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Points suck, two day ago my 1970 started to run like crap, it's always has had a rought idle, but it started to backfire. I asked around and came to the conclusion that it was the points. I changed the whole distributor, it was only ten dollars more the points, condenser, and lead wire. Now it runs great, the idle is a lot smother also. If the distributor was electronic, I would have never had the problem.
You will have a better idle, more spark energy (current) to the plugs if you run a hotter coil, fatter spark kernal ( more heat to ignite), wider plug gap as well as longer plug life. Best of all no more farting around with points every 1,000 miles for the perfect tune. Always keep the points set up in the glove box should the electronics fail. You don't want a chebby towing you home. Carl....o&o>...
What advantage is there to hotter coil? And how does one go about swapping to electronic? Is it like going to power brakes where I just take one off a newer truck? What parts do I need to grab/replace and about what do they cost? Thanks for the help guys.
qman, with electronic ignition you can go for years without worries about ignition tune ups besides lube on the advance cam weights and linkage.Plugs last longer. I ran the Allison optical trigger for 14+ years, wanted a hotter coil and had to upgrade to the Crane 3000 series from the old 700 series,(Crane purchased Allison). $127 trigger with brain box, and $47 app for the LX-91 coil. Plugs last me in years not miles with electronic ignition. Some people upgrade to Ford's electronic ignition, i have no experience with Fords electronic systems. Other members can bail me out (please) and help you. Carl.......o&o>.....
qman, stupid me, sorry i forgot to answer your question that a hotter coil helps when you add compression, rev higher or want a clean idle. What good is a performance engine when the ignition is not going to fire the mix? It's harder for the spark to jump the plug with a higher compression engine. With a good ignition, fuel mix and compression something will go boom, a good thing, not bang-boom-clank-clunk. A "bigger is better thing". Carl....o&o>......