The points and condenser usually were packaged together on a card. Really didn't have to change the condenser often, but what to do with a drawer full of unused ones, and they only took a minute to change
Then came vented points....
Remember the '57 Chevrolet?
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The points and condenser usually were packaged together on a card. Really didn't have to change the condenser often, but what to do with a drawer full of unused ones, and they only took a minute to change
Then came vented points....
turnkey4099
Elite Member
Hilite of driving my 56 chev came in the old days in Montana with no speed limit (reasonable and proper). I wonder what they would have said to my trip across there in a 54 chev with a motorcycle stuffed in the back seat, trunk full of all my belongings (station transfer in the AF), nose pointed at the tree tops and speedo reading "reasonable).
Anyhow with the 57 chev I took a pheasant at a ways north of 70 . Hit and put a dent at the top corner of the windshield but CSI says it hit first on that pointy spear on the hood which must have just about cleaned it out, blood, guts and gore everywhere.
Another thrill of driving Montana back in those days was topping a hill going like a bat and seeing a flock of sheep - open range then. For some reason I never figured out, the flock was always going the same direction I was which made it real fun (and slow) to get through them.
Harry K
Anyhow with the 57 chev I took a pheasant at a ways north of 70 . Hit and put a dent at the top corner of the windshield but CSI says it hit first on that pointy spear on the hood which must have just about cleaned it out, blood, guts and gore everywhere.
Another thrill of driving Montana back in those days was topping a hill going like a bat and seeing a flock of sheep - open range then. For some reason I never figured out, the flock was always going the same direction I was which made it real fun (and slow) to get through them.
Harry K
RobertN
Super Member
Which '57 chevy; there were a bunch of model's?
I was never much in to Chevies. The only ones from that year that got/get my attention was the Vette, and the Cameo pickup.
I was never much in to Chevies. The only ones from that year that got/get my attention was the Vette, and the Cameo pickup.
If this doesn't create a misty eye or two out there, I'll be surprised.
57 Chevrolet - Billie Jo Spears.mp4 - YouTube
uglyboywith11fingers
Gold Member
used to be lots of condensers laying around the garage we hung out at back in the 60's...
we'd pull a plug wire on a running engine, hold the condenser in series with the plug wire to ground, charging up the condenser. Then we'd leave it on the counter beside the cash register.
just about every guy who came in to pay his bill would pick up a condenser to look at it, and then he would touch the end of the lead with his other hand and get a healthy poke...
always good for a laugh.
Pete
QRTRHRS
Elite Member
My first car in 1966 was a Mercury. I think it was a 57 but then memory escapes so it could have been a 58'. Cost me a hundred bucks and it was decent too. I think the engine was like a 330 or something? It could see a hundred real quick much to my dad's disatifaction with me. Weak link was the push button controlled auto. Like the song says, "crazy about a Mercury".
The older guys with a little better job had the Mercs. The rest of us had Fords (or Chevy's)
But, back to the topic, the 57 Chevy. I left one sit in a friends field. Don't know what ever happened to that car. It was a four door which was not cool. I don't even remember how I came to own it.
I also had a 55 Crown Vic, a 60 T-bird rag but with the hard boot, a 55 and a 56 Chevy. Also had a 56 Chevy delivery wagon with no drive train that I swapped for bucket seats.
The older guys with a little better job had the Mercs. The rest of us had Fords (or Chevy's)
But, back to the topic, the 57 Chevy. I left one sit in a friends field. Don't know what ever happened to that car. It was a four door which was not cool. I don't even remember how I came to own it.
I also had a 55 Crown Vic, a 60 T-bird rag but with the hard boot, a 55 and a 56 Chevy. Also had a 56 Chevy delivery wagon with no drive train that I swapped for bucket seats.
