Not sure why "points" are called that, especially since it appears to be just one "point" which looks like a little telegraph clicker thing. It clicks away under the distributor cap sending current to each of the spark plugs in turn. The Pertronix Ignitor (tm) is just a little black box (computer) with two wires coming out of it. It replaces the points and handles the ignition timing electronically instead of mechanically.
The fun began however when I tried to replace the coil with a new Flamethrower (tm) coil, also from Pertronix. The coil stores up the power that is then sent to the distributor and then on to the plugs. The Flamethrower coil is supposed to generate more power than the stock coil, and my stock coil was rusting around the electrical contacts, so probably needed to go anyway. Plus, how can you go wrong with something called "Flamethrower"?
The problem was due to my own inexperience under the hood. From where I was standing (and with the poor lighting I had to work with, plus sweat stinging my eyes, it looked like the coil came out by loosening a nut on one side and sliding it out of the bracket the holds it. To slide out though, it had to go through space occupied by a hose. Not even thinking about what kind of hose it was, or what might be inside it, I loosened the clamp connecting it to the thermostat (hint, hint) and pulled it off. Anti-freeze immediately started shooting out of it and getting all over me, the engine, and everything else. I managed to get my thumb over the tube the hose had come off of and my other thumb over the end of the hose, but was then out of hands and not sure how to remove the coil anymore.
At that point, with the hose out of the way and a better view of the coil I was able to see the bolt on the other side that allowed you to take the bracket off and lift it out without having to go through the hose. I got the hose back on without spilling too much more anti-freeze, got some paper towels and soaked up as much fluid as I could where it had pooled on top of the engine, and then refilled the radiator from my garden hose. Finally I got my socket set out and removed that bolt which allowed me to get the coil out, then loosened that first nut and put the new coil into the bracket and tightened it back. Next I connected the wires from the new electronic ignition and connected the wire that goes into the top of the distributor and started putting everything back in place. It took a little adjusting on the angle at which the wires were attached, but I got everything back together.
Finally, I was left with another wire that went to the positive terminal on the coil (but not going to the distributor). This wire had been loose even on the old coil, apparently because it used the wrong kind of connector, and really wouldn't fit at all on the new coil. I pinched it a bit with a pair of plier and got it on good enough to test, but not good enough to drive with. Tomorrow I'll go buy some connectors and fix it properly, but for tonight I reconnected the battery cable and replaced the air cleaner, cleaned up my mess and then gave her a try.
After all that, Betty fired up stronger than ever - no hesitation at all. Definitely an improvement and worth the money and time spent. Tomorrow though I'll need to pull Betty out and mop up some anti-freeze!
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