what is a "points" ignition?

 

Points is (are) a metal, open air switch located under your distributor cap used in the circuit that creates the spark for your ignition. The points open and close once for every cylinder for every cylinder’s compression stroke. The points are connected to the low voltage side of your coil. The coil is a transformer that steps up the low voltage from your battery (through a resister) to the high voltage needed to cause a spark to jump the air cap across the spark plug. The opening and closing of the points is driven by a multiy lobe cam like thing in your distributor.

 

Pics of what he's talking about here

 

Yeah, and those old point systems have worked for many years until the introduction of the electronic ignition systems we enjoy today. Instead of the mechanical opening and closing of the points to produce spark to each cylinder, we can now get a better spark from the Pertronix and MSD ignition systems on our old ponies. I still have the points in my glove box though.,....just in case.

 

Any body here try Crane Cams XR-I electronic ignition conversion kit? Its the same as the Pertronix Ignitor kit. Just asking because I read the artical in Mustang Monthly on how to install it. Is it as good as the others?

 

the Pertronix ignition has a nasty tendency of frying factory tachs, my brother learned that the hard way with his 67. The older Pertronix kits failed often, today, they are much better

 

Yep, the old pertronix modulators did have a tendency of failing, but guys have reported to have had them in their cars for 10 or more years without failure. The new Igniter II along with the coil seems to be the cat's meow. I still keep my points and condenser in the glovebox.

 

i see...so basically just more reliable....sorta like a carb to EFI...?


anyways....im sort of confused about ignition systems now....theres the battery wich goes to the coil which goes to the distributor right? whats those reb box looking things that bolt to the engine compartment and stuff....? can someone sort of give me an explanation of ignition systems....like the stock or old kind and the newer kind?

 

that little red box, are most likely the MSD distriubutor controller. They are really expensive, and then you still have to pay for 200 for the distributor itself. it's crazy.

 

Those boxes are usually used with a high performance setup. On a stock setup there wont be much noticeable difference, but on modded stuff there is. It increases the spark pretty much, for a better burn. I have a MSD with another box where I can adjust the timing advance about 15 degrees from inside. They also have adaptable rev limiters and boost controllers you can get added to them. You can use a stock distributor with them, but when you're talking modded setups, they usually have an aftermarket dist. anyway. I think I paid about 140 something for the MSD 6A, on sale at Summit.