Bird
Rest in Peace
I think, not absolutely sure, that my '56 Merc had a 312 engine, and of course a 4 bbl carb. I can't recall a Merc with a push button auto. I've driven Edsels with the push button in the center of the steering wheel and Plymouths with the push buttons to the left of the steering wheel.
jinman
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Push-button automatics were never a favorite of mine. Today's push button engine starts aren't either. I can't get used to getting into the car with the key in my pocket and reaching up to start the engine because the key is "present." I hope that trend goes the way of the push-button transmission.
turnkey4099
Elite Member
Push-button automatics were never a favorite of mine. Today's push button engine starts aren't either. I can't get used to getting into the car with the key in my pocket and reaching up to start the engine because the key is "present." I hope that trend goes the way of the push-button transmission.
Yep. With all the reports of "runaway acceleration" and being unable to stop the engine it seems a bad idea. My understanding is to stop the engine you need to push AND HOLD the button for some seconds. When I want to turn off an engine I want it to stop NOW!.
Harry K
MotorSeven
Elite Member
As a kid I always liked the '57 since it is my "born on date". So when I got my license I dragged dad to one of those little used car lots on Canal St in New Orleans to look at one. It was a 2-door and had a real amature bright orange paint job & I think the asking price was $650..this was 1974. Unfortunately for me, my grandfather owned a used car dealership & Dad worked for him for several years. So Dad went around the car point out the host of "flaws" like rust through that had been merely painted over. A dejected teenager went home with no car and still to this day a '57 has not graced my driveway
The points and condenser usually were packaged together on a card. Really didn't have to change the condenser often, but what to do with a drawer full of unused ones, and they only took a minute to change
Then came vented points....
I remember there was a store near me that would sell the points alone. Just had to ask for them and they had a whole drawer full of them somewhere. It was a couple of years ago, so I don't remember all the details, but it started out as a way to carry a spare set of points, and ended up being a cheaper way for a tune up. I'm a pack rat so I still had several old condensers laying around that were still just fine in case one ever did go out.
I changed them every once in a while because it seemed like the right thing to do, but I don't remember anyone having one actually fail.
As I recall, the pitch was that over time the capacitance ability would break down and that was what helped make the points
pit or get a sticker on them. Too long ago to really remember
Wanna buy some super spark plugs with multiple negative electrodes?
OP
2LaneCruzer
Epic Contributor
turnkey4099
Elite Member
A friend called me one day back when and asked for some help getting his truck started after a tune up. I asked what he had done to it. "new points and condenser". Checked what I could and suggested a bad condenser....Yep, a new one worked.
He wasn't exactly knowledgeable about vehicles. Another time he asked for the same type help. What did you do? Pulled and rebuilt the distributor. "sure you pit it back 'in time"" Well, it fires when #1 comes up. "which time?" Yep, 180 out.
Harry K
Bird
Rest in Peace
I did that on my 1962 Austin Healey Sprite.:laughing: Live and learn.:laughing:
QRTRHRS
Elite Member
It was on the dash. I am thinking the left side. I don't remeber which model it was. I know it was an "uncool" four door. One of my friends had a 56' Merc with the "Y" block 312.
QRTRHRS
Elite Member
We used to set the points on the fly with a matchpack cover. Oh' man, I just remembered what a pain it was to set up dual points.
Then there was the shotgun riders job; turn the distributer forward after the engine was started to gain a little more power, lol!
Then there was the shotgun riders job; turn the distributer forward after the engine was started to gain a little more power, lol!
npalen
Elite Member
'57 Chevy 283 back in the early 60's. Installed a driver controlled timing adjustment which was probably bought from J.C. Whitney/Warshawskys. Kind of cool to be able to change the timing in the 1/4 mile--probably lucky I didn't burn the pistons.
Bird
Rest in Peace
A friend of mine had a 1960 Corvette with dual points, two 4 bbl. carbs, solid lifters, etc. And if you bought a set of those dual points for a Corvette, they were pretty expensive. However, since my Dad owned an auto parts store, I did a little checking and they were actually the exact same points as used in a 1955 Olds; just had to have two of them, and the two individual sets cost about half what they cost when packaged in pairs for Corvettes.
