Thread: what is the optimum points voltage

Tweet

had the bucket running on saturday and the battery was down got it going but has the alternator cutout shut off. that car ran and idled ok but one could tell a definite loss of power on acceleration the snap just wasnt there. noticed voltage was at about 12 vt.
hit the alt switch and power junped to approx 14.5 and instantly one could tell it was running stonger.
i run the vontage through a dodge ceramic resitor before the points.
my thought is what should the before alternator voltage be and why not full voltage like it is when one is starting the engine .
i would assume one would get a stronger spark to start and then one running it goes back to the 9.5 vlts (approx) for normal running, i assume to keep the points from burning up is why, if so why?
my caddy 500 shure seems to be very sensitive to a weak ign input voltage.
would one see a advantage in running full voltage for the 1/4 mile ? as opposed to std voltage or am i thinking this out wrong.
i am going to look at a finding a used hei in its future as i have been told will see a world of differene compared to points

Al---next trip to Speedy Creek go to Fort Ignition and grab an electronic conversion setup for your stock distributor. "Flamethrower" I think it's called. Five minutes work and it'll purr like a kitten full of cream. 129 bucks for a Lodestar IHC unit, made a new truck out of a dog! Even got 'em for flatheads!

I was looking at one of the electronic conversions are they better or worse or equal to a hei unit?

Depends on looks and space, The stock dizzy as you know is way smaller than a HEI. The electronic conversion kits really just optimize the space saving of the smaller GM Delco Remy Distributor.

Make no mistake the Hei is a good unit,especially an aftermarket variant with a powered up coil and electronic module and a higher rev range.

Oh and all electronic ignitions need 12 volts minimum to run, soon as they drop below that you have problems. What else ?? an electronic ignition either runs perfectly or not at all, by that I mean there is no middle ground like the old points system used to taper off in performance, but it still got you there....well sort off