Best Points Ignition Upgrade
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Best Points Ignition Upgrade
Still running points on a 73 350 4 Speed Street/strip car. The stock ignition seems to work fine for my RPM range, but there has to be a better way 33 years later. Have been considering upgrading the distributor, but there are so many options and opinions, from keep the stock setup to...
What is the best upgrade for a stock points ignition for a street/strip car?
What is the best upgrade for a stock points ignition for a street/strip car?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 22
From: Yooperville MI
My opinion and I hate to dissapoint you, points are fine as long as the distributor lobes are in good shape and you keep it maintained. If I were upgrading, I would use a high quality set of points and condenser, and a MSD coil and a MSD 6 box for a mild street/strip application. The aftermarket points eliminator kits don't do anything to improve performance, but since they are optical, they are prone to problems with dirt and often failures. OEM's used magnetic sensors which are more reliable.
For electronics and providing the most complete spark or burn cyle, I think that bang for the buck, converting to a GM or other high quality aftermarket HEI distributor is the most efficient, reliable and maintenance free system.
For electronics and providing the most complete spark or burn cyle, I think that bang for the buck, converting to a GM or other high quality aftermarket HEI distributor is the most efficient, reliable and maintenance free system.
Last edited by crazywelder; Mar 10, 2006 at 12:29 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Electronic conversion are popular for a reason. They are reliable and they can potentially give you better performance.
The thing is that there are some cheap ones out there that are nothing more than discreet switches...they just open and close a circuit.
You want to look for the units that have the ability to vary dwell with rpm, such as the factory HEI unit. These units use short dwell times at lower rpm and increase dwell at higher rpm.
There are optical, hall effect, and magnetic. They're all pretty much the same as far as reliability.
Nothing wrong with points but they too are nothing more than a simple switch. They are rpm limited in many cases, but if you never see the high side of 5500 rpm, then it probably won't make much of a difference.
The thing is that there are some cheap ones out there that are nothing more than discreet switches...they just open and close a circuit.
You want to look for the units that have the ability to vary dwell with rpm, such as the factory HEI unit. These units use short dwell times at lower rpm and increase dwell at higher rpm.
There are optical, hall effect, and magnetic. They're all pretty much the same as far as reliability.
Nothing wrong with points but they too are nothing more than a simple switch. They are rpm limited in many cases, but if you never see the high side of 5500 rpm, then it probably won't make much of a difference.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Originally Posted by desi
I upgraded to Crane XRI last year, simply to avoid changing points and setting dwell. For $65, you couldn't ask for more. Installation was fairly simple too.
On Desi's advice, I put one of these in too. That was about 2 weeks and 400 miles ago. Seems much happier and the install was really very easy.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
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Only thing bad about the XR1 is that the rev limiter is a POS. It will move around on you and really surprise you at the worst time when it won't let engine rev. Otherwise it's a good system.
JIM
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Race Director
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From: Inside the woods living my passion
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Originally Posted by gerry72
Electronic conversion are popular for a reason. They are reliable and they can potentially give you better performance.
The thing is that there are some cheap ones out there that are nothing more than discreet switches...they just open and close a circuit.
You want to look for the units that have the ability to vary dwell with rpm, such as the factory HEI unit. These units use short dwell times at lower rpm and increase dwell at higher rpm.
There are optical, hall effect, and magnetic. They're all pretty much the same as far as reliability.
Nothing wrong with points but they too are nothing more than a simple switch. They are rpm limited in many cases, but if you never see the high side of 5500 rpm, then it probably won't make much of a difference.
The thing is that there are some cheap ones out there that are nothing more than discreet switches...they just open and close a circuit.
You want to look for the units that have the ability to vary dwell with rpm, such as the factory HEI unit. These units use short dwell times at lower rpm and increase dwell at higher rpm.
There are optical, hall effect, and magnetic. They're all pretty much the same as far as reliability.
Nothing wrong with points but they too are nothing more than a simple switch. They are rpm limited in many cases, but if you never see the high side of 5500 rpm, then it probably won't make much of a difference.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,958
Likes: 0
From: Middletown Connecticut
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Originally Posted by 427Hotrod
Only thing bad about the XR1 is that the rev limiter is a POS. It will move around on you and really surprise you at the worst time when it won't let engine rev. Otherwise it's a good system.
JIM
JIM
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 977
Likes: 1
From: wash. dc
Originally Posted by ahoover
My opinion and I hate to dissapoint you, points are fine as long as the distributor lobes are in good shape and you keep it maintained. If I were upgrading, I would use a high quality set of points and condenser, and a MSD coil and a MSD 6 box for a mild street/strip application. The aftermarket points eliminator kits don't do anything to improve performance, but since they are optical, they are prone to problems with dirt and often failures. OEM's used magnetic sensors which are more reliable.
For electronics and providing the most complete spark or burn cyle, I think that bang for the buck, converting to a GM or other high quality aftermarket HEI distributor is the most efficient, reliable and maintenance free system.
For electronics and providing the most complete spark or burn cyle, I think that bang for the buck, converting to a GM or other high quality aftermarket HEI distributor is the most efficient, reliable and maintenance free system.
the pre-eminent expert told me that the msd6al with the blaster2 coil was the only ignition upgrade that added HP to our cars in his testing with westech
