kenmo

I'm thinking about replacing my points and condensor with an electronic system. I'm leaning towards the Crane XR-1 unit. What are the other regulars here using ....


Oops - hit ENTER too soon. Wanted to point in another option - keeping points & condensor....


[Modified by kenmo, 9:43 AM 9/16/2003]

Cowtown Dave

The previous owner of my car put a mallory on in 91 and he and I have not had a problem

VetteLT4

ive used msd in the past with amazing results. ill always go back to them

MasterDave

Put the Crane system on mine 3 years ago. Still there and solid as a rock. :steering:

Plasticman

Kenmo,

It would depend on how you use the Vette.

If you are into high performance and drive the Vette acordingly (competition of some sort), I would want a system that is both reliable and provide the extra spark. Would pick the Crane over MSD any day due to the reliability concern.

If you are looking for just reliable service, with an occasional short street blast, then a properly maintained point system is all that is needed. Besides, they are much easier to diagnose and repair!

If you want to get away from the "potential" problems a point system can cause (wear, semi-frequent checks/readjustments), then go with the Pertronix system. HEI would be another option, but the dist. would need to be recurved significantly (since they are really set up for emissions first, and good performance last).

Good luck,
Plasticman

66427-450

my opinion:

well, what do you hope to accomplish? I keep my car stock, unless there is a good reason to modify it.

the stock points/setup is excellent, if you rebulid/blueprint the distributor and get some decent tuneup parts it will perform superbly to 6500-7000 RPM, with outstanding reliability. (& we're only talking about 30-40$ max). AND, your car stays stock!

now, if you have a radical engine that fouls plugs like crazy at low RPMs, or if you need the Rev-limiter feature (a significant amount of high RPM racing type use), then your application may justify the modification to an electronic setup.

for 90-95% of the guys here, a restored original setup is actually fine....... there are other places to spend your money if you want to "improve" your car (you know, cost/benefit analysis 101 :-).

stngry63

I've used the MSD and Mallory unilite module in a otherwise stock distributor. I have never had any trouble out of either, but I vote for the Mallory. The Mallory is cheaper and can easily be returned to points on the side of the road in the event of a break down. If the MSD distributor/box breaks, your're stranded.

Milehigh66

MSD, that was my vote anyway. Have not had a problem yet. Quick starts and runs great. :yesnod: Now if I can get the body work done and back on the road. Love this hobby, hate this hobby.


:banghead:

REVIVER

I put a Mallory Unilite in a car 14 years ago and drove it for 4 years before selling it with no problems at all. That was before they came out with the filters. I just put one in my 67 and she is running strong and clean. Two club members have had an MSD box leave them stranded and waiting for a tow truck so far this summer. Mallory Unilite gets my vote.

:flag

Mikey1

Simply used the breakerless conversion kit. solved my problems.....stable idle....and carry an old set of points and condenser.....if anything happens.

Now some more people over here that did the conversion and all are happy.
(additional 4 guys !)

kenmo

Who is the manufacturer of the breakerless conversion you used ?

LT1driver

crane for me, point conversion is XRi I think :confused: summit or jegs carry it for around 65 bucks and it has a rev limiter function also, in my opinion better than pertronic :cheers:

brucep

pertonics

LouieM

A Mallory breakerless unit and coil came with my 67 and works great. But, it does have a multicolored wire loom so does not look stock at all. Some other makers have one black wire instead of a loom, if stock looks are important.

solidlift

I still run points in mine & very happy with their performance. If you know
how to set up your distributor & maintain points & you are not worried about
ever revving the nuts out of it, then keep it stock.
:cool:

kenmo

I like the idea of the Crane rev limiter....

six-T-six

I have a MSD 7-AL, it's been in the car for 8 years now, no problems. Also have MSD distributor with a mechanical tach drive. No problems with that either. I haven't used the other ones.

Stinger66

I threw out the dual point system that my car had when I bought it in 86'.
Being it was a mallory i installed a unilite kit.. Lasted a yr. So I bought a new tach drive mallory unilite, I couldnt keep bushings in it for long, and the heat would burn out the module at any time.. I kept 2 spare in the glovebox and used them as well..After 15 years of rebuilding the mallory I went to the MSD tach drive and 6al box and it has been excellent so far..
Points and me could never co-exist, running good points that minimised float would wear out the cam they ride on and if they were closed when you shut the engine off, upon restarting they would weld themselved closed by arching.
They all have their plus and minus, but MSD gets my vote. :steering: :steering:

Cliff63

Stone stock for me. But, I am an old dude raised on distributors, points, dwell, advance, and such. :cheers:

toddalin

I run a Mallory HighFire IV that is triggered off the points. Then I put in quality Accel points. Because the points now only trigger the Mallory, they carry no real current and don't wear due to arcing. This also removes the need for a ballast resistor. I left the resistor in place and put a jumper around it. If the Mallory were to fail, I would simple unplug this jumper, and insert the provided Mallory by-pass plug and run on the points as in the stock set-up. (Like having best of both worlds.)

To make things more interesting, I run a high voltage coil, solid copper core spark plug wires, and non-resistor plugs. This way, when those ricers with the blaring stereos go by, they (and everyone else) get to enjoy the sound of my ignition over their systems. :lol:

Mallory does recommend that when using solid core wires, that at least the coil wire is a spiral core (which I do) for a little resistance.
:D


[Modified by toddalin, 7:46 PM 10/22/2003]