Remember the '57 Chevrolet?

[pacerron]

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?

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Those old '57's were pretty fast even so.

57 Chevy Bel Air vs Motorcycle - INSANE FAST - YouTube

 

[turnkey4099]

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.

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]

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.

I did that on my 1962 Austin Healey Sprite.:laughing: Live and learn.:laughing:

 

[pacerron]

I did that on my 1962 Austin Healey Sprite.:laughing: Live and learn.:laughing:

Lots of good uses for chalk in those days

 

[QRTRHRS]

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.

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]

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!

 

[npalen]

'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]

Oh' man, I just remembered what a pain it was to set up dual points.

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.