Distributor Replacement
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 135
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From: Punta Gorda, Florida
Distributor Replacement
OK, I'm slowly working my way through issues/questions on my car, new to me last summer. I was thinking about upgrading the distributor to electronic to eliminate the points. Although I haven't had a problem yet, I remember from my youth the points were problematic. I replaced the stock distributor on my 1968 Z28 with a Mallory dual point distributor to eliminate point bounce at higher RPM. Since the Corvette engine I have has a much lower redline it may not be a problem, but the upgrade on the distributor eliminated point problems.
Any thoughts on replacing the points with an electronic module, or replacing the entire distributor? The current distributor has had the vacuum advance can removed.
TIA, Gene
Any thoughts on replacing the points with an electronic module, or replacing the entire distributor? The current distributor has had the vacuum advance can removed.
TIA, Gene
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
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From: Long Beach CA
Well......some people on this forum swear by points, while others swear at them. There are several points-eliminating electronic modules you can install. Pertronix seems to be the most popular, but there are several other brands.
If your current distributor is set up for a vacuum advance, certainly get a new one and install it. If it won't take one, get a distributor that will. You definitely need one for the best street performance.
If your current distributor is set up for a vacuum advance, certainly get a new one and install it. If it won't take one, get a distributor that will. You definitely need one for the best street performance.
Team Owner
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
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A spark is a spark. No fancy widget will gain you anything but talk at your local cruise in. To me switching away from points is a lot of money for very little gain. Is it really hard setting your points every 6k miles or 3 years
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
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Install a Pertronix unit to eliminate the points. Easy mod, and you can go back to points at any time. It is not a performance mod, just electronically does what the points did. I've run a Pertronix module for 15 years and have had great service. Engine runs up to 7000 revs without a hiccup!
Team Owner
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Army
If you want to convert and your distributor is your tach drive too - then a points replacement module is the way to go to keep your tach drive functional; if your distributor is NOT your tach drive then you can buy an entire Pertronix distributor already converted with lifetime lubricated bearings. I run one in my '61...
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: NorCal
Yup, I have it (Igniter II) in my '67 with the tach drive distributor and also in my "67 Mustang with a 289 built like a Shelby engine. No problems with either one in more than 5 years of experience - but I do keep a set of points and condenser in both cars just in case.
You never know when a gremlin might strike - or an EMF burst like in the remake of "War of the Worlds", when Tom Cruise had to drive his original GT 350 since the Martians attack disabled all modern cars electronics!
You never know when a gremlin might strike - or an EMF burst like in the remake of "War of the Worlds", when Tom Cruise had to drive his original GT 350 since the Martians attack disabled all modern cars electronics!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 986
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From: Kingwood Texas
Vacuum advance
As I remember from your other thread your current distributor does not have a vacuum advance. It's not clear whether you plan to replace your points with a pertronics module or replace the entire distributor as suggested by FTF. If the prior, don't forget to add the vacuum advance. 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 135
Likes: 17
From: Punta Gorda, Florida
As I remember from your other thread your current distributor does not have a vacuum advance. It's not clear whether you plan to replace your points with a pertronics module or replace the entire distributor as suggested by FTF. If the prior, don't forget to add the vacuum advance.
Team Owner
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
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That's true, there is no vacuum advance can on my distributer, but it does have a tach drive. I'm not sure which way I'll go, but with the distributor in wrong and missing parts it may be a good time to think about replacing the whole thing. First step is to find TDC, pull the distributor, and reorient it to the correct the position. I'm wondering why it was inserted the way it was in the first place. It's not that difficult to get it in correctly. I'm thinking about new spark plugs, wires, and get a fresh start with a tuneup.
probably simpler at this point.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Punta Gorda, Florida
I'm thinking about trying to fix the old distributor first, getting things working first before I make any modifications. Is there anything special about the vacuum advance can? I should be able find one at the auto parts store. Looks like the control rod fits into a hole in the advance mechanism and attaches with a screw. Adding the lines looks pretty straight forward. There is a blanking plug in the Weiand manifold right behind the carb.
Team Owner
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
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I'm thinking about trying to fix the old distributor first, getting things working first before I make any modifications. Is there anything special about the vacuum advance can? I should be able find one at the auto parts store. Looks like the control rod fits into a hole in the advance mechanism and attaches with a screw. Adding the lines looks pretty straight forward. There is a blanking plug in the Weiand manifold right behind the carb.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Kingwood Texas
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 135
Likes: 17
From: Punta Gorda, Florida
Thanks for the help and advice. I hope I'm not irritating folks with redundant questions.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 135
Likes: 17
From: Punta Gorda, Florida
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
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Army
Why would anything change adding the vacuum can? The weights and springs define the advance curve. The vacuum advance couldn't make that much difference, except maybe at idle. The distributor works ok now. I do need to pull it out to fix the orientation problem (see my thread on choke tube).
Thanks for the help and advice. I hope I'm not irritating folks with redundant questions.
Thanks for the help and advice. I hope I'm not irritating folks with redundant questions.
Having said that, I send my original '63 distributor to Lars for a rebuild and I was pretty grossed out at the problems he discovered including some real damage at the crossshaft gear. He fixed it up, curved it perfectly and had it back to me in a couple of weeks for what I consider a ridiculously low price for specialist work -- something to think about.
Now - Lars is a Pertronix-phobe....he'll deliver it back to you with points in it, but you can easily reinstall the electronic conversion (I did)...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; May 17, 2015 at 06:12 PM.