Like I mentioned.....leave the key on one time with the contacts closed and you will never run points again....
It was common when I was a kid to keep a set in the glove box back in the day....
My Dad kept a set in his 66' when I was a kid.....
It is surprising that more of the older crowd never mentions this.....maybe they are embarrassed to admit that anyone would leave a key in the on position....

Jebby

 

I updated my 74 from the original point distributor to a $50 tack drive hei setup from ebay a couple years ago... like others have mentioned there will be no noticable performance improvement with an hei over a properly functioning stock setup but reliability improves... The same can often be said for fancy racing wires and such which can actually hurt other things like radio reception more than they help but it all depends on the rpm range and quality of the original equipment.. for about 80% of the cars I see with the msd boxes and such on them I find after talking with the owners that they are really there for looks because the cars never see north of 5000 rpm where they would have advantages over stock.
I of course learned this the hard way after hearing all these percived improvements with the stuff but in many cases the owners would have felt the same improvements from oem replacement wires/cap /plugs because the oild stuff was just worn out..

You can however notice a huge improvement in performance depending on timing and timing curve tuning...

 

Jebby, I am aware of that and have seen it happen. Fortunately, I never did it. After I shut off the car, I pull the key out to make sure it doesn't happen.

As I said in my earlier post I made the transition away from points on 2 of my old cars and saw no performance gains whatsoever. I've also seen before and after dynos that prove it doesn't improve performance. There may be a placebo effect though. If I think it's faster it is

 

because they are likely made by the same supplier in china...

Actually both accel and holley division are marketing a lot of generic chinese goods now... found this out with a fuel regulator I bought... even though it was $50 it was the exact same chrome regulator as the one I paid $10 for..

Thats the issue with the older oil filled coils too... they are all made in china regardless of brand according to a rep from MSD...

 

While I will defend a good dual point setup to a point (No pun intended)
I will say that adding an MSD 6 box is a wonderful upgrade. It will fire instantly and multiple sparks below 3000 rpm keep plugs clean.
On my 500 horse 406....it is almost a necessity.....

Anyhoo......I think the breakerless is worth it.....just MHO...

Jebby

 

This is something Ive never heard of before... thanks for that. I will have to read up on it now.

 

Yes sir.....MSD stands for Multiple Spark Discharge

To add to what the op posted.....an added benefit of a MSD distributor is that you can setup a real timing curve without having to use a machine.
It really makes a difference when you get it right.......
Just more info to sway or not sway a distributor purchase.

Jebby

 

I think the biggest thing I noticed on both the 66' and the 69 427/400 was how fast they lit up......

Jebby

 

One good thing about points is they give you warning when they need attention.
Performance starts to go off and get worse until you reset them.
Boxes work until they don't.
I have never had a set of points suddenly fail and leave me stranded.

 

As far as burning up a set of points, I don't know of anyone who has actually done that. I learned to drive in 1966, and one of the first things my dad told me was to always turn the key to the accessory position if you were going to listen to the radio while parked. That took the points out of the equation.
As for instant starts, I have a 1956 Ford tractor with an original 6 volt system, and it starts as well as my new Silverado. I guess it just shows that if everything is set to specs, there really isn't anything wrong with a good set of points.
Duane

 

I did have a pertronix module leave me stranded once though in my old vw kitcar... they do fail.. and not always with warning...started carrying points after that just in case. So do hei modules though, the one in my vette failed at about 1000 miles. my vw also didnt have a accessory position.. had to pull the "Dizzy" wire as the folks on "The Samba" like to call a distributor to play the radio.

 

The easy way to burn up ignition points is to listen to the radio with engine OFF and ignition ON...instead of in the ACCY position. Purpose of the ACCY position it to keep electrical current from flowing thru (or into) the ignition system.

If you have a stock engine, there is really no need to go to HEI system. The only advantage is that you don't have to mess with points and condensor every 5K miles....big deal. Who doesn't have an hour sometime over the winter months to check/clean or swap out points & condensor?

The UPSIDE of points is that they are very forgiving; your engine will start to miss when points and/or condensor start to deteriorate. With HEI, it will work flawlessly ......until it doesn't . Then, you can call the tow truck or install a spare module--because you won't be able to drive it at all, otherwise.

I had a Pertronix module when I bought the car. It failed and left me stranded. I put the points back in and will continue to do so. The performance of points system (in decent condition) and HEI, with a low RPM stock engine, is NO DIFFERENT.

It all depends on whether you want to spend a bunch of buck$ just so you won't have to replace points.....at least, until you need to replace the electronic module.....

 

Yup, looks just like Unilite redone in the Accel color scheme.

And it "Stabalizes" your ignition timing!

 

I hadn't thought about that. THAT'S why the Accessory position has gone away, I suppose.

I think that the earlier versions of Pertronix Ignitor I could be fried in similar fashion, but I think some protections has since been built in.