[MIke L]

Guy's..
In my '65, 30 over 389 with stock intake and #77 heads,
Nunzi 222 232@50 cam, Carter 750 carb, '67 R/A manifolds, 2 1/2" exhaust, 4spd, 3:55 rear
I have a recurved [5yrs ago] GM distributer [34 total all in by at 3,000]
1st gen Petronix conversion, A/C packard 7mm wires, and a GM replaced coil.

The distrb, coil, and wires have been in the car since I've owned it [14yrs.]
She fires up on the first turn and stay's that way.
No backfire, stumble, or any miss at all.

The only problem that may be attributed to anything electrical is that #7 plug is allways fouled which smells a little like oil and gas. I get blue smoke at all high vacumn conditions [at startup, idleing, and been told when I let up to change gears] I'm thinking tho that is a guide or seal problem.
not necessarily electrical
The other elec. related problem I have is that the headlights aren't as bright now at idle as they once were, when I rev it up they become much brighter.

My question is being that the distrb, wires, and coil are AT LEAST 14 years old stock GM replacments, [which I can't find any problem with other than the what i said] does it make sense to replace all 3 anyway after all this time?
or just wait until something fails?

If you guy's think I should, would aftermarket MSD or Taylor wires,
or say an Ignitor or blaster coil or a MSD, etc. distrib give a better, hotter spark than another GM A/C replacements?

Am I thinking right?
Thank's

Mike

[66bonne]

Your #7 plug fouling is what you suspect - probably a bad seal.
Usually when headlights dim/brighten with engine speed it could be a matter of losing ground at the grounding straps attached to the engine, at least that was my case. Neither one of these minor problems is related to your ignition system.
Personally, unless I am making a serious performance upgrade I am of the school of "If it ain't broke - don't fix it". Yes, you may be treading on then ice considering the age of your ignition system and something could go wrong tomorrow or next week or next.... But then you could have been saying that for the past couple of years. I'd leave it alone if it is working that well for you.

[Billy177]

id leave the ignition system alone and look into changing the valve seals

[george kujanski]

Headlights being dim at idle indicate a heavier electrical load than the alternator can provide. Low engine idle speed would be a culprit also. The belt also may be slipping.

If you have a low output alternator such as a 37 A, upgrade to a 62. Besides higher overall output it also will have more output at idle.

DO not use a larger pulley on the alt, as it will reduce the alt speed at idle.

Check your battery voltage when the lights are bright, it should be about 14.0

George

[MIke L]

Thanks Fella's...
I was thinking the same thing about not changing something just for the sake of changing. But since they all so old i just thought they should be changed out with all the new things available now.

I was also thinking that overall performance would increase too.

Thanks
Mike

[PONTIAC DUDE]

If ya got the extra bucks.................

Yes with todays gas an MSD 6AL box will make a difference, but you need 8mm wires and the plug gap opened up to .040 or better. The hotter coil will work & increase saturation time too. The box increaes the plug voltage without affecting the distributor. Just make sure you have the good MSD cap and rotor. MSD now makes a cap that uses the HEI ends on the old style cap spacing
It will wire to your distributor.

Also I like the 100 amp one wire alternators. Ya can't get enough juice for todays ignitions.