Classic Car Tech-Setting Up A Point Ignition 

condensor is an old word for capacitor. Its 2 conductive things (the foil) with an insulator between them. Usually the insulator is thin plastic film now, but way back when it was probably paper. It stores a bit of electricity, so shock absorber is pretty accurate.

I pulled out a timing light and dwell meter to tune a car a neighbor had inherited and he asked me how it read codes with a needle and scale, lol.

As I watch this video I can hear my step dad in my head,"Bump it, bump it,,,,,,,,,,,,bump it, that was too much, bump it".

I always used the pull tabs off of beer cans on my 72 truck. Probably didn't have a matchbook but I damn sure had a pull tab in the rolling garbage can otherwise known as the bed. Been decades since I set points or rebuilt a carb, something I did with great regularity keeping my POS truck running. Great old days.

The condenser is a capacitor, it absorbs the electrical current when the points open to prevent arcing across the points which keeps the points from welding together.

I would buy Penske high performance points/condenser sets at Sears back the '70s, that's when Sears sold speed equipment and stuff. It's refreshing the way you show how well points work and can be counted on when maintained.

I am happy that I don't have any cars with points or carbs. New plugs and wires every so often and. Your good to go. But, Uncle Tony is spot on with this video. I will add only that while you have the distibutor out, ckeck for wear on the shaft and be sure the felt oilers are lubed or you will be buying a new distributor more often than needed.

I learned this stuff in the 70's.Good to see you teaching this stuff to the youngsters.

Never had to mess with points except on old tractors, man learning so much! Thank you sir

Bringing back stuff I already knew but forgot. I remember my uncle doing this stuff and explaining it to me, but by the time I got my own cars, HEI was the thing. Since I'm a GM at heart, that's what I know. But it is awesome to relearn things.

Uncle Tony makes it simple and to the point. # 1 in the books.. 👍👍

Also uncle Tony, a condensor is a battery. a friend of mine got on the school bus,(1977) handed me one and asked if I had ever seen one (he was careful to hold it by the base/sides, I grab it by the sides and slide my thumb/finger down the wire, POW, 40,000 volts! You can put the wire in a spark plug wire with the case on the block, start the car,(charge it) and not touching the wire sit it on a table, it will stay charged a long time and bite the first person who picks it up and completes the circuit! He helped his Dad put points/condenser in their '67 Mercury Comet b4 school and thought it would be a funny joke to light up his friend on the bus.

I have had one of those Sears multi meters since 1986. First motor I built (350 to replace the 307) I installed an HEI with external Accel Super coil kit. So never used the meter for dwell. But it worked perfect as an under hood tach display for tuning the carb and timing. Along with a light and vacuum gage.

I run a set of '60s vintage points on my '72 302 Ford in a '60 Comet. It actually runs a little bit better than it did with a Pertronix setup.

Wow never in my lifetime have I ever heard someone explain points the way you did you make it so easy to understand I also find your videos very relaxing after working all day

Love UT's breaker point videos! Takes us back to the 'good ole' days' of regular tune-ups and bragging about good running engines. I remember changing condensers about every third point set... they lasted and lasted 45 years ago.

Thank you for keeping this knowledge alive. If it’s not passed on to the next generation it will be lost forever.

You might want to discuss the resistor block or wire that reduces voltage from 12 volts down to 8 volts, the reasons for it's inclusion in the circuit and the results of it's absence. Thanks!

This was another electrifying episode. I found Uncle Tony's presentation shocking. Tony really sparks my interest. This really does ignite the conversation. Way ahead of spontaneous combustion. Thanks Uncle Tony.

Thank you Uncle Tony for the refresher course. It's been so long since I tinkered with the points and condenser. My 1968 Chevelle SS 396 I'm restoring thanks you too! 👍😁

Just canceled my pertronix electronic ignition because of this video, found my problem! Thanks !

Hyundia had points until 1986. I had a stellar and the points screw constantly loosened. I got so quick at setting them by eye that I even set them at a stop light while waiting for the light to change. Finally I used loctite to hold them in place.

My Dad taught me this when I was a teen. Good to know , still use that today on my Studebaker. Thank you Tony.

