Points in '59 413's

[RandalPark@xxxxxxx]

Rex,

There is probably something wrong with the ignition on your car. A set of 
points should last about 10,000 miles, maybe 15,000. I doubt that you are 
putting that many miles on your car in one year. If you were, that would mean 
that the points were lasting only around 2,000 miles. If you are actually only 
driving your Imperial about 5,000 per year, you are getting about 1,000 miles 
from your point set. That is not right.

Points will burn prematurely if the condenser is bad. I also think a bad 
ignition resistor could do this.

Another cause that would have nothing to do with the car itself would be that 
the points are not clean when they are installed. This type of damage could 
result if the contacts were touched by fingers prior to installing them. It is 
doubtful that four sets of points have all been dirty, though, so there 
probably is an ignition problem.

Your spark knocking could be related, but may also be a result of the points 
burning. Fuel issues can also cause spark knocking, such as a lean mixture, or 
weak fuel pump.

I am sure that there will be many more ideas put forth, but one thing for sure, 
'59 Imperials did not have inherent ignition problems, and your points should 
last much longer.

Paul




dated 4/30/2004 8:39:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time, rexcrews@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

> 
> 
> I have been watching the discussion on points vs. electronic ignition and
> see that the 1959 has been really bad for burning up points.  I have
> installed four sets of points in my '59 in little over a year!  Even at
> that, it has been almost impossible to eliminate the spark knocking on
> initial acceleration completely.  Could there be some specific problem with
> the '59's?  I ask because I have a '60 and '61, and neither of these cars
> has ever given me a problem with spark knock, points slipping or burning,
> etc.
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Rex Crews  '59 and '60 Crowns and '61 Custom
> 
> 
>