Ignition
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,238
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
In the 60's and 70's getting a film of oxidation on a set of points particularly on a vehicle that was parked up for several months at a time was extremely common.
Working on motorcycles and snowmobiles that both had there off seasons I ran into this often.
if the points don't ground the coil wont build up. The spark accurs when the points open. Losing the ground. But if the points never ground the coil will never build voltage. (Dwell).
so, to say the material that contact breaker points are made of never corrode? Sorry, I generally do agree with Lars.
But not on this one.
Next they'll be saying they never burn or get pitted .
The reason to switch over to a electronic ignition system is the same reason all the factory's did back in the 1970's. Less maintenance.
Working on motorcycles and snowmobiles that both had there off seasons I ran into this often.
if the points don't ground the coil wont build up. The spark accurs when the points open. Losing the ground. But if the points never ground the coil will never build voltage. (Dwell).
so, to say the material that contact breaker points are made of never corrode? Sorry, I generally do agree with Lars.
But not on this one.
Next they'll be saying they never burn or get pitted .
The reason to switch over to a electronic ignition system is the same reason all the factory's did back in the 1970's. Less maintenance.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 904
Likes: 569
From: Central NJ
I remember fixing my buddies boat that had some sort of 4 cylinder car motor with points, dressed the points with a points file and set the gap with a match book cover... Ran fine until he forgot to put the plug in it....LOL...he still does that type of stuff 40 years later!!!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: The Buckle of the Bible Belt. Joplin Mo
If you do decide to go with an upgrade to your ignition and change out the distributor, pay attention to hood clearance issues. A typical Chevy distributor may be too tall.
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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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
You can swap to a Pertronix system rather easily. But, they are not as inexpensive as they once were. The main drawback to an aftermarket electronic ignition system is that WHEN it fails, you are "dead in the water". There is no 'limp home' mode. Call the tow truck.
Stock points system, on the other hand, will let you know when they are in need of maintenance or replacement. And you can still drive home to do the repair.
Worst problem with stock GM points system is that owners start messing around with "hot" ignition coils, etc and end up burning points or shortening their life considerably. I've got nothing against a good (stock) GM HEI system But you still can't drive home WHEN the module fails.
And, as Lars points out, a stock points system using quality parts that is adjusted properly will perform just as well as any electronic system on a stock engine.
Stock points system, on the other hand, will let you know when they are in need of maintenance or replacement. And you can still drive home to do the repair.
Worst problem with stock GM points system is that owners start messing around with "hot" ignition coils, etc and end up burning points or shortening their life considerably. I've got nothing against a good (stock) GM HEI system But you still can't drive home WHEN the module fails.
And, as Lars points out, a stock points system using quality parts that is adjusted properly will perform just as well as any electronic system on a stock engine.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Absolutely to all of the above
of course I have never had a module fail. Car is only 47 years old so it could happen one day. I had a coil drop dead once. I was less than a block from home. We pushed it the rest of the way. A coil dropping dead on any ignition system will leave you dead.
There is no perfect system. Although I personally have had very good luck with HEI Distributors . I currently run a DUI HEI in my Vette.
Oh, and there is no such thing as a taller GM Distributor. Don't know where that one came from, (above). All the replacement HEI distributors will fit, they may not fit under the factory chrome shielding. Then get the shielding for a 76 or77.
of course I have never had a module fail. Car is only 47 years old so it could happen one day. I had a coil drop dead once. I was less than a block from home. We pushed it the rest of the way. A coil dropping dead on any ignition system will leave you dead.
There is no perfect system. Although I personally have had very good luck with HEI Distributors . I currently run a DUI HEI in my Vette.
Oh, and there is no such thing as a taller GM Distributor. Don't know where that one came from, (above). All the replacement HEI distributors will fit, they may not fit under the factory chrome shielding. Then get the shielding for a 76 or77.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,110
Likes: 9,424
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Absolutely to all of the above
of course I have never had a module fail. Car is only 47 years old so it could happen one day. I had a coil drop dead once. I was less than a block from home. We pushed it the rest of the way. A coil dropping dead on any ignition system will leave you dead.
There is no perfect system. Although I personally have had very good luck with HEI Distributors . I currently run a DUI HEI in my Vette.
Oh, and there is no such thing as a taller GM Distributor. Don't know where that one came from, (above). All the replacement HEI distributors will fit, they may not fit under the factory chrome shielding. Then get the shielding for a 76 or77.
of course I have never had a module fail. Car is only 47 years old so it could happen one day. I had a coil drop dead once. I was less than a block from home. We pushed it the rest of the way. A coil dropping dead on any ignition system will leave you dead.
There is no perfect system. Although I personally have had very good luck with HEI Distributors . I currently run a DUI HEI in my Vette.
Oh, and there is no such thing as a taller GM Distributor. Don't know where that one came from, (above). All the replacement HEI distributors will fit, they may not fit under the factory chrome shielding. Then get the shielding for a 76 or77.
. And the latest coil pack I had one give me an miss fire. I could get that home. But need a good scan tool to figure that out like you said there is not one great one that won't fail. It's how you can fix it and the availability of parts. The great thing about any GM ignition system is any auto parts store will have the parts you need in stock and can be fixed in less then an hour. Your one size fits most widgets your dead in the water until the mail man comes or you swap it back over
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Advanced
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 66
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Just letting you guys know, zip corvette sells a dizzy that will fit under the shielding of the early vettes with an impulse that will works on a coil only system. In their description says their dizzy is the stock height and indicating it is the only one available while others won’t fit thus confirming that the aftermarket dizzy’s are slightly higher and won’t fit under the early shielding.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 904
Likes: 569
From: Central NJ
For those that think points are a better/more reliable option, that is only because we mostly work on our own cars and know how things work and can take care of things. But to your average Joe or Joey, electronic ignitions are infinitely better because they don't need attention unless they die. I grew up in New York during the 60s and 70s, driving down the highways leading out to LI you would see cars broke down on the side of road all the time, sometimes it looked like they were just parked, there were so many. Some over heated but many had ignition issues, bad wires, coils, points, voltage regulator points would stick. As we got into the 80s and 90s they became much fewer, because electronics work better and require less maintenance... and back in those days leaving your car on the belt parkway over night guaranteed that you would need new wheels and tires the next morning, maybe doors and more....LOL
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