MGA Forum

I just recently had my starter tested , comes out it was bad . So I bought a New one from O'Reilly auto parts for $52.00, unlimited lifetime warranty. I also took in my generator to see if I could have it tested also , come to find out they don't have equipment to test them either. So I bought a New one too $79.00. With unlimited lifetime warranty. Now onto my points n distributor. Here's a Question?
I had my motor completely remilled and overhauled. Should I stay with my points distributor or move onto an High energy ignition distributor?

I prefer points and condenser but others like the electronic either way, I wouldn't go to high energy.

I guess that is what I was referring to electric not high energy

High energy ignition is kind of “pointless” in a MGA. The size of the distributor and rotor limit how much energy can go through the secondary ignition circuit. Too much energy just burns out the components quickly. I’ve only used point type systems also.

Point system for me. Have always kept my distributors in top shape and have been using points systems since 1968 in all of my MGs.
(And other old cars, 29 Ford, etc). Never a problem till I had to replace a capacitor/condenser recently. Most are junk now. Just buy the most expensive one you can find and you should be good for years with a points adjustment every 8 - 10 thousand miles after the first adjustment (about 1,000 miles), to account for the initial rubbing block wear.

Also, if you can find them, use NOS or a set of good original used points that you can clean up. A good original set of points should last you for many years.

If I have to buy aftermarket/repro ignition parts I like Echlin brand.

Brian W.

We run the Pertronix system in our race cars and had only one failure in 20 years. I recommend the electronic system especially in light of the poor quality of some of the points components being offered.
Stan Heath

It’s really a toss up, you will find fans of both, I am using a points system

To get to the point ..... I prefer points. Never a point failure ever, but had 2 electronics' fail in the old days

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Gary

Murphy's law

Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe, and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it, and he'll have to touch it to be sure.

I've had 2 points/condenser failures in my Model A. The last one was on the toll road going back to the Outer Banks from Virginia Beach. I borrowed a match book and used the sandpaper on the book to clean up the points enough to fire. Ran sh-tty but enough to get me home. At John Twist party last year my points/condenser gave out on my MGA. Thank goodness for fellow MGers that had extra parts. John even helped to put them in.
About the worst time I ever had was when they went out and we were 3 miles from shore. There was a cabin cruiser a hundred feet from us and the guy was getting ready to pull anchor. We yelled over to him and ask if he could give us a toll in. He said wait a minute and he went down below. Then he came back up and told us he called the tow boat for us. (#@%$&^*) Kind of upset us seeing by rights he had to toll us in . That towboat charges from the time they get the call till they bring you in to the dock. Costing us over $300 for a bad condenser.

In my 59 MGA I've been using Pertronix for about 10 years now and never a miss.

Guess which one I prefer.

John

Many of us have had their distributors rebuilt and recurved by either Advanced Distributor or British Vacuum Unit (??) and they also install and sell HD points, rotors and condensers. I think good parts are out there but you have to look. Bruce

Hi John if I may ask what is Patronize and how does it help , Thanks in advance Darren �

Hi Stan , quick question is the Petronics a positive or negative earth ground ? Also I had the motor completely rebuilt with performance engine parts Including cam pistons ,rings and thd top end rebuilt with hardened valves and seats for unleaded fuel . Is the Petronics a good fit for my motor ? Thanks �

Thank you Darren for the spelling check. I hope it didn't bother you all day trying to figure out what the word was that I typed wrong. The word typed and spelled wrong should have been Petronics Sorry about that. Rest easy now.