Burning up points?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Tigard OR
Burning up points?
I'm helping a friend troubleshoot an ignition problem on his 71 small block with stock distributor and ignition.
He will burn up a set of points in about 300 to 500 miles. The cap, rotor, plugs, wires, points and condensor are new.
Does this car are have ballast resistor? Could that be the problem? Any idea's ?
He will burn up a set of points in about 300 to 500 miles. The cap, rotor, plugs, wires, points and condensor are new.
Does this car are have ballast resistor? Could that be the problem? Any idea's ?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 154
Corvettes have a resistance wire(white fabric looking wire from distributer to engine harness),probably shortened at one time allowing to much voltage to points.Three easy fixes,one,replace resistance wire with new one,two,get a coil with more resistence(some older coils have3.3 ohms of resistence i.e.61 Rambler.three,replace resistence wire with 14 gauge wire and install electronic ignition,H.E.I. Pertonics,Msd.They run on full voltage.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: Melbourne, Fla. 6 months- New Middletown, Ohio 6 months
It has been a long time since I had a point problem but I recall that if you had a buildup of metal on one side of the points it indicated a problem with the condenser and a buildup on the other side of the points it indicated a problem with the coil. I am sure someone here can elaborate. Not sure if this info will help you but it may.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,391
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
There are only a few things that will cause the points to burn:
- Failure to use the resistance wire. The '71 uses a cloth-wrapped resistance wire which serves the same function as the old ballast resistor. If the wire has been bypassed or altered, the points will burn. If this is the case, install a ballast resistor in its place.
- Bad condenser. Replace the condenser with NAPA part number RR175
- Dwell (point gap) grossly out of spec. Set dwell to 30-31 degrees.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Tigard OR
There are only a few things that will cause the points to burn:
- Failure to use the resistance wire. The '71 uses a cloth-wrapped resistance wire which serves the same function as the old ballast resistor. If the wire has been bypassed or altered, the points will burn. If this is the case, install a ballast resistor in its place.
- Bad condenser. Replace the condenser with NAPA part number RR175
- Dwell (point gap) grossly out of spec. Set dwell to 30-31 degrees.
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