Go Back   The Supercar Registry > General Discussion > Technical & Restoration


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old 06-15-2021, 02:39 AM
SuperNovaSS SuperNovaSS is online now
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 6,462
Thanks: 316
Thanked 619 Times in 323 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thehornworks View Post
I just thought of something. Are you using the resistor wire in the harness, this lowers the voltage to the points after you start the engine ?
Good thought. The resistor wire actually reducing the voltage when the car is running. Another wire comes to to the coil to provide more voltage when cranking. If the resistor wire was replaced with a standard wire at some point than that could definitely be prematurely wearing points and throwing the dwell off.

Jason
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to SuperNovaSS For This Useful Post:
Rumbleguts396 (06-15-2021)
  #12  
Old 06-15-2021, 10:35 AM
Rumbleguts396 Rumbleguts396 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
Posts: 436
Thanks: 365
Thanked 209 Times in 79 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by thehornworks View Post
I just thought of something. Are you using the resistor wire in the harness, this lowers the voltage to the points after you start the engine ?
Interesting Jason. I'm going to have to look at that !!!! Thanks ROB
__________________
1969 Camaro SS 396 X66 Lemans Blue
1969 Corvette 427/390 Lemans Blue
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 06-15-2021, 10:39 AM
racer67x racer67x is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 31
Thanks: 1
Thanked 35 Times in 17 Posts
Default

I ran a 396 with points in my Chevelle years ago...added an Accel coil and ran a Chrysler style ballast resistor in the wire.
that eliminated my problems and I always carried a spare in the glovebox.
you could try one to see if it helps..
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to racer67x For This Useful Post:
Rumbleguts396 (06-15-2021)
  #14  
Old 06-15-2021, 12:46 PM
Too Many Projects's Avatar
Too Many Projects Too Many Projects is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Town of Troy, WI
Posts: 4,048
Thanks: 2,101
Thanked 2,848 Times in 1,348 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rumbleguts396 View Post
Interesting Jason. I'm going to have to look at that !!!! Thanks ROB

You state that the points always look new when the failure happens. Using a full 12 volt wire would badly pit the points. You can verify the original low voltage wire by the woven fabric on it at the coil plus terminal.

It could, also, be the condenser failing and shorting out. Are you installing the separate condenser and points, or the uni-points with attached condenser. I don't know if the the uni-points are even made anymore, as they were notoriously famous for premature failure.
Also, make certain the distributor point plate has a good ground to the distributor body and the body has a good ground to the engine thru the clamp and bolt. A bad ground could overheat the condenser and cause it to fail.
__________________
Mitch
1970 Chevelle SS
1966 Chevelle SS
1967 Camaro ss/rs
1938 Business coupe, street rod
2000 FXSTS, original owner, 13k miles
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 06-15-2021, 02:15 PM
x33rs x33rs is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: AZ
Posts: 759
Thanks: 43
Thanked 417 Times in 238 Posts
Default

What others are mentioning is easy to test.

While the car is running just check voltage at the coil. Should see roughly 9 volts or so. If you see a full 12 or more that may be your issue.

Since you mentioned you've had this car running for the last 12 years without an issue and this just recently cropped up, My guess is the problem is elsewhere.
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to x33rs For This Useful Post:
earntaz (06-15-2021), Rumbleguts396 (06-15-2021), Xplantdad (06-15-2021)
  #16  
Old 06-15-2021, 07:13 PM
HawkX66's Avatar
HawkX66 HawkX66 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: VA/MA
Posts: 1,021
Thanks: 1,015
Thanked 222 Times in 132 Posts
Default

Pertronix and done... If you weren't Day 2 etc., I'd say leave it points. I've been running a set in my 69 for the past five years. Not so much as a hiccup from them. I use a factory distributor. You'd only notice if you took the cap off. Hardest part of the install is having to run a full 12v versus the factory resistor wire. Very easy...
__________________
-Dave
Semper Fi!

69 Camaro SS396 L34 X66
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to HawkX66 For This Useful Post:
Rumbleguts396 (06-15-2021)
  #17  
Old 06-15-2021, 07:55 PM
BCreekDave BCreekDave is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Dayton Ohio
Posts: 863
Thanks: 294
Thanked 410 Times in 227 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by HawkX66 View Post
Pertronix and done... If you weren't Day 2 etc., I'd say leave it points. I've been running a set in my 69 for the past five years. Not so much as a hiccup from them. I use a factory distributor. You'd only notice if you took the cap off. Hardest part of the install is having to run a full 12v versus the factory resistor wire. Very easy...
Isn't the Pertronix a two-wire setup? Maybe they changed. The Breakerless SE http://www.breakerless.com/
was the only single wire points replacement I was aware of.
__________________
70Z28 04B Norwood Forest Green-white Stripes Black DeLuxe Interior
Owned since 1978 - First Car
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to BCreekDave For This Useful Post:
Rumbleguts396 (06-15-2021)
  #18  
Old 06-15-2021, 08:15 PM
Rumbleguts396 Rumbleguts396 is offline
Yenko Contributing Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
Posts: 436
Thanks: 365
Thanked 209 Times in 79 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Too Many Projects View Post
You state that the points always look new when the failure happens. Using a full 12 volt wire would badly pit the points. You can verify the original low voltage wire by the woven fabric on it at the coil plus terminal.

It could, also, be the condenser failing and shorting out. Are you installing the separate condenser and points, or the uni-points with attached condenser. I don't know if the the uni-points are even made anymore, as they were notoriously famous for premature failure.
Also, make certain the distributor point plate has a good ground to the distributor body and the body has a good ground to the engine thru the clamp and bolt. A bad ground could overheat the condenser and cause it to fail.
I'm using separate condsenor. I have been changing them both when the issues start. ROB
__________________
1969 Camaro SS 396 X66 Lemans Blue
1969 Corvette 427/390 Lemans Blue
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 07:04 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

O Garage vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.