Points or no points? That is the question.

[1963JAM]

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?

 

[threewood]

What electronic ignition are you running?

NOS points and condensers come up for sale occassionally. Or they are cheap enough new, just buy a handful.

 

[1963JAM]

What electronic ignition are you running?

NOS points and condensers come up for sale occassionally. Or they are cheap enough new, just buy a handful.

Mopar with orange ECU. I thought I had it fixed 2 years ago when I replaced pickup coil.

 

[hacksaw]

im running blue streak points and condenser... never had a problom even at high rpm. under 6500.

 

[1963JAM]

im running blue streak points and condenser... never had a problom even at high rpm. under 6500.

How long with the blue streak?

 

[hacksaw]

How long with the blue streak?

thay been in my hornet for 3years. but its a summer only car.

 

[1963JAM]

thay been in my hornet for 3years. but its a summer only car.

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.

 

[hacksaw]

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.

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.

 

[turbine68rt]

I have enough NOS Mopar points and condensers in stock to last 50 years after I'm dead. Been running points for the last 40 years with excellent reliability. Doesn't take long to do the annual dwell/timing check in spring. I mainly run points because of doing an oem resto.

 

[1963JAM]

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.

Got a name on the distributor?

 

[hacksaw]

Got a name on the distributor?

thay use the stock dizzy. with the stock cap and rotor.
Breakerless SE Single Wire Ignition. i know thay showing brand X. but ya get the idea

 

[Slantsixdan]

Mopar with orange ECU.

Those orange boxes have been junk for decades.

Lookit the HEI upgrade instead. Better ignition, and smaller spare parts (easier to chuck in the glovebox).

 

[Don selleck]

I remember using points back in the day, they worked just fine, just another maintenance item. it was fun to throw a juiced up condenser to your buddy to catch it when they werent paying attention.

 

[gtx6970]

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 )

 

[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 )

View attachment 1880874

View attachment 1880875

View attachment 1880876

View attachment 1880879

Have you heard of aftermarket condenser issues?

 

[toolmanmike]

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?

@HALIFAXHOPS has NOS points type ignition parts as well as Mopar Electronic Ignition components. If you want trouble free electronic, use your stock distributor and install a Pertronix.

 

[gtx6970]

Have you heard of aftermarket condenser issues?

I cant answer that one. Ive not used one in years

 

[toolmanmike]

I cant answer that one. Ive not used one in years

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

 

[68-500]

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.

 

[Geoff 2]

Yup, post #12, HEI.
It is a better ign system: less coil heating, variable dwell, hotter spark for bigger plug gaps [ if you use an E core coil with it ], simplified wiring that reduces the number of connections & potential failure points. If you arer worried about failure, for a few $$$, you can buy a spare module for the glove box...or...mount it on the f/w for a 5min swap over.