Lots of people still run points with no problems, but they have to be quality. Look for NOS from 50s or 60s. Modern manufacture is mostly junk. They will work for a few miles, tungsten or platinum being relatively expensive they probably just use Krylon these days.

Same type of thing with condensers. Substitute with known good one to rule out. Backfiring or popping is a symptom of bad condenser.

 

The down side of points is if the dizzy upper shaft bushing gets bad.

Then no way to get the points set adjusted at the correct gap of .017 or .021 which ever yours get set at.

Ps with points before installation of them check side to side play of the shaft.

Orich

 

Thanks everybody. Drove the truck for awhile tonight and it started and ran well. I probably wont feel super comfortable about driving it out of town for awhile though. I'll switch to the Pertronix and see how it goes. Thanks for the input everyone!

 

I've had Petronix in two of my Ford vechiles (68 250 & 72 Bronco) for over 20 years...never had a problem especially for setting the gaps. Also several years ago i had the Broncos heads rebuilt and installed stainless valves to eliminate the unleaded gas problem.

 

I'm a 20 year satisfied Pertronix customer myself, it's just that people today make it sound as if points aren't much better than stone knives and bearskins. They aren't THAT bad.

 

Points aren't bad at all. But my FEs eat em up. I would go 2 weeks - 2 months resetting or replacing. I installed a set that lasted a year and was afraid something else broke.

I fly with the pertronix as well.

 

Yeah, I think the old routine was every 10 thousand miles. They should last for years and years unless it's a daily driver. It may be your distributor is worn out, actually. Even with a solid state module a fresh dizzy makes a big difference, but with points it's essential.

 

When installing points One must put a dab of dielectric grease on the points' rubbing block. Otherwise that rubbing block will wear down fast. Points used to come with it in the box.