Distributor Points?!

[Patrolman]

So about 1/2 of my "fleet" has points. Told the wife I will have to teach her how to set up points. Proceeded to state that by the time I am at retirement age, I may not know anyone else who knows how to set up points. I don't think that most people in my generation know what points are. Even if they do, they likely don't know how they work. I guess I could work at an automotive museum in 35 years since I know my old equipment!

Any input? Who knows what points are? Who has set them up? Definately a great way to learn/understand how ignition systems work.

Also, anyone know when points were last used? My 74 Scout had them, but my 76 is electronic. About the same years for my Z-cars.

[Pathrat]

Going to take a stab at this. Points refer to setting the gap between the points on a spark plug? There is a metal disc that you hold the plug up to in order to get the correct gap? I saw this done to a 65 Mustang. The gap is where the fire jumps across from the two points at the end of the plug?

[Patrolman]

Close, but not quite.

Distributor points are inside the distributor. Also called ignition points. Almost every car prior to 1972 would have them, so the Mustang would have them. Basically the points open/close as the distributor turns. Each time they open, a spark gets sent to the plug. If everything doesn't "jive" then the engine won't run right. The points have to be gapped appropriately, the dwell has to be set right, the timing has to be set right, and the plug gap has to be right.

[Pathrat]

I grant myself a point for having a word in common with your answer. A spark plug was mentioned. :D

[Patrolman]

Is there a way to give points? I looked but can't find one. You deserve at least one for know plugs have gaps!

[Jimmy]

Yep, done points on a few vehicles over the years and have the dwell guage to prove it! :)

I also swapped out every points distributor I've ever owned with an electronic one. ;)

Just get one of those kits that swaps out the points for a trigger and be done with it!

Hmmm... I might even have a set of points files somewhere...

The vehicles: '72 Chevy P/U with SBC, '66 Chevy II SS with SBC, and a '69 Dodge Coronet with RB 440.

[Patrolman]

Yeah, I wish I could swap out points on my Patrols. Just not a viable option.

The first vehicle I set points on was my 1969 Patrol. Also did a 1974 VW, 1962 Scout, 1972 240Z, Cushman Tracksters, and our 1971 Yamaha AT1 dirt bikes.

[Chris]

What? You're kidding me right? :eek:

Thanks for making me feel really, really old Jeff! :tsk:

[Chris]

'66 Chevy II SS

That a nice car, almost traded my '57 Chevy for one. :wrench:

[Patrolman]

Yeah, no offense Chris.

Do you think the next generation will know what a carburetor is? They stopped those in 1989 if I remember right. Will make us all feel old! I just have the feeling that my generation doesn't know what points are unless they are into the old rides like me. Also, I bet people of my generation don't know that cars were once built WITHOUT cats!

[Chris]

I remember the first time my parents bought a car with seat belts! :lol:

IIRC it was a '60 Chevy Bel Air, or maybe their '56 Chevy - not sure I was only 10 years old. :rolleyes:

[Patrolman]

I know shoulder harnesses were in the early 70's. My parents 72 had them but my buddies 71 didn't. Go figure. I didn't know when seat belts started all together.

Did you know they had airbags in the mid 70s? Ask Ralph Nader.

[4Runninfun]

yeah i know what points are. I used to set them all the time when i was working on my old Hodaka's. those were a PITA! had to stick the little feeler gauge in the holes of the fly wheel.

[SCRubicon]

I ditched the points in my CJ5 and went with a Pertronix Ignitor - easy as all heck to do, and worth every penny of the $50...

[Pathrat]

I remember the first time my parents bought a car with seat belts! :lol:

IIRC it was a '60 Chevy Bel Air, or maybe their '56 Chevy - not sure I was only 10 years old. :rolleyes:

:lol:
My first car, the boaty 78 Cougar had lap belts in front. My mom still puts her arm out if we stop quickly.
Carburators...they carburate things.

[BLOODBANE]

If you look up the Pertronix(I think thats how its spelled)Ignitor, it may be the answer for your points replacement problems. It uses a magnetic ring on the rotor and the little black "Ignitor" fits where the points set. Hook up positive and ground wires to the coil and your done. I put one on my old '73 F-250 and never had any problems(it would burn points pretty bad).

[Patrolman]

I have heard the Petronix is a really good setup. I will likely put them in my 72 240Z. Unfortunately they don't make a set at all for the Nissan Patrol. Just not common enough. Many people have tried to fit some in. Just one of those things that you have to live with when you own a rare vehicle.

[mattscout]

I hate points almost as much as carbs! I think you may be able to convert your Nissan to either a later model electronic out of a late model Nissan or use some of the Hamilton mods off the Binder bulletin to make your own using dodge or ford parts. He shows you step by step how it's done. You could probably FI your patrols using GM TBI stuff. That's what is going on my Scout. Have most of the pieces already just need a few more. :wrench:

[4LoLo]

AH yes, points. Had Pertronix in my Series Rover(s), worked very well but I carried a new set of points & condensor as a back up.

