59A Distributor; Points or Electronic?

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Senior Member
I have the stock dual point crab cap distributor to work on my mildly hopped up 59A block. I have a pair of 97 Stromberg's.

Who likes to stay stock points?
Who likes to convert to electronic?

I want to stay as late 40's traditional looking as possible as the motor lives in my no-hood '32 Ford Roadster.

Just looking for advice as I am sure there are Pro's and Con's to either method.

Thanks!
 
The Ford dual points distributor is incredibly well suited for its purpose. When properly set up they are bullet-proof. It ain't broke!! Don't try to fix it!! Leave it alone!! Points!!
 
Points, allways points. Never been stranded with a points set up. Your ignition already has q spare set inside. You'll get home on one set.
With electronic it's normally recommend to keep the original points stuff in your car, to get you Home if the electronic stuff goes pop.
which is more reliable, you make up your mind from the above.
Martin.
 
I retain the points but use an inexpensive "ignition amplifier", a first generation electronic type module that allows me to do away with the condenser.

Mart.
 
The early Ford V8 dual point distributors will give many miles of trouble free service if built with good quality components, setup properly and timed correctly. I have about 10,000 miles now on my stock '35 helmet distributor since its last rebuild. Still running strong after a recent 1,947 mile round trip from Maryland to Springfield IL and back. I don't feel the need to have an electronic distributor on my old Fords.
 
Thinking of going electronic since I had a brand new condenser fail after less than a thousand miles. Miraculously got me home. As points_wear timing and dwell change. Not going to argue with the points guys as à few years ago I completely agreed with them. I think there are a lot of junk condensers out there changing my opinion.
 
I know the stock point set up is popular here on FB. I have an EI in my '35 Ford but also in my my '67 442 and pretty much every toy I worked on since about 1975 when I started earning enough to afford the techy add-ons and started converting anything I had to EI's. I like them and for me have been very reliable with almost no maintenance if set up and installed properly.
 
Well... I dont think there is right or wrong ... just preference .. 6V Pertronix ran flawlessly in my 59ab (39 Ford Coupe) for 15 plus years and still going strong for the new owner. My fresh built 59ab 35 Coupe now runs a 12V Pertronix so hopefully will get the same result. Reference comments on carrying spare points and getting home on remaining single points ... I do carry a spare Pertronix Module and coil in my road kit along with a fuel pump, belts, plugs etc.:D
 
Pertronix but save your points distributor as a spare in the trunk for a " just in case scenario. Done with my avatar and my 8bs styled 40 coupe. Done so for years and it has served me well ... never really had to use my spare points distributor but once and that was my own mistake ...
 
It's interesting to see the lengths people will go through to convert their distributors to electronic, when the answer to a properly tuned engine id WHEN, not HOW MUCH spark you have. Having too much spark can cause rotor and cap failure. Plus some ignition systems don't even have a Vacuum adv/retard in their system. Considering the car runs in cruise 90% of the time I find that to be poor economics.
 
I have a duel point on my 47 ford im having problem with juice from the coil to the distributor with a test light there is juice coming out of the coil but when I hook the wire from the distributor it spark a little and the test light goes out remove the wire the light comes back on where do I look now when juice goes to the coil it runs
 
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