As some of you may know, my engine doesnt run all that well, and i have tried a few things to remedy it. Today, however, I realized that the spark plugs, wires, rotor, and dizzy cap are all over a year old. I have only put like 400 miles on the car at the very most since I bought it, but at one point it sat for a few months without starting and it has sat for a couple weeks at a time between startups. Could I need new plugs, wires, etc.?

Also, if I need to change the points and stuff, would any of the local parts store have an electronic ignition in stock for my 66?

 

A lot of parts places keep Pertronix or Crane electronic ignition units in stock. They're fairly popular, so having one on hand is always a good idea.

I doubt you'd need to replace anything else after only 400mi and one year, but it wouldn't hurt to inspect the plugs and reset the gaps.

 

I really doubt that your wires, plugs, cap, rotor, or pointsneed replacement if you only have 400 miles on them!

But the points may not be set right though....

I don't think you will find an electronic conversion kit at your local parts store, but I am sure you can get one of these in a few days. These are very, very popular upgrades for early Ford ignitions.
http://www.pertronix.com/prod/ig/ignitor/default.aspx

 

If they're good quality they should be fine.

What exactly is it doing, what was it doing, and what have you done to it to make it start?

Where's timing, carb jetting etc at?

 

Well, I just thought the plugs may have been damaged for sitting for so long... The engine wont start very well, it takes a min or two of revving to make it so it will run without giving it gas. The choke has been adjusted, the idle is not set too low, and even when I get it going it will shift at like 2800 and the exhaust will pop and stuff higher in the rpms. I have no idea what they carb jetting is or how to set it or anything... I tried to set the timing, but I have been told that I have to plug a vacuum advance or something to time it correctly, but I dont know how to do that.

 

Might be a vacuum leak....

 

What is the vacuum thinge and how does it work? where does it connect and stuff and how could i test it for a leak or plug it to time it?

 

no way your wires cap, dizz etc can go bad in a year and 400 miles.
if you need to check the dizzy, pull the cap and see if the cap is work (the contacts in the cap). Check if there is water in it (humidity, which causes bad starting). pull a spark plug and make a picture of it for us to see (but i dboubt they're any color with 400miles). to check for vacuum leaks, the most common is: have engine running and take a spray like carb cleaner or WD40 and spray around when engine is idling. Change in idle-> vacuum leak.
places to spray:
around the carb (not into carb or aircleaner as that definetly will change idle).
around the vacuum lines of your brake if you have power assited brakes.
around the vacuum line going to tranny if you have an auto
intake manifold gaskets and seals
you get the idea

 

Vacuum leak, you could be drawing air in from a leak in the carb-intake-head area. If you get it running, spray brake cleaner along the gasket areas of the manifold to the heads and carb, if there's a leak the idle will change noticably. Also, are all the unused vacuum ports on the carb plugged?

 

pertronix +10 IMO