Electronic Ignition system for pre '75, pros, cons, problems
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Don't need to carry a spare set of points. When points/condenser start to deteriorate, there is usually some very minor misfiring. Not enough to be troublesome...but enough to let you know to do maintenance. You could run for hundreds of miles like that, before it became a problem; so no difficulty driving it to your garage for 20 minutes of work (every year or so).
If you want to go electronic, have at it. I included my suggestion for that too. Or do you just want to bicker....
If you want to go electronic, have at it. I included my suggestion for that too. Or do you just want to bicker....
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,057
Likes: 9,393
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
The sheer number of cars produced with both points and a true electronic ignition prove they both work just fine and both can fail at any given time. Threads like this are pointless and change no ones mind. Run what works for you.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 379
Likes: 54
Thanks for the posts, they've been very useful and informative. I've learned a lot about the various systems that's not in their marketing descriptions.
I was most interested in reliability and limitations not disclosed in sale literature.
I was most interested in reliability and limitations not disclosed in sale literature.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,682
Likes: 3,434
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
I would not argue that one id more reliable than the other, but I do enjoy not having to set dwell, and advance is all electronic on mine. I also really like the more accurate and stable tach operation from electronic ignition.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,057
Likes: 9,393
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
If you had five diffreant cars that were indentical expect for ignition that was running in perfect order and kept the hood closed and didn't tell the driver. under normal driving he would never know what created that spark
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,682
Likes: 3,434
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Earlier in this thread I explained that I changed out for a Mallory MaxFire distributor and converted to an electric tach.
Mine is a probably a little more involved than you want to go, but I converted to a Mallory MaxFire electronic distributor on my '71. It has all the timing control and rev limiter built into it so no need for an external box. I removed the resistance wire and ran a new 12ga pink wire from the bulkhead connector to the distributor. This is exactly how the '75+ HEI cars came from the factory. I did also have to convert to an electronic tach, as there is no tach drive on it. I have the factory one rebuilt with electronic guts by Roger at Corvette Instrument Service in Florida. He did a great job.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
I've had factory 1974 dated GM HEI dizzy , wires , all stock ignition in my 74 Z28 motor for 8 years now . Never has failed , still has same plugs . Clean as a pin. I'm using a Ruggles rebuilt Quadrajet and stock air cleaner. Btw ....there were TSB s from GM early on that corrected the problems found that first year.
It really is a good system for up to 7000 rpm. .....way more than I'm gonna need.
It really is a good system for up to 7000 rpm. .....way more than I'm gonna need.