"work like a gentleman" your style says it all 🙂

Please add one more step on rotors and distributor caps. Although it may be common knowledge, just the slightest crack in the housing or burn on the rotor will affect performance. I remember my mid 70 GM motors having a voltage regulator attached to the cap that would always cause problems

When i first got hired as a parts guy, I had an older regular come up to the counter. I was pretty nervous cuz I'm new and this guy was in here almost everyday from what I heard. He had a fleet of old school Grand Cherokee's and Grand Wagoner's. So he gets all these parts, and finally he says "Oh, I'm gonna need a rotor too." Now, I was nervous, so I didn't put 2 and 2 together so I go "Ok so we got 2 in stock at 45 bucks each." And he looks at me confused as hell. He says "Fuck that's the most expensive rotor I've heard of. They're only like 5 bucks wtf." And I felt like such a dumbass. Hahahahah. Found him his IGNITION rotor for him for 4 bucks, and left the BRAKE rotor on the shelf. Hahahahahha

Condenser (or capacitor) is like a miniature battery that is used to dampen electric surges/stabilize currents (shock absorber). It's 2 metal plates with a dielectric paste (that oil you mention) in between. The input and output are DC currents; it is a polar component (it matters which way you install it). They are used extensively in electronics; this is why it takes a modern car some time after the key is removed to actually shut down - the capacitors have to discharge. Another place you may see them is in welding machines, especially the old ones - they streamline the current so the arc is consistent.

Great to see you covering old school ignition Systems. Enjoy your channel uncle Tony.

Man I am subscribing just from this video ..no idea how much help this is..

Points were great at the time. HEY TONY I MADE THOSE DWELL AND TACH METERS WOW! Actron! A condensor was on old term for capacitor! Thanks Tony!

Y'all writing this down..... Lucky, we Use to have to write it down.. stop reading this and Listen to Uncle Tony.. Knowledge is Power.. Oi oi oi

I’m in my 60’s, have lived it, your great.

The points file and or womans fine nail file is also a great way to clean up. The pressure switch for those of us who are still using well water they are a set of points just stay open and closed longer but same same a on and off switch and they get old and need maintenance as well but no dwell lol great video as always

Haven't done any of this since high school. Thanks for refreshing my memory. Now finding a dwell meter is gonna be very hard as nobody really uses one anymore. My 72 Olds 98 had a distributor with the window in the cap and allen wrench adjustment. Didn't really know how to properly adjust it as i was just a rookie mechanic back in high school. it had a v8 ,455 cid.

Tony, thanks for the trip down memory lane. My '73 Chevy pickup, my pre Mopar days, started shooting ducks AFTER I had installed new points, cap rotor and plugs. What did I forget to do? Replace the condenser! After new condenser, problem solved.

I'm glad you mentioned at the end of the video about dual point ignitions cuz I was going to ask about those since I had a 69 Dart with a 340 and I had an Accel dual-point which was always fun to set

As always, another great video from Uncle Tony and Uncle Kathy. Thank you! 😊👍

I was wondering about this for my 84 Chevy caprice... Thanks again Uncle Tony!

I had trouble with timing my 67 Volvo. I bought 2 condensers and still had trouble with it. I went to a junk yard and found a 50’s Plymouth that had a old condenser in the distributor. I took the condenser and when I installed it in my car, it fired right up with NO PROBLEM! I was so happy. Stupid new condensers.

Nice video Tony !!! My professional career as an auto tech began in 1973 and continues to this day. I never pulled a distributor to replace points and condenser. A sign of a bad condenser is badly burnt points. If someone would ever toss you a condenser you never catch it as it was probably "charged" with a spark plug wire from a running engine...lol

I'm going with the points setup in my 65 Impala. I thought about E-ignition, but give me the old points set up any day. Cheap and reliable for every day use, and easy to install and adjust.

Man i would love to work with this guy. I've been a Journeyman auto Tech since 2008 and I feel like the amount of time that I've invested into the auto world barely qualifies me to understand how smart he is and the extent of his knowledge. Good job man crack a beer cause you deserve it!

