Stranded due to points...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Stranded due to points...
So, my car just died in the middle of the road last night. Thought it was vapor lock, left it in a parking lot overnight, and went back this morning. It would crank, but not turn over. Had it towed to a shop. Long story short, the points were burned and the dwell was at 20 degrees. I replaced the points and condenser last month and set the dwell at 30. He filed the burn off the points and set the dwell again and it runs fine.
Any idea what would cause the points to burn or move that far?
I was planning to put in an electronic conversion kit, but would it be worth it to put in an HEI?
Ah, the joys of owning a 37 year old car...
Any idea what would cause the points to burn or move that far?
I was planning to put in an electronic conversion kit, but would it be worth it to put in an HEI?
Ah, the joys of owning a 37 year old car...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
condensor probly died. It is there to quickly collapse the magnetic field in the coil and to protect the points. Sometimes they suck. HEI is the answer, I quit running points back in '75
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,379
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
There's nothing wrong with points if you run a good quality set with a good condenser. Points are no less reliable than the module in an HEI, and they're easier to fix and troubleshoot. If you run points to trigger an MSD system and a good coil, you have a top-notch system that will outperform almost anything else on the market.
For parts use NAPA part number CS786 for the points and RR175 for the condenser. I check my dwell once a year, and it hasn't changed in 3 years.
For parts use NAPA part number CS786 for the points and RR175 for the condenser. I check my dwell once a year, and it hasn't changed in 3 years.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 4
From: New Baden Illinois
Originally Posted by Kalway
Well the nice thing about HEI is it's very unlikely to leave you stranded. Those of us with HEIs generally love em.
Same thing happened to a friend's 1984, except the rotor literally disintegrated doing 130 mph. Flames and black smoke came shooting out the tailpipes. Nice firework show for us in the Corvette behind him. Fortunately, we found the problem and fixed it along the roadside.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
I havent upgraded to the MSD yet, but I am running the following ignition:
Stock distributor
MSD rotor and cap
MSD Helicore 8.0mm wires
Accel U groove plugs
Accel SuperStock coil
"Whatever" condenser/points kit from Advance Auto
The mechanic told me that he has had a lot of problems with those one piece points/condenser kits. I will look up those parts Lars suggested and throw them on.
Stock distributor
MSD rotor and cap
MSD Helicore 8.0mm wires
Accel U groove plugs
Accel SuperStock coil
"Whatever" condenser/points kit from Advance Auto
The mechanic told me that he has had a lot of problems with those one piece points/condenser kits. I will look up those parts Lars suggested and throw them on.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 32,519
Likes: 1
From: central America
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by mensch53
The mechanic told me that he has had a lot of problems with those one piece points/condenser kits. I will look up those parts Lars suggested and throw them on.
Those 1 piece units are just like asking for trouble. Lars replaced my points and condensor during the TFB in chicago last spring and the car starts and runs better then ever.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Maybe the points cam was not lubed adequately / or cam is rusty ... wore down the fiber/plastic cam follower ... collapsing the gap.
These days ... consider yourself lucky you found a shop with mechanic who actually knew what to do with points.
As Lars said ... good points & cond ... setup right ... in a good dist ... works real well for a LONG time & easy to fix. Not knocking HEI ... I sold a few dozen of em w/ tach drive last year ... sorry have no more.
These days ... consider yourself lucky you found a shop with mechanic who actually knew what to do with points.
As Lars said ... good points & cond ... setup right ... in a good dist ... works real well for a LONG time & easy to fix. Not knocking HEI ... I sold a few dozen of em w/ tach drive last year ... sorry have no more.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Originally Posted by jackson
Maybe the points cam was not lubed adequately / or cam is rusty ... wore down the fiber/plastic cam follower ... collapsing the gap.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Originally Posted by jackson
These days ... consider yourself lucky you found a shop with mechanic who actually knew what to do with points.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Originally Posted by mensch53
Not sure what this means. Is this something I can check/fix/or should be worried about?
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by lars
There's nothing wrong with points if you run a good quality set with a good condenser. Points are no less reliable than the module in an HEI, and they're easier to fix and troubleshoot. If you run points to trigger an MSD system and a good coil, you have a top-notch system that will outperform almost anything else on the market.
For parts use NAPA part number CS786 for the points and RR175 for the condenser. I check my dwell once a year, and it hasn't changed in 3 years.
For parts use NAPA part number CS786 for the points and RR175 for the condenser. I check my dwell once a year, and it hasn't changed in 3 years.
Sorry to jump on your thread but I have aquestion for Lars, Can I use your recommendation for points and condenser on a stock 1969 300hp 350?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by mensch53
"Whatever" condenser/points kit from Advance Auto
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 1
From: SIMI VALLEY CA
Buy 2 sets of Accel points with the medium weight spring,put the extra set in the storage compartement "just in case". Last time I bought some they were about $15 a set. Condensor is extra.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
I am thinking I might just nip this whole problem in the bud and get one of these Accel points eliminator kits . Anyone have experience with them. Is this Accel version better/worst than the others out there?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by lars
There's nothing wrong with points if you run a good quality set with a good condenser. Points are no less reliable than the module in an HEI, and they're easier to fix and troubleshoot. If you run points to trigger an MSD system and a good coil, you have a top-notch system that will outperform almost anything else on the market.
For parts use NAPA part number CS786 for the points and RR175 for the condenser. I check my dwell once a year, and it hasn't changed in 3 years.
For parts use NAPA part number CS786 for the points and RR175 for the condenser. I check my dwell once a year, and it hasn't changed in 3 years.
The nice thing about points is that when the engine just dies you can usually start there
. I used to keep an extra set of points and condenser in the car at alll times for just such ocasions. Got to the point whre it was a 10 min side of the road fix. The maintenence and ajustment of points is becoming a lost art I would get my self an engine analyser from sears one that has a dwell setting. and just learn how to do them yourself. its really quite simple. and like i said can be done on the side of the road in about 15 min in a pinch. Plus if we ever get hit with an EMP blast your car will still run
Aslo get an extra set and condesor and keep it inthe center storage area along with a scredriver and a flshlight in case its dark
keep it running
tim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by mensch53
I am thinking I might just nip this whole problem in the bud and get one of these Accel points eliminator kits . Anyone have experience with them. Is this Accel version better/worst than the others out there?
there ame many people on the forum who have done just that, and been very happy. just search the threads as this is a much debated discussion, ytou should easily find what you are looking for.
its a very simple conversion and yeah you wont have to sit on the side of the road, at least for this reason.
But keep learnign my friend, before long youll know all your cars little quirks and habits, and how to deal with them
Drive it like you stole it
tim
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Thanks for posting information like this on why your car died, didnt start etc. Because of it I think that I will make a project to replace the points and condensor on my 72. I dont really know how old the set is from previous owner. On my 73 I replaced these last year. But now I have a better Napa parts number to use.
kdf
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