I have a '68 small block. She runs good. A friend keeps suggesting that I put in an electronic ignition (like pertronix). I am usually of the opinion that if it ain't broke don't fix it; but the friend is pretty knowledgeable and has given me good advice before. Will the electronic ignition really improve mileage, power etc?

 

If in tune no change.

I use the Breakerless SE electronic conversion kit and it's been trouble free. Make sure you use a matching coil if you use this one.

 

X2

I resisted changing but finally made the change. It's just one less thing to go wrong or that needs attention.

 

Couple of ways to look at this. One, the original points system requires some maintenance once in a while. The electronic stuff seems to last nearly forever. Two, if the thing quits and leaves you on the side of the road, with points you may be able to adjust them a bit and get home. If the electronics die, it's time for a flatbed.

 

I have a pertronic in one of my small blocks and points in the other two. Performance is the same. I had a pertronics in my air cooled VW and it went out, had to tow it home. On the other hand, points are very reliable and very little maintenance required, especially the GM distributors with the little window. All you need is a dwell meter and an allen wrench.

 

A matter of having a spare set of points and a condenser.......or......having a spare ignition module (and hoping it solves the problem).

 

Was it cheaper for GM to go from points to HEI?

I'm old school but embrace modern technology,
I guess purists are stuck with points,

I have put 100K miles on a 81 without the HEI system failing, I have been around points that never really worked "right" my dad said that was because 99% of the people who thought they could adjust points correctly were fooling themselves.

While it's true points will allow in some cases a road side adjustment and go HEI just do not fail to began with, I do not carry any other spare parts so I do not want to carry spare points.

I personally would never try to live with my 69 as a DD with points and the reason is even if a guru adjusts the points perfect from that moment forward they are wearing no secret points need re adjustments along the way, So I grab a hopped up HEI and forget it.

But if I had a Sunday funday car that I drove once in a blue moon and it had points and they were working well I would still swap to HEI because it is hotter than points but that's just me I can see no reason unless just personal like I feel to swap out points in a seldom driven car...unless you want to further remove risk of getting stranded.

I know there are die hard points fans I will not try to sway them but all my cars including my ACVW's have electronic ignition.
Electronic ignition is more reliable than points and works better with far less hassles.

 

BATS!

You missed the POINT(s)!




Sorry......couldn't help myself

 

I still have dwell meters, but would rather change my vehicles to electronic. The HEI is really a great unit, and I always have a spare module to throw in the car just in case.

 

DG...did I?
I am not firing on 8 cylinders today,
This electronic thing is big in ACVW circles and for a while I carried a spare dizzy in the truck of the trike, with a vw it's easier to swap a whole dizzy than points or electronic mod on the road side but never needing it I leave it in the tool box at home,

I was pondering and perhaps no one "needs" to swap points to electronic but electronic is better in many ways.....

 

If your factory ignition is working well, there's good reason to keep it. For my 68, I bought a HEI distributor with a mechanical tach compatibility feature. It's been working out just great. I think the HEI has less maintenance problems and I also think it's just a little bit better performance wise.

Also, a fine point. If the N Koreans, Chinese, etc, ever explode a high yield exo-atmospheric nuclear bomb somewhere near where you live, the High Energy Magnetic Pulse (HEMP) will very likely destroy cars with the computerized, electronic ignitions, etc. An old car, with distributor breaker points, the old fashioned ignition coil, and a simple old metallic key ignition switch, mechanical fuel pump will still work.

 

If we get nuked I assure you the very last thing I would have concern with is if my modern cars will run....

 

FWIW: if you use the Breakerless SE electronic conversion kit you can swap back to a points system in about 15 minutes. The Breakerless SE system basically just takes the points and condenser and replaces them with a module, only the single stock wire is required to make the system work. There is no modification of any type required.

So the argument what to do if the module goes bad doesn't really hold up as you can replace it with a set of points, same deal as if your points or condenser goes bad.

 

I've used Pertronix points eliminator with great results. I have also switched back to points in the 68 L36. They both work. I just wanted to go back to stock. Pertronix still in the 65 442...

 

Hmmm, 42 yrs of driving. My early cars were points, everything else electronic. With the exception of the ballast resistor in the duster, I've had exactly 1 ignition failure that has left me stranded. It was a coil in an HEI distributor, just went **** up 40 miles from nowhere.
I'm running all msd stuff in the corvette.

 

I love the neat old mechanical tach drive of my 74 corvette. The housing is cast iron , bullet proof and reliable.

I also have a 74 HEI GM distributor , the first and very simple HEI in my Z28 . I have no problem so far with it. Although I might say the HEI seems to be less prone to fouling plugs . It starts really nice and puts out a lot of voltage.

Not broke ...I'd just leave it alone.

 

the only real plus for points is they don't fail completely. unlike an EM which can fail and give you no spark, points wear and go out of adjustment over time. condenser can fail, but car will still run (poorly) but it'll get you home... you almost never have a no spark at all condition with points, unless the wire gets severed inside...

 

I beg to differ. Years ago a friend of my first wife had her car quit on the road. Fortunately it was right by a Corvette Cleveland member. She just had the car tuned up and the brand new point condenser had failed. I vote for mechanical tach, HEI. Lou.

 

condensers absorb voltage to keep the points from burning prematurely. it is the same as a capacitor in any electronic circuit. if it fails, the car will run until the points arc over. this does not happen immediately. whoever tuned up the car did something wrong...

 

your choice, carry spare points, they seldom fail,
and you drive home with the car running rough.

or carry spare electronic module, they do fail more frequently than points.
and when they fail, you are stranded.

personally I really do not see a Hugh advantage of upgrading to HEI.
and your removing some of the original components. which tend to disappear never to be seen again.