Back to Old school... 🤘🤘🤘 Thx Tony 👍👍👍 You Rock !!!

Thanks for your time and shared wisdom Uncle T. Best wishes.

One thing we did before installing the set was to spray the points off only with electronic cleaner to get any production oil off of it.

It’s so funny how when I was a kid, it wasn’t that big of a deal to check the gap and file the contacts every few months. It was just what we did. I have fallen prey to the electronic ignition world we live in and I haven’t adjusted points in twenty five plus years. I saw a dwell meter the other day and it was like I stepped into a time machine. I just bought an older Jeep that has points ignition and I’m looking forward to making it sing. I love your content, keep it up. 👍

Ha! My dealer mechanic friend just asked me what the hell a Dwell meter was! These new guys cant fix a damn thing if they can't plug their scanner into it! Points for the win baby! Just keep a good spare set up in the glove box in case you burn them up because you wanna put 14v through for the MSD Box haha!

Hey Uncle Tony, that was a blast from the past. Cheers😊

Got alot of respect for the old school guys

That was some of the best points education I’ve ever had. Thanks man!

Picked up a sweet meter in a nice metal case at a rummage sale this year. Haven’t used it yet, but did my first set of points in my 65 f100 this spring when it started running like garbage.

A condenser seems to be a capacitor. They have the wonderful characteristic of letting A/C through, and acting as charge storage device for DC Voltage.

9:07 Absolutely Priceless thank you Tony 👍👍👍

spot on on what a condenser douse! love how the distributor has a set of blue streak points! as for the match book i set it that way as the dwell on points is far from ideal across the rpm range. it is a bit to hi at idle and above 4000 rpm the coil is not charging to its peak so i set it with a match book. as for condensers the insulation over time brakes down and then thy fail and thay do not make hi voltage capacitors that last now . the condenser works the opposite why of a coil it, stores energy on the metal plates as electrostatic charge as opposed to a magnetic one in the coil so the capacitor cancels out sum of the coils kick back as the coil wants to keep charging. thanks for the video top notch !! points rock!!!

Swap meets are a great place to get Mallory and accell dual point distributors for $10 some are USA antiques

Good Luck having the local "Parts house's" getting you the right set of points and condenser. 3 Major parts stores and NAPA couldn't get me the correct points and condenser for my 1966 Olds Toronados 425 c.i. Had to order them from Mondello Olds.

Work like a gentleman 💪

Very informative. I remember in an old Harley manual. It actually said to use the cellophane off of a pack of cigarettes to gap the points in the mag. I think it was mid 60s book if I remember correctly. Been a while since way back then.

The condenser seems to be a glorified electrolytic capacitor. Keep up the great concise work!!

Thanks Tony. Very well done my friend👍👍

Brings back a lot of memories, great job. 👍

I got a dwell meter from a friend and he said he was going to show me but now I can say I do. Or at least have a understanding of it. Thanks!

always learn something new watching you, THANK YOU!

I have a GM style points tool it looks like a screw driver handle and it has a lond flexable shaft and it has little sockets for the end ones a allen key socket n a flathead screwdriver socket cost me $1.99! Ur dwell meter looks exactly like one of the ones i have i also have a little handheld one also its about the size of a cellphone!

these videos never get old! thanks for the great info tony

Thanks Tony!

Back in the day, one was a bad ass if he had "Sun" dwell meter! Great video Tony!

This brings back memories. I miss points!

8:50 Good to near that old condensers are still good. I have been hoarding old ignition tune up kits and wondered if the condensers were still good.

I want a car with points now! Any recommendations or words of advice regarding a first or second generation AMC Rambler Coupe for a project? I like the idea of having a rear wheel drive American car with a 100in wheelbase! I love your videos.

Replaced my points 2 years ago with a Pertronix FlameThrower. Flawless starts, no more adjusting cleaning points....

Thanks man! Last time I worked on points was 1979 and I am a bit rusty. I changed out the points on a 57 Ford in line 6 work truck today. Got em installed with new condenser and coil but my old eyes couldnt see the point gap. Not to mention it was about 27 degrees out. Tomorrow I will go back at it. Best points video out there. Your a wrench genius. I was having an impossible time getting the points to land on the lobe. always stopped on the flats...any suggestions.

