[Will]

Ryan,

These guys have given you the info you need to wrestle your distributor into submission. However, I have an idea for you.

Once you go through trying to find a good quality point set, get it installed, set the dwell through that goofy window on the cap, and then do it all over again in another 15,000-20,000 miles (or less if less than a top-notch point set is used) you'll wish you had never heard of points.

Fortunately, there is a quick & easy, solution that will cost you about $150 total if you shop around. It's called an HEI distributor and came on all Pontiac V8s from 1975 on. This newer design uses a magnetic trigger inside the distributor that never wears out and never requires adjusting. The minute you install that distributor, your tuneups will forever after consist of simply replacing the cap, rotor, wires and plugs, but NO POINTS. The plugs can be set with a bit wider gap for more spark energy in the cylinders (smoother idle, better power) and they won't foul out or require replacing as often, especially if your engine burns a little oil as most older engines do. There are some minor drawbacks to HEI's, such as if the module burns out the ignition system simply stops, period, and they require a very minor modification in your car's wiring system to run right. The advantages far outweigh these slight problems though. The modules rarely burn out and you can always carry an extra in the glove compartment just in case and they're easier to swap out than points. Your factory wiring can be left completely stock if you wish and an additional wire can be routed from the ignition lead in your fusebox to the coil terminal on the HEI, or you can modify the stock wiring harness by unwrapping it and replacing the factory resistor wire that runs to the coil with a regular piece of 10 guage copper wire then re-wrapping the harness.

Well, guess I've muddied the waters enough. Hope I didn't confuse you too much. All I can say is that after owning cars with points distributors and cars with HEIs, I have now converted all of my cars to HEI.

-Will