Having second thoughts about electronic ignitions

[moparjohnny]

I am hearing a lot of people having electronic ignition problems with modules and so on, i hate to brake down some where due to electronic ignition,i like modern technology on most things but the ignition part has rethinking a bit,is any one out there still using points as part of their ignition system?

 

[Hemi Rebel]

electronic ignition is completely reliable. there is always the chance for parts failure, that goes for anything, but odds are you will have years of trouble free operation.

 

[Pops1967GTX]

I'm old school, keeping my 67GTX stock....I'm still running points & not having any problem...Points are simple & foolproof, but they do need periodic adjustment or replacement. electronic ignition system was an upgrade ..it also has weak areas...But a properly maintain system should keep you in good running order...

 

[tallhair]

Change over to electronic and enjoy the consistency of steady on timing. If it make you feel batter add a orange control unit to your tool box with you spare rotor, ballast resistor, and throw out the points.

 

[Moparsmitty]

I know lots of guys that carry a spare stock ignition module. They aren't expensive and are very reliable.

 

[ws27]

I carry a spare module with a few zip ties and a ground wire already bolted on. The other end of the ground wire has an alligator clip so I can plug it in, ground the wire and keep going with minimal effort.

 

[moparmarks]

Other than the Orange boxes I've ran a lot of the E/I systems for 35 years with no problems. Chrysler's E/I is a pretty good setup, other than the Orange boxes. Have had 3 new Orange boxes fail on me. Black, blue, gold and chrome boxes are all fine.

 

[A383Wing]

Other than the Orange boxes I've ran a lot of the E/I systems for 35 years with no problems. Chrysler's E/I is a pretty good setup, other than the Orange boxes. Have had 3 new Orange boxes fail on me. Black, blue, gold and chrome boxes are all fine.

same here

 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Still run points in my Pontiac, never had an issue. Over 10 years now. But I do have a Skip White HEI thats going in one of these days.......

 

[mguesto]

Give a look at Pertronix stuff. I have it in both my cars and it has not let me down.
My dart has the kit in it that keeps the original cap and other stuff so no one knows that it is not stock.

My GTX has the unit with a rev limiter in it and it functions the same way. Stock parts still on the outside.
One little sign is the extra wire that comes out of the distributor. Other than that, stock looking.

You bypass the block on the firewall, but i have wires that go down behind the block and you can't tell they are not hooked up.

Matt
Matt

 

[Budnicks]

Other than the Orange boxes I've ran a lot of the E/I systems for 35 years with no problems. Chrysler's E/I is a pretty good setup, other than the Orange boxes. Have had 3 new Orange boxes fail on me. Black, blue, gold and chrome boxes are all fine.

Yep I drive around with my CEI Chrome box with 20* of dwell spark, good to 8000rpm {not that I will ever spin it that high}, firing all that fuel in my RR's 479ci-6bbl & have the CEI orange box in the trunk just incase {never had to use it yet} & a CEI Gold Race box for at the track {longer dwell & hotter spark for racing}... you can't do that with an old archaic Condenser & Points system, although they serve their purpose & are extremely simple.... The CEI IMHFO it's versatility at it's best... ballast resister is the biggest issue, but you have that with a condenser & points ignition system too... I've had far more coils fail or burnt points & backfiring from bad condenser &/or points dwell problems, than the CEI boxes ever.... I grew up in the era of Dual Points on everything, what a pain in the a$$ they were, I'll take the CEI any-day, unless it's a 100pt restoration car, that needs a dual point or single point distributor...

- - - Updated - - -

Don't believe everything you read on the web & buy quality parts.... that's 1/2 the issue, it seems people want the cheapest crap out there, than they always complain, when ever the cheap parts inevitably fail..

 

[moparjohnny]

with cei is the boxes the main item that might fail?ho about the bellast resistor what is that connected to,so how is the cei connected,what parts wired together? thanks

 

[Budnicks]

CEI Ignition

with cei is the boxes the main item that might fail?ho about the bellast resistor what is that connected to,so how is the cei connected,what parts wired together? thanks

here's how it's wired, a latter 4 pin ballast & electronic regulator with dual field alternator...

 

[Rocketman]

I am putting this one in tomorrow along with some new Accel 8030 wires, E3 plugs, and a Blaster 2 coil.

http://www.roushyatesparts.com/proform-mopar-distributor-p/pfm-66995.htm

it did come with an orange box though instead of the blue

 

[Rocketman]

Well it is all on and the car runs great, the points no longer float, I did experience some surge at 95 mph but a few adjustments to the vacuum, problem solved. I love the 8030's as they are all custom fit and look much neater. I only wish I could take back the stupid fall I had today giving a bum knee with a big ice pack on it now.

 

[Budnicks]

Well it is all on and the car runs great, the points no longer float, I did experience some surge at 95 mph but a few adjustments to the vacuum, problem solved. I love the 8030's as they are all custom fit and look much neater. I only wish I could take back the stupid fall I had today giving a bum knee with a big ice pack on it now.

Ooooch get better soon... It's good to see you got the Roush-Yates CEI conversion done, with no car real issues anyway... I actually prefer the MP-Chrome box for any modifications done to a BB & street driving, a little more spark & longer dwell than the Black or Blue knock off Boxes have....

 

[70rr-brian]

On the upside...if we ever get hit with an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) you will be one of the few still able to drive if you stay with points.

 

[Budnicks]

Yeah maybe, but if we all were worried about that EMP crap, we would just drive steam powered cars still....

 

[Photon440]

Yeah maybe, but if we all were worried about that EMP crap, we would just drive steam powered cars still....

Or diesels with mechanical injectors.

 

[Rocketman]

Ooooch get better soon... It's good to see you got the Roush-Yates CEI conversion done, with no car real issues anyway... I actually prefer the MP-Chrome box for any modifications done to a BB & street driving, a little more spark & longer dwell than the Black or Blue knock off Boxes have....

I will probably still do a cyclinder head and high rise upgrade in the winter but this definitely woke this car up.