Points or no points? That is the question.

[MoparJW]

I've been running Standard Blue streak points/condenser for 18 years and many miles, preventively swapped them out every year.
Had one bad condenser last year, was bad out of the box.
The car was still driveable but had random misfires at idle, cruise and acceleration.
I've also had a set of new points that had corrosion on the metal spring which caused a misfire.
Other than that no problems.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

I have heard of a lot of issues with new condensers bad right out of the box.

Sure are. By my testing around 50% fail either cold or hot. Standard used to be the best but the T series sucks and the points spring tension is really light and it will float at RPM. Tons of electronic upgrades. Mopar OEM if Real is great. Does it break? Sure but no where near as often as the new MSD. Like Dan Mentioned the HEI Upgrade works well. I like Petronix I myself or of you want to go Full electronic a Mopar oem dist curved for your engine and a Petronix 510 box for a few hundred. Run from the new Mopar kits out there all Chinese stuff and the ecu's are horrible. Just buy the OEM NOS or NORS stuff made before 1995 or so. Its around.

 

[dan juhasz]

Invest in an FBO ignition module, plug and play replacement for your orange box. Superior product

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Invest in an FBO ignition module, plug and play replacement for your orange box. Superior product

Definately turned me off from the new ones.

 

[dan juhasz]

Definately turned me off from the new ones.
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my box looks nothing like that

 

[dan juhasz]

Definately turned me off from the new ones.
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just grabbed this photo from their website, what you posted looks like a something someone printed at home

 

[68-500]

1 of the things GM hit the nail on the head was HEI.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Yes they did. Thats the early box. Saw the new internals, definately different.

 

[AR67GTX]

I’ve had one condenser failure but it happened while bumping the motor over to set dual points in my garage and my impression was all the bumping damaged it but it could have just been bad. I have never run an after market electronic ignition kit and currently have 3 cars with dual point distributors. I’m 74 years old, never been without at least one high performance car since 1968 and never been stranded on the roadside with points. However, I have ended up with 3 tow truck rides home from a late model, factory electronic ignition system failure and 2 failures in the transistor ignition system in my 66 Corvette. So I’m kind of fond of points and keeping things simple. That’s just me.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Points will ALWAYS get you home also.

 

[Macdon221]

I have used Points/Condensers/Distributors from HalifaxHops in my 68 and 69 Charger. Both cars have performed flawlessly. Never failed me. Quick check on the Dwell/Timing early in the spring....then maybe mid summer (just because I love dealing with old stuff)...and has never needed adjustment.

Thanks again Ray!

 

[1963JAM]

Mine is and will remain points until Im breathing dirt, after that I dont care
Ive stocked up on quite a bit of NOS spare parts over the past few years( nothing is for sale btw )
Last fall I past year Ive picked up about 20 sets of old NOS point sets ( mine is dual point system)
I have maybe half dozen NOS mopar condensors , about a dozen NOS rotor buttons and I think 3 or 4 nos dist caps.
So, I think Im good for some time

Im in southern AZ , aka the garden of the sun. And no issues what so ever ( knocks on wood )

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I put a Standard Bluestreak in mine when I got it running. I think its been 3 years? No issues yet but not a bunch of miles maybe 2,000.

Same here. I only do a couple thousand a year from cool to hot days.

 

[WileE]

Cap, rotor, points and condensor. A typical part of a tune-up we did back in the day. And everyone went on their merry way.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

A typical part of a tune-up we did back in the day. And everyone went on their merry way.

We used to beat our laundry on a rock too.

 

[WileE]

We used to beat our laundry on a rock too.

I prefer a scrub board.

 

[Slantsixdan]

1 of the things GM hit the nail on the head was HEI.

Yup, because they were too damn cheap to…well, here, read about it here (article written by me)

 

[Sinitro]

The problem is the later after-market and later Mopar ignition parts are junko....
An ignition points system is far more simpler and easier to trouble-shoot than one that uses an ECU and electronic distributor.
Unfortunately like so many other auto parts and crucial electronics ignition components produced today have poor reliability.
Also since the market and sellers are always pushing for lower pricing...
Better materials and crucial specific outgoing quality control auditing procedures no longer exist...

Just my $0.02...

 

[Black_Sheep]

I’ve use points to trigger a MSD 6AL for more than 20 years, they work just fine…

 

[toolmanmike]

Yup, because they were too damn cheap to…well, here, read about it here (article written by me)

Thanks Dan. Your writings are always fun and informative.

 

[Pops1967GTX]

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/the-lost-art-of/