'79 electronic ign to points
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'79 electronic ign to points
I was wondering if my points dizzy would be fine to run in an emergency if the ecm or pickup coil failed on me? Do points and electronic ignitions use different coils? Thanks.
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In an emergency, yes it would work.
However, I would tend to think carrying an extra module would be a better choice than trying to yank a distributor and replace it, get the timing correct to just get down the road.
Plug and play with modules.
Josh
However, I would tend to think carrying an extra module would be a better choice than trying to yank a distributor and replace it, get the timing correct to just get down the road.
Plug and play with modules.
Josh
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Module would be easier to change. I already have a dizzy and it would also cover the magnetic pickup failure. What is the difference with the coils(ohms)? Would the points burn out in short time and would they jump the wider spark plug gap?
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Austin, TX
There is no electrical difference between the coils, only the physical connector on the outside. Magnetic pickups rarely fail; they generate very little heat.
If you swapped in a stock points distributor, the negative coil wire wouldn't snap on because the points coil uses studded terminals while the electronic coil uses a horseshoe connector. The points wouldn't necessarily burn out because that's a function of the point gap itself. The points are on the other side of the coil - the points are on the primary and the plugs are on the secondary. However, you make a good point about the plug gap on electronic ignition possibly being too wide for the spark energy generated with points. However, my guess would be it'd still work.
Honestly, it's much more worth your time to spend the $25 to pick up a spare module than try to install a distributor on the side of the highway. Even so, I've never been one to carry a spare module because when they fail the first time, you can usually let the truck sit for a few minutes while it cools off, then start it up again and get to the parts store.
If you swapped in a stock points distributor, the negative coil wire wouldn't snap on because the points coil uses studded terminals while the electronic coil uses a horseshoe connector. The points wouldn't necessarily burn out because that's a function of the point gap itself. The points are on the other side of the coil - the points are on the primary and the plugs are on the secondary. However, you make a good point about the plug gap on electronic ignition possibly being too wide for the spark energy generated with points. However, my guess would be it'd still work.
Honestly, it's much more worth your time to spend the $25 to pick up a spare module than try to install a distributor on the side of the highway. Even so, I've never been one to carry a spare module because when they fail the first time, you can usually let the truck sit for a few minutes while it cools off, then start it up again and get to the parts store.
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