Pertronix vs Points

[Arne]

Re: fuel pump - Rebuild parts for the original pumps are difficult to find these days. But more importantly, I think throwing more parts and money at it is a bad idea. You need to determine whether the issue is fuel or ignition fist.

How about this - drive until it gets warm and starts running poorly. Then get out and check the fuel level in one of the float bowls.

Oh, wait. Your car is a '73. Does it still have the original flat-top carbs?

[StinkyCheese]

How about this - drive until it gets warm and starts running poorly. Then get out and check the fuel level in one of the float bowls.

Oh, wait. Your car is a '73. Does it still have the original flat-top carbs?

Yes, I have the original flat-top carbs. See attached picture. I read this on the Zpart website: "When these 73 carbs start to wear out one of the most observable problems is that they start to run very rich. Owners usually discover that most repair shops and average mechanics are not able to adjust these worn carbs to pass smog and hence, they are often chucked in the garbage and replaced by either early SU's or Weber DGV's."

Sounds like a familiar story. Last fall I couldn't pass smog because I was running too rich. I took the car down to the Nissan dealer where they had an old guy that has been working on Zs since the mid '70s and took a 2-week class on Z carbs. He told me he adjusted my carbs "as lean as they would go". It still wouldn't pass smog until I got some vacuum hoses routed correctly. It passed smog and it ran pretty good, but still choked out at 4000 rpm when running hard. Its definitely worse now.

[Z train]

Sigh.....

Points bounce.Bouncing points cause the dwell to shift.This is NOT good.This is NOT what you want in a ignition system.This is not a"opinion",this isn't even debatable-this is FACT.

Tony's post about the GM HEI is dead nuts on.If i didn't have a 6AL box laying around,i would have used a HEI module in the glove box on my wifes LZ-23.The Datsun electronic distributor can be driven with almost any CD box on the market or the proven GM HEI module.As with points installation & maintenance is critical.In 40 + years,i've had ONE HEI failure,one MSD failure and ZERO Datsun module failures.Point(s),set,match(book).

[StinkyCheese]

Here's a picture of my spark plugs, FWIW.

[Arne]

Sigh.....

Points bounce.Bouncing points cause the dwell to shift.This is NOT good.This is NOT what you want in a ignition system.This is not a"opinion",this isn't even debatable-this is FACT.

Yes, indeed. Sigh....

Yes, everything you posted is true. But it is also true that many members here don't drive their cars hard enough to need the benefits of EI. For those people, (and even though I do now have EI, I am one of them), points are GOOD ENOUGH.

So I still stand by my statements. Yes, EI has benefits. But all of us need to use what we are comfortable with, and we all need to accept that not everyone cares about having the best. And we need to be tolerant of that fact.

After all - the big thing is keeping these classics on the road. How their spark is generated is a minor part of that.

[Arne]

Here's a picture of my spark plugs, FWIW.

Ugh! Bosch Platinums. I'm not a fan of those on older cars like this. I strongly prefer standard NGK BP6ES. I have not had good luck with Platinums in most older cars.

[beermanpete]

Sigh.....

Points bounce.Bouncing points cause the dwell to shift.This is NOT good.This is NOT what you want in a ignition system.This is not a"opinion",this isn't even debatable-this is FACT.

Tony's post about the GM HEI is dead nuts on.If i didn't have a 6AL box laying around,i would have used a HEI module in the glove box on my wifes LZ-23.The Datsun electronic distributor can be driven with almost any CD box on the market or the proven GM HEI module.As with points installation & maintenance is critical.In 40 + years,i've had ONE HEI failure,one MSD failure and ZERO Datsun module failures.Point(s),set,match(book).

Why the big fuss about the weaknesses of points? Stinky's car does not have points anymore. Even if it did, points are not the reason his car is running badly.

My car has points still and runs flawlessly all the way to redline. Could it better? Sure. Will I replaces the points with electronic? Yes. However, none of this helps Stink get his car runnig better.

[Z train]

Yes, indeed. Sigh....

Yes, everything you posted is true. But it is also true that many members here don't drive their cars hard enough to need the benefits of EI. For those people, (and even though I do now have EI, I am one of them), points are GOOD ENOUGH.

So I still stand by my statements. Yes, EI has benefits. But all of us need to use what we are comfortable with, and we all need to accept that not everyone cares about having the best. And we need to be tolerant of that fact.

After all - the big thing is keeping these classics on the road. How their spark is generated is a minor part of that.

Sorry,Arne,but EI provides better starting,idling,emissions plus all the stuff previously mentioned.Yes,it is what people are comfortable with.EI can be simpler than points-just depends how you look at it.A major part of keeping classics on the road is bringing them into the 21st Century in certain areas.Brakes & electronics can go a long way.THere was some bad info posted in this topic and it needed to be countered.

[ozconnection]

Sorry,Arne,but EI provides better starting,idling,emissions plus all the stuff previously mentioned.Yes,it is what people are comfortable with.EI can be simpler than points-just depends how you look at it.A major part of keeping classics on the road is bringing them into the 21st Century in certain areas.Brakes & electronics can go a long way.THere was some bad info posted in this topic and it needed to be countered.

I will second this motion Z train!

One of the best conversions I ever did on my L28 was to convert to a 280zx distributor.

C'mon people, I've said this before, these cars aren't Geo Metro's, they're sports cars! Give 'em what they deserve and upgrade into this century. No one has to know if you don't open your hood.

[doradox]

I have just one thing to say. EMP attack. You folks with electronic igintion will be sitting on the side of the road while I motor past on the way to my hideout in the hills.

Steve

[John Coffey]

EI, like the Pertronix Igniter 2 and Crane XR3000 have big advantages over points: Low ohm coil (.5) for more voltage, varying dwell, rpm limiting, timing retard, etc. The only reason to keep points is for originality or budgetary reasons.

Bosch Platinum plugs don't work well with a stock or semi-stock L6 ignition system. Stick with the NGKs or Champions.

[ozconnection]

I have just one thing to say. EMP attack. You folks with electronic igintion will be sitting on the side of the road while I motor past on the way to my hideout in the hills.

Steve

forgot about that one....can I thumb a lift with you?