Points alway hot???

[mystic122468]

Nice article!
Using the test light, I lose voltage at the points but do not lose voltage at the coil no matter what position the switch is in.

[Dick Steinkamp]

Originally Posted by mystic122468

Nice article!
Using the test light, I lose voltage at the points but do not lose voltage at the coil no matter what position the switch is in.

Right. That's the way it is supposed to work. Notice the switch breaks the circuit between the coil and the distributor...not between the battery and the coil (like most newer cars).

Your system sounds like it is working properly and your switch sounds like it working how it should.

[Tom Wesenberg]

The ammeter and coil should be wired to match the battery ground, but nothing bad happens if either one is wired backwards. Just that the ammeter will read the wrong direction, and the spark plugs will be a little harder to fire.


If the generator has the stock cutout, battery grounding has no effect on the cutout or generator (after it's polarized). But if you have a diode cutout or alternator with wrong battery grounding, then watch the sparks fly and things burn out.

[mystic122468]

i've changed it back to a positive ground system and flashed the fields on the generator and made sure that the car is wired like the schematic. i'll install the new ignition switch soon as it shows up.
i'm looking forward to taking for a good ride