The 65 left me broke down on the side of road one day last week. And wouldn't start again. A friend drug me the 3 miles home with a strap. Truck's been running worser and worser for a month now, just been limping along. I left it sitting under the big shade tree at my shop till today.

Hesitation, studdering, backfiring on accelerqtion, stalling. Then flooding on restart attempts. I was SURE it had to be carb problem. This morning I made a couple of searches here on the slick forum, looking for carb clues......I kept hearing Cropduster, and Fuzzyface and Ted and many of you guys suggest to check ignition system first...FIRST, then on to carb.

Went out and gathered some tools and grumbled to myself about the extra work and the hot day when I was certain it had to be a carb problem of some unknown yet specific thing. Stood looking at the engine and realized... One thing I have learned over this long life, is to pay attention when experienced and knowledgable folks shine out a flashlight in the right direction. I'm the fool if I don't pay attention.

Boy Howdy, first thing I did was check the points and they were so tight, a spark was not to be seen. Reset the points and it fired up strong , accelerated well and ran smooth! I drove a 3 mile loop and nary a burp or hesitation. I'll check timing and carb tomorrow. and figure out why the points were so off after their install 800 miles ago......maybe I just didn't tighten them enough...

But for tonight, I'll bask in my success and give heartfull thanks to all you guys who have helped me though my questions and mistakes with this project over the past couple years.Not just those I mentioned earlier, but so many with help of parts and advice and encouragement. I never could've done it alone. Thanks for this most knowledgable and generous bunch of internet guys.

 

Glad to hear it was nothing major, rarely is. Did you lube the dizzy cam when you installed the points?

 

This is the stuff. Last tube you will ever buy unless you lose it.
Standard Motors Distributor Cam Grease 7/8 oz SL-2 | eBay

 

The last set of points I bought did that same thing just a couple of months after I bought them.
It turned out they were literally falling apart. IIRC, there was a rivet that came loose, letting the
points slowly close over a period of a couple of weeks. That's when I moved on to a Pertronix.

 

I've seen premature wear on the rubbing blocks of off shore made points and the condensers are crap also.. I'd go Pertronix if you can.

 

there was no little tube of lube with the NAPA points I bought, so I went without.I remember that being included with points back in the 70's... Never occurred to me that it could wear down the nylon bumper so fast. thanks Christmas

 

parts aren't made to last these days so much, AZ. I expected the points to be good to go for quite a while .... Live and learn

 

I was thinking of this hiball, The simplicity of points opening and closing is kinda nice....except when I can't count on them for very long.

I'm a bit intimidated with upscaling to an electronic set-up I don't really understand. I remember some past readings brought up issues of getting set up right...different coil, something about the pink resistor wire, and I don't know what all. I'm sure I can do it if I research carefully. And points really are kind of ancient technology these days. Can be the dilemna when getting hooked on these old trucks...keep stock or update....hmmmmm

 

Well from what I have seen you do to transform your truck. Swapping to a Pertronics ignition should be no problem. The most involved thing is to bypass the resistor wire. I'm 6yrs into mine and forget to even look under the cap. IMO stick with the Pertronics 1 and Flame Thrower coil. Set-up is easy.

 

Thank You Christmas

Now my minds a buzzing....a new bit of playing on the truck again Fun!

 

Installed a pertronix ignitor and flame thrower coil in my 66 and think it was well worth the money. The installation was easy and I don't have to hassle with points anymore.

 

The original Pertronix doesn't require 12 volts, so just plug and play with the factory wiring. I'm using the original yellow top coil and wiring and haven't had a problem with my Pertronix so far. Only takes a few minutes to install. Youtube is full of how to videos.

 

leaning into pertronix the more I hear......

 

There area lot of threads here about the Pertronix setup. It will make life simpler and your spark a lot hotter.

 

I think Smokey Yunick once said that 90% of carburetor problems were in the ignition
Glad you got it fixed!