Electronic Vs. Points

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roccodart440 said:
Stop worrying about peak numbers. Worry about idle, longevity and 800-3,000rpm.
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Points had the electronics covered on the lower part of the scale as well.
Idle quality gas nothing to do with ignition and everything to do with mixture control.
Longevity? You consider throwing $7 at a fresh set of points every year or so a longevity issue?
You must really hate things like oil and fan belts too
 
I do. And that's why cars don't come with points anymore. I embrace new and improved technology.

I set my lash once or twice per per year. I would never want to have a solid cam in a daily driver because of this. I'm willing to sacrifice the inconvenience in my car due to it's use and the amount of use it see's. I'm not willing to sacrifice it with my ignition. I've run points, have a dwell meter.. the whole jazz. I have no use for it. Electronic ignition has so many benefits beyond points.

Imagine going to your engine builder of choice and saying hey, slap some points in that

Lets start with the distributor, magnetic pickup vs. points. Ever heard of point foat or point bounce? Then on to the box, hotter, bigger spark and in the case of multiple spark ignitions more of them. Adjustability. I.e. spark retard, start retard, rev limiter(s). Boost retard.

Come on, are we really going to go to bat saying points are better than electronic ignitions? Detroit apparently has it all wrong. I'll get right on the horn. Lets get some points in the new hellcats.
 
I never noticed a performance advantage between points or electronic ignition. Just less maintenance. I friend of mine with a 383 Road Runner did a lot of tuning over the years and noticed no difference in performance between the dual point or single point distributor. Never been thrilled with MSD either. Tried one years ago, before the Chinese quality problems, an MSD 5C that ran good at first, then got weak, swapped back my old Chrome Box. Still working fine 40 years later.
 
I doubt you would see a difference between single and dual points. You're still on points technology.

On the flip side, I've never had a MSD fail. Only orange and chrome boxes and the infamous ballast resistors, which by the way, electronic ignitions eliminate.

Fortunately today, even us mopar guys have many more choices other than points, MPP boxes and MSD's. SO even if those 3 don't float your boat, you stil have a long list to choose from.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Well said. I have a restored Mallory dual point Double Life I am going to use for the Hemi in my rat truck. It will work good.
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You realize on those distributors each set of points fire different cylinders. Make sure the dwell is the same for both sets of points or timing will be different between each set of points. Loved those distributors, by the way. Funky cap and all.
 
Points as a triggering device will operate an MSD as well as any electronic distributor. I've done this myself back to back, and there was zero difference, so all of the systems you mention will function just fine.
Point bounce and flutter does not become an issue until about the same operating range where all OE electronic systems **** the bed as well. A quality, full race Dual Point will deliver accurate triggering to 10,000 rpm and beyond. Some of the last race cars to use point ignitions were the old Modified Eliminator cars. Leaving the line at 11,500, there were no electronic setups that would keep up reliably. This was in the mid 80s.
The biggest problem with points, is that nobody can make money on proven, perfected 100 year old technology.
 
i'm going with electronic for the reliability of it.. i know people used to drive day in and day out with points and some still do.. but damn the quality of points today have really dropped.
 
abodyjoe said:
i'm going with electronic for the reliability of it.. i know people used to drive day in and day out with points and some still do.. but damn the quality of points today have really dropped.
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Use whatever ignition system suits you and your needs best. I only jumped into this thread to counter some of the ignorance and old wives tales concerning points.
I have run them in everything from daily driver to Top Fuel Dragster, and until something comes along that is simpler, lighter, cheaper and displays a clear, distinct advantage, they are what I will always use
 
whitepunkonnitro said:
Use whatever ignition system suits you and your needs best. I only jumped into this thread to counter some of the ignorance and old wives tales concerning points.
I have run them in everything from daily driver to Top Fuel Dragster, and until something comes along that is simpler, lighter, cheaper and displays a clear, distinct advantage, they are what I will always use
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Plus when the EMP pulse happens from when the bombs are dropped, you'll still be ridin.

Theoretically.


lol
 
After the EMP pulse, I'll install the points distributor I keep in the trunk as backup, though if driving my M-B diesel, the engine wouldn't even feel it. After the Zombie Apocolypse, best transport might be a kick-start diesel motor scooter. I can't believe on TWD, their cars are still running on 3 yr old gas and some they run across even start.
 
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