60s, as I got them at a local NOS/NORS parts warehouse, but I have never even looked at them since the car went on the road in Oct 2016.

it's my primary car, no Triple A, no cell, no spare parts in the car. I fear nothing.... except...perhaps me eventually getting too old to do anything




.

 

Thanks

 

I suppose you could call that Da Deal...Ya Work....Good...You F'up see ya later...just that easy peezy.

When it dies I go back...after a few expletives of course....

 

I never got 100,000 miles out of plugs with points but I never had to use anti seize on the plug with points

 

There are trade-off's, but minor maintenance isn't really an issue in my book. But what do I know

 

Points. Period.

 

^^^^^ You make a good point.

 

I'm stickin with points!
I cooked 2 Pertronixs in my Edsel Roundup that has an overdrive. The way the O.D. unit functions is that there is a momentary short of the ignition system when the O.D. kicks in.

I"m pretty sure that momentary short is what eventually cooked those 2 Pertronixs.
For the amount of miles that I run between my cars , the points are fine.
AND easier to diagnose

Oldmics

 

This is OT from hot rods, but I was on a fun weekend motorcycle trip with a 175 Honda just a few years ago. Yeah, a 175. My brother-in-law was on a "big" bike, a 300 Yamaha. My Honda was running worse and worse as the 2nd day went on. I finally thought to check the points. They had closed up to where they were probably only breaking a few thousands of an inch which retarded the timing . I re-gapped them with the best thing I had....a business card. It was like a new bike all over.

My point (no pun intended) is that although electronics might do things points won't I feel pretty good about limping a set of points home. In the case of the 175.....I don't think I even bothered to change the points, but did reset them properly with a feeler gauge when I got home.

Lynn