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Points or no points? That is the question.

Reading over previous posts from years gone by about return vehicle back to points to avoid nuisance shutdowns from electronic ignition 'upgrade'. Now to learn about condenser issues from after market with points distributor.
Well today on a hot New England cruise it happened after 2 years of no problems, the electronic ignition left me down. I now carry a spare ECU for just a situation. I was thinking of returning to points until I got the bad news about bad condensers. Is there a tried and true points and condenser manufacturer today without having to scrounge the swap meets?
Or is there a better aftermarket electronic ignition than Ma Mopar?

Personally i use a OEM dist with a pertronix unit.. but i keep a points dist in the trunk and spare coil...
 
I know when I helped a mate install the Pert module, we didn't even make it to the main road before it failed....
 
Invest in an FBO ignition module, plug and play replacement for your orange box. Superior product

I wouldn't mind switching to an FBO unit if it worked for me. I tried one a few years back and it made my aftermarket tach bounce up and down. I added a diode in the tach wire to the coil but it did not help. My FBO box looks like this:

615 B.jpg


THEN I see these pictures in this thread:

1752047211874.jpeg


I like the look of the outer case. It will be a turnoff for some guys but I like it. This is a GM HEI module, right?

1752047266298.jpeg


Is this how they are made now? Maybe this is a custom job someone did on their own? If I knew that one of these would work without messing up my tachometer. I'd be interested. I like the rev limiter feature it had.
 
Can this price be right? Almost $340 for an ignition box and coil ???

1752049283032.png


They still show the natural aluminum finish ignition box.
 
Lower pic in post #43. Wires are soldered, not crimped. Good! But pick up terminals [ right side ] look to be almost touching. Not good!
 
My car is a pretty much daily driver, not a weekend warrior or show queen, not that is a problem, just I probably put more miles on my car then most people, so I might have a bit more practical experience on todays parts, not the good ol days when you can buy good parts at the parts stores:
. I use factory mopar electronic ignition on my mild 440, starts up easy no matter the weather, revs up to 6k with no breaking up, great system. Not hating against hei or any of the other aftermarket systems, just saying factory can be cheap to get and still works. I’ve also ran a dual point distributor for a while, it works, but there is a noticeable difference, doesn’t start as easy, doesn’t seem to rev as good, still works good enough though.

With that being said, I’ve never tried any of the aftermarket high dollar stuff, but I’m sure it works too until it doesn’t, until it doesn’t. But I’ve had my points distributor fail, and I’ve had my electronic ignition fail. No system is bomb proof, they will all fail! But the benefit of a more factory system is parts are a little easier to get.

So in my experience, I would prefer the factory electronic ignition. I still have a little carb tuning to do, but I’ve get good fuel economy, it’ll out run a newer Camaro, and it just works. Just throwing my 2 cents in the piggy bank.

DSC00044.jpeg
 
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Heck, my other almost daily driver 78 Lil Red express that’s been in the family since new and I can guarantee is still running the factory electronic ignition, 57k miles , still starts with a bump of the key , still runs strong

IMG_8694.jpeg
 
Install is a factor in longevity with anything. Good ground, correct wiring with tight connections and the proper parts. Pertronix II and III work with their coils and a removed ballast resistor. Again, never an issue with two of their drop in units using this procedure.
20250503_125158.jpg
 
Pert has a HEI style module that provides multiple sparks to 7000 rpm. No other company has this. Those who believe in Pertronix should ask them: is it an inductive system, CD system...or something 'else' ...
 
Today I got heat that feels like 96. Other posts say they have issue with aftermarket condensers. I'm trying to get to the bottom of which is best for cruising on the hottest summer day to a comfy fall foliage cruise.
What year is your hornet? I've been looking for a 73 hornet hatchback x for years.
 
I wouldn't mind switching to an FBO unit if it worked for me. I tried one a few years back and it made my aftermarket tach bounce up and down. I added a diode in the tach wire to the coil but it did not help. My FBO box looks like this:

View attachment 1881968

THEN I see these pictures in this thread:

View attachment 1881969

I like the look of the outer case. It will be a turnoff for some guys but I like it. This is a GM HEI module, right?

View attachment 1881970

Is this how they are made now? Maybe this is a custom job someone did on their own? If I knew that one of these would work without messing up my tachometer. I'd be interested. I like the rev limiter feature it had.
When the original A688 unit was out of production the HR688 unit was offered. Unfortunately was found it was an HEI unit into a fancy box. He stopped the production of those since was kinda some kind of scam for lot of ppl, then they came out with the HRR688 brand new unit which is a diff piece with a completely diff internals built… at least it seems being that.

The original A688 unit was made as far I know by Standard products under FBO specs (per their words), but the production stopped when the Standard manufacturing was moved to China as far I know.
 
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Reading over previous posts from years gone by about return vehicle back to points to avoid nuisance shutdowns from electronic ignition 'upgrade'. Now to learn about condenser issues from after market with points distributor.
Well today on a hot New England cruise it happened after 2 years of no problems, the electronic ignition left me down. I now carry a spare ECU for just a situation. I was thinking of returning to points until I got the bad news about bad condensers. Is there a tried and true points and condenser manufacturer today without having to scrounge the swap meets?
Or is there a better aftermarket electronic ignition than Ma Mopar?
I'm running a old school Performance ACCEL duel pionts on my 69 Sport Satellite wint a 1965 413ci No problem here!
 
Just drove 450 miles to Chrysler Carlisle and back with my new FBO ECU. Love that is has a great warranty and is made in the USA.
 
When the original A688 unit was out of production the HR688 unit was offered. Unfortunately was found it was an HEI unit into a fancy box. He stopped the production of those since was kinda some kind of scam for lot of ppl, then they came out with the HRR688 brand new unit which is a diff piece with a completely diff internals built… at least it seems being that.

The original A688 unit was made as far I know by Standard products under FBO specs (per their words), but the production stopped when the Standard manufacturing was moved to China as far I know.

fbo.JPG


fbo2.JPG


I have seen the new ones, totally different. looks like high quality custom board. Glad some one is making something quality for them. Initial run costs are crazy.

1752488413823.png
 
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tbo. im only running the points because its what the car came with and its a sleeper. there is a 1 wire convertion folks use and are happy with. no mods needed to run it. just gose where the points are with a wheel under the rotor. can't remember who makes it tho.
ya mite try one of them.
Pertronix

I am running a pertronix in mine for 3 years now, not one glitch or hiccup. I am having Halifaxhops rebuild my original distributor and install a petronix kit in it then set the advance curve. It should look really nice with the OG wire set I bought for it a while back.
 
When the original A688 unit was out of production the HR688 unit was offered. Unfortunately was found it was an HEI unit into a fancy box. He stopped the production of those since was kinda some kind of scam for lot of ppl, then they came out with the HRR688 brand new unit which is a diff piece with a completely diff internals built… at least it seems being that.

The original A688 unit was made as far I know by Standard products under FBO specs (per their words), but the production stopped when the Standard manufacturing was moved to China as far I know.
Once again....just gibberish without any real substantial information other than opinion......what does "some kind of scam for a lot of people" mean?? What is a diff piece with a different internals built....at least it seems being that, mean??....This guy has no real clue what's going on or the difference is......let's see some proof of what you are professing......
BOB RENTON
 
I think that far more forum members have been helped by Nacho than any blowhard from Decatur.
If the forum still had the red X, it would be immediately evident who is liked and trusted and who is not.
 
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