Going out and buying bulk Pertronix setups not being a viable option (who has that kind of dough?). There is a quick, relatively painless way to set up points to at least get you home and in some circumstances, get you chicks, no really. :cool:

Having not a clue as to what your gap may be, or not having a feeler gauge handy, because you left your pocket feeler gauge in your other pants (yeah right), Use this:

This is not only pretty darned slick, it also gets two thumbs up :2thumbs: directly from the Fonzy book of tech. "AAAAY!!"

Use the cardboard from a fresh match book to set the gap. Set it to slide with some resistance. It will almost certainly not be correct but I have used it before on my old 'merican V8s, and friends beaters and gotten where I needed to go. Now please keep in mind I am digging into tech I haven't used since the early-mid 90s, so I may not have the gap measurement correct. IIRC the matchbook cardboard will set the gap at .16-.18. I didn't look at a feeler gauge and just pulled that number out of the ether, but it was the number that popped in my medicated head.

Jeff, being a guy with several candidates to choose from, maybe you can test this and see if it works for you?

Oh yeah, the chicks....
Last time I used this I was in high school, myself and a group of buddies + local girlies took my buddies (new to him) "three window special" boat to the lake for a day of tubing and beer fueled mayhem.

Just as we got out to the middle of the lake and were getting ready to load up the biscuit (tube) with yokels, the engine sputtered and died. After everyone looked at each other with dumbfounded glances, I pulled the doghouse cover and started tinkering.

The engine was an old 360 CID Ford V8. His uncle had given the thing a tune right before he passed it on to my buddy. I pulled a wire, had him crank it, no spark. Pulled the dist. cap and found the points had vibrated loose.

Luckily a mechanic buddy I used to run with taught me this trick when we were working on my 69 Firebird and it stuck with me. Just like I *totally knew* what I was doing, we found a matchbook amongst us and I got the thing dialed in enough to continue on with our plans of wreckless abandon.

Who got chicks? I got chicks. Sure made the half hour of "dibs" arguments me and my guy friends had about the girls, while loading the pickups that morning seem pointless (pun-intended). :smokin:

Why did I feel I needed to tell that whole saga?!
1.) I am medicated and have an overly high opinion of myself. What - being the self proclaimed KING of Shantyville!! KING I TELL YOU! :bow:
2.) I don't see many people since being on recovery hiatus, and apparently I am recently, overly chatty. :blah:
3.) When's the next time am I am going to have the door opened for a cool points distributor story like that?
4.) COME AWN!! - that story is just kickass!

[Chris]

Kickass for sure. I'm adding matchbooks to my in truck tools and tossing the feeler gauge! :cool:

Not too sure about the chicks though, maybe if I had percocet for breakfast I could though. :lol:

[SCRubicon]

Going out and buying bulk Pertronix setups not being a viable option (who has that kind of dough?). There is a quick, relatively painless way to set up points to at least get you home and in some circumstances, get you chicks, no really. :cool:

I have never ever seen or heard of a Pertronix unit going bad to the point of needing to buy them in bulk.

[4LoLo]

I have never ever seen or heard of a Pertronix unit going bad to the point of needing to buy them in bulk.

Neither have I. On the other hand, if I am buying more than 2 of anything, I try to haggle for a "bulk" discount.


So about 1/2 of my "fleet" has points. ......

Jeff's fleet
---------
1987 Toyota 4Runner; mild build
1987 Toyota SB Truck; gets worked and a DD
1976 Scout II; mild build
1969 Nissan Patrol; factory original with 64,000 miles
1965 Nissan Patrol; parts/pieces waiting to be tubed
1972 Datsun 240Z; awaiting resto
1994 Mazda Miata; mild mods
1999 Mazda Miata; wifes Toy
1995 Ford Escort; wifes DD
1971 Yamaha AT1 - matched set of 3
Cushman Tracksters - matched pair
1978 Suzuki FZ50 Scooter - 100MPG!
1985 Honda Spree Scooter (wifes)
---------

;)

[Patrolman]

Neither have I. On the other hand, if I am buying more than 2 of anything, I try to haggle for a "bulk" discount.



Jeff's fleet
---------
1987 Toyota 4Runner; mild build
1987 Toyota SB Truck; gets worked and a DD
1976 Scout II; mild build
1969 Nissan Patrol; factory original with 64,000 miles
1965 Nissan Patrol; parts/pieces waiting to be tubed
1972 Datsun 240Z; awaiting resto
1994 Mazda Miata; mild mods
1999 Mazda Miata; wifes Toy
1995 Ford Escort; wifes DD
1971 Yamaha AT1 - matched set of 3
Cushman Tracksters - matched pair
1978 Suzuki FZ50 Scooter - 100MPG!
1985 Honda Spree Scooter (wifes)
---------

;)

Both Patrols are points machines. The 65 no longer has an engine though. The 240z is points as well as all 3 Yamahas. I believe the Suzuki is as well. One of the Tracksters is still the original engine with points, the other is now a "Geo Trackster" and EFI. Makes 6, possibly 7 of my machines still on points. Can't go wrong with simple reliability!