Which distributor would you choose as a spare?

[whirook]

If you were getting a spare distributor would you choose the older points or the newer solid state version?
I know the solid state one is more straight forward/simpler, but may not work well with newer coils.
With original coils getting harder to find, I am beginning to think the older points one maybe the way to go.
Please let me know your thoughts!

[m3a1]

You are really asking two questions at once. Any type of fully assembled, proof tested distributor can be a good spare, just as long as it is verifiably healthy, and then, assuming that it comes with its own, proven coil.

As to the matter of which is the better flavor of ignition (points vs electronic)....this has been discussed before but I don't think there has been a formal polling on the matter of what is better so what you read below is solely my opinion.

First of all, points or electronic ignition modules are just two different ways to get sparks from the coil to the spark plugs. However, the answer always seems to be that the points style distributor is (for lack of a better term) more serviceable meaning, easier to diagnose. As you mentioned, it has recently been suggested that points are said to play better with the new manufacture coils than electronic ignition modules.

Carrying a fully assembled spare distributor is just a faster way to get back on the road.

Become familiar with points and I think anyone would dismiss the idea that the electronic ignitions are necessarily "simpler". I had no end of headaches with an electronic ignition once, with no reasonable way to test the module. EIMs are designed to be plug & play and meant to be discarded if found to be unhealthy. Plug & Play is their one, true benefit.

Conventional wisdom used to be that electronic ignitions either worked, or they did not. Well, I had one that worked only when it darn well pleased and it was mated to a USGI coil, so that blew that idea completely out of the water as far as I'm concerned.

But, as a spare....well, that changes the question a bit. A spare need only be reliable enough to get you home so, the answer becomes...Either-Or...so long as your spare has been proof tested. But, if it's to be a long-term swap...I'd say go with points style ignition.

Cheers,
TJ

[Hambone]

Seems the NOS electronic ignitions will soon be like the NOS coils, not available or very expensive, we will soon be relying on the Chinese stuff.

[rickf]

The Swiss controls ignitions you buy now are not the original that came with them, the newer ones are Chinese, just like the coils. My spare distributor is a fully set up points distributor, indexed for the correct timing so I can drop in in and line up the index mark and go.

[svramselaar]

hi

for a spare i use a points one
electronic ones you can only set the timing if the engine runs with a timing light
a point distributor you can get it on time with a testing light bulb type
the engine has not to run for it

for electronic take the swiss made with the big rotor arm

george

[Horst]

my spare one is with points. Pretty much the only thing which can turn bad over time is the capacitor.

[whirook]

Thank you for confirming what I was thinking!
I have placed my order and points distributor should be on it's way shortly.