Points were obsolete in 1975. They wear, gap changes, timing drifts, and you're adjusting them every 5,000 miles. On a hot day, they spark weak and your engine stumbles.
Pertronix drops into your existing distributor and replaces points with a magnetic trigger. Takes 30 minutes. Zero maintenance. Stronger spark at all RPMs. No dwell adjustment, no point filing, no condenser failures.
- Ignitor module: Mounts inside distributor, replaces points - Magnetic sleeve: Slides over distributor shaft - Flamethrower coil (optional): Higher voltage output for bigger spark
Cost: $100-$150 for Ignitor module, $80 for coil upgrade. Total investment under $250.
Pertronix makes kits for every classic distributor: - Chevy HEI, points-type - Ford Autolite, Motorcraft - Mopar electronic, points - Delco, Prestolite, Lucas, Bosch
Look up your distributor part number on Pertronix's site. If it had points, they make a kit.
1. Remove distributor cap and rotor - Cap off, rotor pulls straight up
2. Remove points and condenser - Two screws hold the points plate - Disconnect point wire and condenser wire
3. Install Pertronix module - Magnetic sleeve slides over shaft (don't touch sensor, it's fragile) - Module mounts where points were (same two screw holes) - Red wire to positive coil terminal, black to ground
4. Set air gap - Rotate engine until magnetic sleeve aligns with module sensor - Gap should be 0.020" (brass feeler gauge included) - Tighten screws, re-check gap
5. Reinstall rotor and cap - Fire it up
Optional: Install Flamethrower coil - Disconnect old coil, bolt in new one (same mounting holes) - Wire: positive from ignition, negative to distributor - 45,000V output (vs 25,000V stock) = hotter spark at plugs
- No maintenance: Points wear out. Electronics don't. - Better spark: Module fires harder than points, especially at high RPM - No timing drift: Points gap changes as they wear. Electronics don't wear. - Easier starting: Cold mornings? No problem. Hot engine? No vapor lock.
Q: Do I need to recurve my distributor? A: No. Pertronix uses your existing advance curve.
Q: Can I go back to points if it fails? A: Yes. Keep your old points in the glovebox as emergency backup.
Q: Will this fix my idle issues? A: If your idle was rough due to weak spark, yes. If it's a carb or vacuum leak, no.
First startup: Fires faster. The stronger spark makes combustion more consistent, so idle smooths out.
On the road: Throttle response is crisper. No more high-RPM miss. Engine pulls harder above 4,000 RPM.
And you never touch the distributor again. That alone is worth $100.