EI vs Points

[Elmo65]

Points are easy for me. EI, not so much. Im talking driver type cars. Cars that came from the factory wlth points. Not race cars. I have converted a few. It is a tedious project. Is it worth the effort? I say if it works well, leave it alone. What are your thoughts? I’m old and set in my ways, BTW.)

 

[RustyRatRod]

Points work very well as long as they're maintained and adjusted.

 

[Professor Fate]

IF you can find a consistent source of good points and condensors. Sadly, the same can be said for electronic ignition components... so, pick your poison- go with what you're comfortable with, but whichever it is, carry spares.

 

[Elmo65]

I carry an entire distributor.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I carry an entire distributor.

That's what most smart Mopar guys do.

 

[Bewy]

I am old too, but would not use points. Last time I used points was 1974 [ or was it 1975....]. If you are doing a lot of mileage, EI is a definite winner. The rubbing block on the points starts wearing down at the first turn of the key; it retards ign causing lost power & mileage.
As far as EI goes, the GM HEI is hard to beat. There is a reason that HEI is made for all the non-GM cars: it is so good. Simple one wire hook up to 12v ign.

 

[jas0162]

I run a stock mopar electronic distributor with a 4 pin hei module mounted somewhere on the car. The engine just seems to start and run better than with a single point distributor, and no big gm hei cap.

It isn’t as easy as just hooking up one wire, but I’ve done this on several cars and it’s not that tough. I still carry a complete single point distributor in the trunk just in case.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I am old too, but would not use points. Last time I used points was 1974 [ or was it 1975....]. If you are doing a lot of mileage, EI is a definite winner. The rubbing block on the points starts wearing down at the first turn of the key; it retards ign causing lost power & mileage.
As far as EI goes, the GM HEI is hard to beat. There is a reason that HEI is made for all the non-GM cars: it is so good. Simple one wire hook up to 12v ign.

View attachment 1716487109

Like you have room to talk. Yall's toilets don't even flush the right way. lol

 

[Bewy]

They flush every Saturday at 8pm, lol!!

 

[RustyRatRod]

They flush every Saturday at 8pm, lol!!

Is that when you bathe too? I knew I smelled somethin. lol

 

[Elmo65]

I do like Petronlx. Everyting except the cost

 

[harrisonm]

Like you have room to talk. Yall's toilets don't even flush the right way. lol

Australia is in the southern hemisphere, so water does actually go (spin) down a drain in the opposite direction as in the Northen hemisphere. This is due to Coriolis Force. This force is also what causes wind to flow Clockwise around a High Pressure area in the Northern Hemisphere and Counter Clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. So @Bewy gets to enjoy watching his poop spin down the drain in the opposite direction. Imagine how cool that would be.

Now, for my comment on EI. About 5-6 years ago, I switched my 69 340 over to a complete MSD setup. I bought the box, non vacuum distributor, coil and plug wires from MSD. I have been VERY pleased with it. I bought all black pieces, not the standard red. As you may know, below 2500 RPM (I think) you get two spark pulses in each cylinder every time the piston goes to TDC. It starts so much better, it idles better and the throttle response is better. Like I said, I am VERY impressed!

 

[72bluNblu]

I do like Petronlx. Everyting except the cost

I have Pertronix "plug and play" billet distributors in all my classics that I daily drive or drive frequently. Challenger, Duster, '71 F100. That's like almost 20 years running now, I've only had one unit go bad in that time and it was most likely 100% my fault for leaving the key on while I was troubleshooting another problem. And I think that module was close to a decade old anyway.

I don't see a downside at all. The distributor is easier to re-curve, no welding and filing advance slots because you don't run the factory intended 10° of advance at idle. And the mopar electronic ignition has the problem of most of the orange boxes being absolute garbage. And you'd probably have better luck finding a replacement pertronix ignition module at a parts store now than any of the factory parts. And if you carry a spare one they change out in about 5 minutes with the distributor in place. It's easy.

