Blah to points. I set my point's dwell to 30 degrees as per the owner's manual but they go bad every few months or so. I want to do a conversion (to electronic) but I have no idea what to do. Could you gurus send some detailed instruction on a conversion or clue me into why my points look like some bar trowler's face every few months? All imformation is much appreceated!!!
Send the points distributor to www.davessmallbodyheis.com, and get the MSD trigger conversion. Then run an MSD box like the 6A(L). You'll have a bullet proof ignition.
GM used to recommend the points were STILL USABLE until the amount of metal transfer was LARGER than the point gap. First Guess: You're changing points way too often, because you don't realize what they "normally" look like. Keep in mind that the rough texture of the points INCREASES THE SURFACE AREA and so isn't all bad. Have you checked point resistance with an ohmmeter? Having said all that...by all means switch to a magnetic breakerless system like HEI or the "Dave's Smallbody HEI", or MSD.
most auto parts stores sell point conversions for about $60-80 bucks. ive been thinking about it but points dont give me problems.
Petronix makes a simple conversion kit which utilizes your original cap and rotor for about $70. they work very well, can be done in 10 minutes and do not take away from the stock distributor appearance. I can get you a phone # if you can't find it online. Dick
i have never had any problem with points . check you plug gap . new plug & coil wires ? check the distributor cap to be sure that there is no corrosion on the metal pickups . do u also change the condenser when u change the points ? are coil wires good ? if the coil is going sour & producing too much inductive voltage , that could fry the points . also too much heat can destroy the points . sounds like u have too much resistance somewhere those wires , though .
Thanks to everyone for the input: JTY - I don't have it with me, but my plug gap is what is says in the owner's manual. LARRY70GS - Thanks for the link, I;ll check it out. (see below) Schurkey - I forgot to mention, when they look bad, they perform bad. - I haven't checked the resistance though... skitzofrenic66 - I was thinking about it...(see below) Dick Gervais - I've been looking into that exact item - I think I'm going to purchase one today; I inderstand you can use the system with an MSD 6 no problem. gstewart - I've changed everything you mentioned thinking it was one or the other but no dice I took a photograph of the points and sent it to Ripley's Beleive It or Not and they sent the pic back with a note: "We don't beleive it." yuk yuk Thanks again for the responses. Right now I am going to: 1. replace the points 2. order and install the Pertronix conversion 3. eventually add the MSD6 Which reminds me... does anybody make 350 Buick heads or will I have to get the iron originals ported?
I like the old points system. that with dual coils [ gotta make your own dual coil wire] was a blast. Points get dirty but they are suppose to. Its a contact thing. Like a cap n rotor you could just scrap them clean n re-gap if needed but you shouldn't need to very often. twice a year?.
Works Great Conversion went fine. I think I found out why I kept eating points: The coils I bough stated "Use with external resistor" (these were the only ones available through THREE different parts stores) and the schematic on the ignition says nothing about a resistor or resistor wire. HMMMM.... Anyway, pertronix works great. Thanks for the advice. Oh, and check out my kill story - It postponed my conversion by a few days.
I first stepped out of the world of points with a junkyard HEI for $25.00! I even snagged the plug wires and ran them (temporarily)! The car ran better instantly, and I had been using Top Notch Mallory brass ign parts! Now, I still use an HEI, even after a few years with a MSD 6AL.