Great video, nice way to learn thanks for taking the time.

To the point and super helpful. Thank you!

You got it Tony Great Old Knowledge!!!

I love the points apposed to the early electronic hands free thing and there is nothing short of changing that whole thing out as it is un serviceable. I wanted to also have a choice when running a different plug on a tired engine as the hotter spark would burn some fuels that were not supplied by the carb such as that PCV unit that captured crankcase venting. I think that Detroit went way to far outside the box on them trying to burn stuff that could of been captured into a filter and then properly got rid of Sure it did make for upper cylinder lubrication because the unleaded fuels took away that. If it is slight then fine but some stationary engines with a half million miles just doing a simple job never ever gave up. I wouldn't use it as grandmothers grocery getter but I wouldn't change one out just because the planet is going to fail because of me. We have been messing with mother nature since time with fires, floods and other to the cow fart. I do believe if in my heart it was then I would change but I see what goes on in the many countries and there is no going back. Even if man does kill himself off, nature has dealt with it and here we are. Great video that is easier to do than explain but I think that you did great, Keep em coming Tony

Excellent video gave me a lot of information that I needed thank you

A friend and I spent weeks hunting down an ignition problem in my old Vette. Turned out to be the condenser.

damn I needed this. ive been spoiled by electronics lol. I found that dwell meter online. I think I can get my 223 running again.

Condenser has two jobs. Protect the points (1), and speed up coil saturation (2). Condenser gathers electrons (that's current flow) and when it does the coil field is built or collapses depending on which way the current is flowing. Since condensers have almost instantaneous charge time, the coils magnetic field is just as fast. Try running a coil ignition at high speed w/o one ... It'll fall on its face somewhere around 2,500. Put in a good condenser and you can go to 6,000+ with a hotter and more intense spark. Very important part, often overlooked ...

I'm a mopar guy but the GM points are the best when you can set your dwell without popping the cap off just get the allen wrench and a dwell meter and your done it's so simple

Good video as usual

LOL, I have the same Craftsman dwell meter! Nice!

Merry Christmas Tony Hope you have a great and wonderful Christmas my friend thank you for the videos The Nevada Gamsby‘s

Because of your videos, I feel 16 again.

Good video. Except a uniset was a point set that had a condenser attached to the points. GM started using them in the early 70s. they were easier to install because all you had to do is loosen two screws. They also had a high failure rate. Fortunately they left the screw hole for the condenser in the breaker plate so you could use a point set and a separate condenser. Also the GM points had slotted mounting holes so all you had to do is loosen up the screws and slip the old points out and slide the new points in. GM started using the points with the allen screw adjustment in 1957. Accel dual point distributor used the allen screw adjustable points. Although it was better to pull the distributor and put in in a distributor machine to set them up. You would put a piece of card stick between one set of points and adjust the other set. then reverse the process and set the second set. You then ran the distributor with both sets working to check total dwell. I ran a tune up shop for 5 years in the early 80s and installed as many as 16 sets of points in one day. That included replacing the plugs and all other necessary tune up parts.

Put that on a shirt 'WORK LIKE A GENTLEMAN'😂 To many times I break my back from being lazy

Great video, Uncle Tony. Can you do one on setting up an old points type voltage regulator?

Thanks Tony

You're a God-send

Ignition 101, thanks for the video

Tony, when you say "light oil" what do you mean? What brand do you use?

Thanks for the video brother! I just needed to know where to plug the damn dwell meter. Dont know why i couldnt find the info anywhere... like its too basic

Thanks mate for the awesome explanation. I'm looking for NOS points/Condenser for Chevy 305/350ci. Today's ones are probably made in China. I don't know any source with such NOS parts as I'm not from USA.

Cheers Uncle Tony :-)

love the Waffle House hat

Great information

Tell us about the porcelain box on the firer wall of a dodge please the one that make you change the ignition system just to find out its just the porcelain box " my experience " thank you

radical. Screw electronic ignition I'm sticking with points baby

Professor Tony Explains :)