No, I'm absolutely done daily driving anything with points. I had a dual point set up in my Healey 100 when I was daily driving it, it worked great forever and then one day I burned up a condenser. And then over the next several months I went through a literal CASE of condensers to find one that wouldn't break up as soon at it got up to operating temp. The replacement condensers (and points) are pretty much 100% trash now. And it really sucks because they pretty much all test good when they're cold, but fail when they get up to temperature when driving. So you think you're good and then you're on the side of the road. Sure, if you find a good one it might last a decade. But you might have to change the condenser, burnish the points and re-time your car on the side of the road a few dozen times to find that one. No thanks, not doing that again.

Plus if you're set up for points now the Pertronix plug-and-play distributor goes in with no permanent modifications to the wire harness. If you use the mopar electronic ignition you have to add all the stuff for the ignition module into the harness (did that for my '71 Dart, it's not "plug and play"). With the pertronix you could still carry your points distributor as a back up, you just un-bypass the ballast and you're good to go.

 

[Elmo65]

harrisonm;
How does your wallet feel?

 

[harrisonm]

harrisonm;
How does your wallet feel?

I think I paid about $600 back then. It would probably be closer to $900 now. It aint cheap, but in my opinion, it is well worth the cost. The mechanical advance distributor was very easy to set up. Call MSD. They were very helpful in helping me decide. And I used to get discount offers online from Summit all the time. Right now, you can save 10% by getting a Summit Credit card. Get the card, use it once and then cancel it.

 

[abodyjoe]

. I have converted a few. It is a tedious project.

converting to electronic ign is tedious? really?

 

[RustyRatRod]

Australia is in the southern hemisphere, so water does actually go (spin) down a drain in the opposite direction as in the Northen hemisphere. This is due to Coriolis Force. This force is also what causes wind to flow Clockwise around a High Pressure area in the Northern Hemisphere and Counter Clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. So @Bewy gets to enjoy watching his poop spin down the drain in the opposite direction. Imagine how cool that would be.

Now, for my comment on EI. About 5-6 years ago, I switched my 69 340 over to a complete MSD setup. I bought the box, non vacuum distributor, coil and plug wires from MSD. I have been VERY pleased with it. I bought all black pieces, not the standard red. As you may know, below 2500 RPM (I think) you get two spark pulses in each cylinder every time the piston goes to TDC. It starts so much better, it idles better and the throttle response is better. Like I said, I am VERY impressed!

As some of you know, my son is living in Australia now. We talk about their toilets from time to time...jokin about it of course. lol You know, bathroom humor is right in the wheelhouse of my intelligence level. LOL Anyway, he says it actually doesn't spin because of the type of toilets they have. It just blasts everything down. We need those here. LMAO

 

[RustyRatRod]

I carry an entire distributor.

Here's how you make your decision. If what you have NOW works, I would use it. You can find quality replacement parts through our member @halifaxhops, as he is the ignition go to guy around here and will be glad to help you.

 

[tonysrt]

I had a 340 Duster, I bought new, and it came with a single point distributor. I converted to the Mopar Electronic ignition and it really woke that motor up. Points are another maintenance item, especially with a Distributor in the rear of the engine, B engines not so bad with it up front.

 

[YY1]

I've done factory electronic ignition conversions on every as built points Mopar I've ever owned.

I find it a very easy job, and it used to be, an easy parts shopping list.

I've never had to use a kit or aftermarket parts.

 

[abodyjoe]

I find it a very easy job, and it used to be, an easy parts shopping list.

seriously. buy a 26 dollar harness (kinda hard to find used these days) and its 2 wires. one to the coil and another to "run" power on the ballast.

 

[toolmanmike]

I do like Petronlx.

I had the original dual point in my 66 Dart. I switched the single point to Pertronix in my 70 Swinger. Yet the Poly in my 64 Polara has been converted to 4 pin Mopar electronic. The only issue I have had so far has been with the Mopar Electronic.

 

[halifaxhops]

Both work well, it is really in the results you want out of a system. But to really get down to it it is the curve in the distributor that makes it run great or not no matter what system you use. GM, Petronix, MSD Mopar or points.

 

[Murray]

Rubbing block wear, really? How long does that take? Never seen it. I have no problem with points. How much do you drive your car? Dynoed my engine to 6K with no problem and points.

 

[YY1]

I've seen it happen.
Also had condensers go bad.
...and had them slip out of adjustment, which, according to Murphy's law, will happen at the least opportune times.