396 Camaro Points Issues

[Rumbleguts396]

Hi Guys,
I'm having an issue with the points in my 1969 Camaro 396. Full disclosure the motor is not stock. It's a Day 2 street car. Unfortunately i don't know all the internal spec's of the motor ( bought the motor used/built). I've had the motor running in my car for 12 years and never had any issues. It's a 1969 Solid Lifter motor with a stock single point distributer. It does have a slight cam. The motor has always been bulletproof, and super reliable.
So my issues started last summer. Dropping a cylinder and then 2 cylinders. This has happened at least 3 times and last night happened again.
First time it happened I inspected the points and distributer cap. Points looked perfect but i noticed the underside of the distributer cap had 3 or 4 contacts chewed up. Bad bushings in the distributer i figured. My buddy happened to have a rebuilt stock one near by. I installed it along with stock GM points/condensor/cap. Car ran great for appox 300 miles. Then the same exact issues popped up again.
Next I replaced points/condensor from Accel. Along with a new coil. Also complete tune up wires spark plugs etc. Same thing ran great for a few hundred miles and same issues came up of dropping cylinders.
Next I installed another set of points/condensor and left the tach wire off the coil to see if it made any difference. It ran great for 3 hundred miles and bang same issues.
I should note, whenever I changed the points they looked brand new, zero physical issues spotted. I tried different spring tension points and still no difference. Of course I set up the points, timing, dwell each time i replaced them.
I am at a loss. Has anyone had this issue?? any suggestions? should i ditch the points and install an MSD or Mallory ??? I must admit I have always kept points in my cars for the last 40 years. I always liked them.
Again, this is not a 100 point restoration. It's a Hot Rod Day 2 car.

Many Thanks, ROB

[Too Many Projects]

Did you check the dwell when the issues started, before removing the points ? I found, years ago, the rubbing block does seem to wear in about that 300 mile mark and the points close up enough to cause a weak spark.

[Rumbleguts396]

Originally Posted by Too Many Projects

Did you check the dwell when the issues started, before removing the points ? I found, years ago, the rubbing block does seem to wear in about that 300 mile mark and the points close up enough to cause a weak spark.

I have not tried that. I will check them before i remove them this time around.
Thanks ROB

[thehornworks]

Install pertronix II Best thing I ever did. I use their black coil. The increase in performance is noticeable.

[Too Many Projects]

Pertronix does make a cast aluminum body look alike to the original distributors with their electronic triggers inside. They do require the matching coil, and I don't recall if the distributor is the series II or III. I have 2 of them in engines. I also have 2 Pertronix III conversions with correct, matching ohm coils, in original distributors. No issues with either set up.

[Steve Shauger]

Originally Posted by thehornworks

Install pertronix II Best thing I ever did. I use their black coil. The increase in performance is noticeable.

Gary I use pertronix in cars I drive, and use their black coil. Cars run and idle much better.

[1967 4K]

I have had a Pertronix in my 67 for many years. It works fine and I’ve never touched it.

Richard

[Too Many Projects]

Originally Posted by Rumbleguts396

I have not tried that. I will check them before i remove them this time around.
Thanks ROB

Check them at 200 miles and reset, if necessary. You most likely know, but, more is less, meaning the higher the dwell, the narrower the gap. I always set new points at 28 and they stay within the 4 degree window longer.

[thehornworks]

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 ?

[SuperNovaSS]

Originally Posted by thehornworks

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